Heritage Open Days are a chance for people to access experiences and events involving history and culture for free. 

Three places, cared for by the National Trust in West Dorset, will be taking part with the following events:

Max Gate, Dorchester

Max Gate in Dorchester, the house designed and lived in by the author and poet Thomas Hardy, is where he wrote many of his famous works, including Tess of the d'Urbervilles.

Open with free admission on September 9 and 10, booking is recommended at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/hardys-house-max-gate

The Hardy Monument, near Portesham

The Hardy Monument, near Portesham (photo credit: John Miller, National Trust)

At the Hardy Monument, visitors will be able to climb to the top of the tower. The Hardy Monument was built in 1844 in memory of Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, Flag Captain of HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

The stone tower is 22 metres high, and there is an internal winding staircase to a viewing platform which gives spectacular panoramic views of the coast and countryside. 

Open with free admission on September 8, 9 and 10, booking essential at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/hardy-monument

Portland House, Weymouth

Portland House in Weymouth (photo credit: Elizabeth Flight, National Trust)

Portland House in Weymouth is normally only accessible to people who book there to stay on holiday. It is a stunning art-deco, Hollywood-Spanish inspired house, looking like an Agatha Christie film set. The luxurious interiors retain many of the original 1930s features such as the kitchen, bathrooms, and light fittings.

Portland House will also have a memory book available for people to record their own personal memories of the house. Over the years the National Trust has met with many interesting members of the public who have stories to share about the house and they want to capture these stories in this special book.

Portland House will open with free admission on September 15, 16 and 17, booking is recommended at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/hardy-monument

Elizabeth Flight, senior communications and marketing officer for the National Trust, said: "We have so much fantastic heritage to celebrate in Dorset and it great to be able to open our doors and share these interesting, historical stories."

A number of events will also be taking place in Dorchester town centre on Sunday, September 10 to mark Heritage Open Days, including free entry at the Shire Hall Museum, The Keep Military Museum and Dorset Museum, guided walks and tours, and a mass 'Hokey Cokey' outside Tom Browns pub at 3.30pm. Click here for full details.