Deep in the heart of the rolling Wessex countryside, little changed from the days it was immortalised in the novels of Thomas Hardy, and only a short drive from the dramatic rocks and fossils of the world renowned Jurassic Coast, Summer Lodge affords a magical escape from the prosaic realities of the 21st century. Set in four acres of idyllic gardens, with a croquet lawn, indoor pool, health spa, and a small collection of richly furnished guest rooms and suites, it’s a small world into itself - and one you won’t want to leave. Add in a restaurant of international repute, a cellar master who was runner-up in the Best Sommelier of the World awards 2007, plus service that manages to be wonderfully discrete yet impressively thoughtful, and it’s easy to see why guests come from so far and wide.