Puddletown

Steeped in literary history, this quintessential Dorset village offers a tranquil escape just east of Dorchester. Puddletown, famously linked to Thomas Hardy’s 'Weatherbury' in *Far From The Madding Crowd*, boasts charming thatched cottages and the historic St Mary’s Church. Home to around 1,400 residents, it beautifully balances rural peace with a strong community spirit, ideal for an authentic village lifestyle.