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The rural retreat of T. E. Lawrence
King George V Road, Bovington, near Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7NQ
Book a visitAsset | Opening time |
---|---|
Clouds Hill | 10:00 - 16:00 |
House | 10:00 - 16:00 |
Last entry one hour before closing.
Ticket type | Gift aid | Standard |
---|---|---|
Adult | £11.00 | £10.00 |
Child | £5.50 | £5.00 |
Family | £27.50 | £25.00 |
1 adult + up to 3 children | £16.50 | £15.00 |
The cottage is accessed from the car park via a flat 90 yard footpath. Light levels in the cottage are low. Free parking for up to one hour.
A35, from the west: From the A35, take the Tolpuddle Ball exit signposted Warmwell and Crossways. Turn left onto B3390. After approximately 3 miles, turn left at the crossroads, signposted Bovington Camp and Wareham. A little after a mile, take the turning on the right and Clouds Hill is immediately on your left. A35, from the east: Exit the A35 at the Bere Regis roundabout - take the first exit, signposted Bere Regis, Milborne St Andrew and Bovington Camp. Continue, following the road around to the left. After 2.5 miles, turn right for Bovington, Tincleton and Tank Museum. Continue for just over a mile, then take the next left and Clouds Hill is immediately on your left. From Wareham: Head west on the A352, signposted Wool and Dorchester. Look for signs for the Tank Museum, turning right at the roundabout signposted Bovington and the Tank Museum. After passing the Tank Museum (on your right) drive through Bovington, and Clouds Hill is approximately one mile north on the right.
Parking: Free for visitors.
From Moreton you can pick up the Lawrence Trail to reach Clouds Hill. To join the trail: follow the lane onto the unmade track which leads to a footbridge over the River Frome. Caution - busy road with limited footpath.
Wool 3½ miles; Moreton 3½ miles. Wool is on the mainline from London, Waterloo to Weymouth, Dorset. The station is served by taxis. Moreton is also on the Waterloo to Weymouth mainline. From the station walk north past the Frampton Arms (on your right). Turn right into Station Road which leads to Moreton village (Lawrence is buried in the graveyard here). From Moreton you can pick up the Lawrence Trail to reach Clouds Hill. To join the trail: follow the lane onto the unmade track which leads to a footbridge over the River Frome. Caution - busy road with limited footpath.
King George V Road, Bovington, near Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7NQ
If you are planning a visit to Clouds Hill it is recommended you book your visit in advance. Find out more about how to book and what to expect when you arrive.
The rural retreat of T. E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. Discover the atmospheric rooms where he sat down to write, read, listen to music and entertain friends.
Lawrence was passionate about motorbikes and owned several Brough Superiors during his time at Clouds Hill. They were tailor-made for him and he kept them in this shed. Now the shed contains a display about Lawrence's life.
In the evenings Lawrence loved to climb up to the top of the small hill overlooking the cottage. You can do the same now, perhaps while eating your sandwiches at the picnic bench.
As a young boy, TE Lawrence was fascinated with medieval history and brass rubbing. Visitors to Clouds Hill now have the opportunity to follow in his footsteps and complete their own set of rubbings from zinc plaques.
Explore inside the cottage where Lawrence of Arabia, TE Lawrence, sat to write, read and relax away from army life, and discover the shed where he tended to his beloved motorbike.
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'I've a hut in a wood near camp wherein I spend my spare evenings' - the words of the legendary Lawrence of Arabia, about Clouds Hill.
This tiny isolated cottage in the heart of Dorset was the home of an extraordinary man: T. E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. He furnished the rooms of his rural retreat to his own personal taste and they are much as he left them, giving an insight into the complex personality of the writer, warrior and friend of Thomas Hardy.
Please note: Because the cottage is much as Lawrence left it, we keep light levels low to protect the original contents. This adds to the authentic experience at the cottage, but some visitors may wish to time their visit to take advantage of the longer, lighter days of summer.
Discover more about the history of those who lived at Clouds Hill, once a woodsman's cottage and then an isolated retreat for various residents including TE Lawrence.
The end of January 1924, Clouds Hill saw, what was probably the first recorded visit of Florence Hardy (Florence was the wife of Thomas Hardy, Dorset's famous poet and author) to Clouds Hill.
Learn about the work we do to look after Clouds Hill and care for its collection, from maintaining stable humidity levels to surveyors monitoring the fragile building itself
Search for live volunteering opportunities, or register your interest with Clouds Hill.
Join today and help protect nature, beauty and history – for everyone, for ever. Enjoy access to more than 500 places with National Trust membership.