The Hardy Way is a long distance walking route within the counties of Dorset and Wiltshire, south-west England. It is a walk in homage to the writer Thomas Hardy and runs through Thomas Hardy's version of Wessex, the region of the West Country of England portrayed in his books such as Tess of the Durbervilles, The Mayor of Casterbridge, Far From the Madding Crowd, Jude the Obscure and others. It starts at Hardy Cottage in Higher Bockhampton where Hardy was born and finishes at Stinsford churchyard where Hardy's heart lies buried. Note that these end points are only ~ 1.6 miles walk apart, but this short distance is not part of the FKT.