THS Conference Thursday 30th July 2026

Thursday 30th July 2026
All day event
The Dorford Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1RR

The 27th International Thomas Hardy Conference and Festival

Thursday, 30th July 2026

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Portland Tour: The Isle of Slingers

Explore landmarks featured in The Well Beloved

Time: 1.30pm - Coach leaves Top o' Town car park at 1.30pm

Cost: £20 - THS Conference Ticketholders

£23 - THS Members

£25 - Non-members

Meet: Meet at Top o' Town Car Park for 1.30pm coach departure

Led by Dr Tony Fincham: an exploration of all the highlights of the mystical island of Portland in a series of short walks with wonderful coastal views.

The tour will include The Street of the Wells, Avice’s Cottage, Rufus Castle, Hope Cove, The Beal, and St. George’s Reforne; followed by an exploration of Tout Quarry, led by Hannah Sofaer, Artist and Creative Director of the Tout Quarry Sculpture Park.

Less than 5 miles walking with occasional steep gradients.

Please wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable footwear.

BOOK ONLINE

Priority booking for Full Conference Ticket Holders (Limited places)

Booking Open to others from 2nd June 2026 (Subject to availability)

Hardy's Cottage & Thorncombe Woods

Revisiting Hardy's Boyhood

Time: 1.30pm

Cost: £10* - THS Conference ticket holders (National Trust members)

£20* - THS Conference ticket holders

*Includes access to Hardy's Cottage and transport

Meet: Top o' Town Car Park

Limited to 16 participants - places allocated on a first-come basis

Led by Alban O’Brien.

After dropping off at the Visitors Centre we will visit Thorncombe Woods, the playground of Hardy’s childhood, Rushy Pond and Rainbarrow both of which have significant connections with Hardy’s life and works – The Withered Arm, The Return of the Native and Tess of the D’Urbervilles.

There will be a walk, talk and readings before a guided tour of Hardy’s Cottage, the place where he was born and where his career as a writer began.

Please wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable footwear.

Although the distance is only about 2 miles, there is some rough ground. 3.2km with 55 m (180 feet) of ascent.

National Trust members must bring valid membership cards to access Hardy's Cottage.