Three of England’s grandest houses will open their doors for stately stays - including one in west Dorset.

They will be opening their doors and bedrooms to guests who want to immerse themselves in English history and get a taste of life as a modern aristocrat.

Grand Historic Tours will provide guests with privileged access to three houses for nine days, during which they will join the loves of their hosts and take part in the activities which support their estates in the 21st century.

The first tour - which is limited to 12 people - will begin at Mapperton House near Beaminster, voted the nation’s finest manor house by Country Life Magazine.

Guests will be welcomed for three days by Luke and Julie Montagu, otherwise known as Viscount and Viscountess Hinchingbrooke. Mrs Montagu also hosts the Smithsonian Channel show ‘An American Aristocrat’s Guide to Great Estates’ which features each of the houses on the tour.

At Mapperton, guests will enjoy a private tour of the house with the Earl of Sandwich, which will tell the story of the eponymous snack as well as his family’s wider contribution to Britain’s naval history.

From Mapperton, guests will travel north to Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire, where they will be welcomed to the Grade I listed castle by James and Lucy Hervey-Bathurst.

From Eastnor the journey continues to Newby Hall in Yorkshire and welcomed by Rick and Lucinda Compton.

Julie Montagu said: “It was such a privilege to get to know these houses and their wonderful owners during the filming of my series.

“The houses and estates have really adapted for the modern world - so yes, we have wifi and some bathrooms even have showers.

“We are really looking forward to making new friends and sharing these extraordinary places - it’s going to be a lot of fun and I promise that guests will leave with stories that will last a lifetime.”

Grand Historic Tours is a partnership between Julie Montagu, Mapperton Estate and Beyond Capricorn, a provider of tailor-made holidays.

For more information and to book, visit grandhistorictours.com