There’s nowhere quite like Dorset’s award-winning Greenwood Grange. The 17 luxury self-catering holiday cottages – with and without hot tubs, some dog-friendly – were created out of old farm buildings built by Thomas Hardy’s own father. The cottage where Hardy himself was born (now owned by the National Trust) is just 400m away. And did I mention you can bring your own horse?

Each of the cottages – stone walls, slate roofs, thatched, exposed beams – sleeping from 2 to 12 guests, is unique and individually furnished/decorated to a very high standard. Eight cottages welcome dogs, there’s an enclosed exercise area for canines and plenty of walks in adjoining Thorncombe Woods and beyond.

Lots to do for humans, too: indoor swimming pool, sauna, tennis courts, games room (pool table, table footie, board games, toys), croquet and badminton lawns, kids’ play area (willow den, trampoline, football nets), play yurt, off-road bike trails in the woods and donkeys in the Paddock.

The on-site shop has all the essentials (including booze) and you can pick your own fruit and veg from their kitchen garden and collect eggs from their hens.

Need a private chef, a beauty treatment, riding lessons, a baby (or dog) sitter, a picnic hamper, taxi or a bottle of fizz and flowers? Their concierge service can arrange everything for you.

A great base to explore all the delights that Dorset has to offer, including the Jurassic Coast.