Another famous haunt of the novelist Thomas Hardy, Shaftesbury has some of England’s most fascinating architecture, including the famous cobbled street of Gold’s Hill and the ruins of the abbey which date back to 888AD. The town sits at the top of a hill with panoramic views in every direction over Dorset and Wiltshire. Despite its glorious position and the beauty of its buildings and streets, Shaftesbury remains unspoilt by tourism.