Max Gate

Thomas Hardy designed this red-brick Victorian house himself in 1885, and you can still feel his presence in every room. Max Gate sits quietly on the outskirts of Dorchester, where the novelist spent his final decades writing some of his greatest works including Jude the Obscure and The Mayor of Casterbridge.

Literary pilgrims will find this absolutely fascinating - Hardy's study remains much as he left it, complete with his writing desk and personal effects. The garden he lovingly tended still flourishes, though it's considerably smaller than when he planted those Austrian pines as saplings. What strikes you most is how ordinary yet extraordinary it feels - this was simply a family home where one of Britain's finest writers happened to live.

Children might find it a bit dry unless they're studying Hardy at school, but adults with even a passing interest in Victorian literature will appreciate the intimate glimpse into his domestic life. The National Trust volunteers are proper enthusiasts and full of stories about Hardy's quirky habits.

At just over four miles from holiday parks around Weymouth like Haven Weymouth Bay and Warmwell, it makes for an easy cultural detour from a seaside break. Allow an hour for your visit - it's free, which is always welcome, and opens Wednesday afternoons plus Mondays and Sundays from April to September. Well worth the short drive from the coast.