I

f Lawrence of Arabia were around today he’d no doubt be whizzed around by some type of PR guru from event to event.

His rampant heroism and various sensational personas - mystic, warrior, author and airman - would have caused a media frenzy.

Even back in the day T. E. Lawrence as he was known to his mum attracted more than his fair share of limelight thanks to the part he played in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Turkish rule and his ability to write so vividly about his adventures. When it all got too much for him, he retreated to Dorset and the isolated Clouds Hill.

The tiny Clouds Hill cottage is now a National Trust property and remains just as it would have been the day Lawrence set out for that fateful motorcycle ride. Lawrence certainly made the cottage his own and the rooms provide a fascinating insight into his complex personality.

After exploring his home you can complete your day by walking the 'Lawrence Trail' which takes you through the breathtaking Dorset scenery to his final resting place at St Nicholas Church.

As good as Peter O’ Toole was in the Lawrence of Arabia epic, nothing beats a day in Dorset to get a real insight into one of history’s most enigmatic figures.