Hardy’s Birthplace Visitor Centre / Roman Road / Black Heath / Rushy Pond / Hardy’s Cottage
A selection of routes to explore around the landscape that Thomas Hardy grew up in and was inspired by. Thorncombe Wood is a magical pocket of mixed woodland and heath and is listed on the Ancient Woodland Inventory.
The 26 hectare site is home to a great diversity of trees including mature Oaks, Sweet Chestnut and Beech. The woodland gives way to Black Heath, an area of birch, gorse and heather with its own herd of Dartmoor ponies.
Rushy Pond is a small watering hole for many birds, mammals, damselflies and dragonflies.
