Minterne House and Gardens

The valley gardens at Minterne House near Dorchester have that particular English charm that sneaks up on you - all winding paths through mature woodland and water features that seem to appear exactly when you've forgotten about them. This is a working country house with grounds you can actually wander through, and it feels less manicured than some of the better-known estates round here.

What you're getting is a decent walk through mixed woodlands with plenty of rhododendrons and azaleas if you time it right in spring. The water gardens are the real draw - a series of lakes connected by streams that the Victorians dammed up quite cleverly. There are specimen trees dotted about, the kind of old chestnuts and conifers that make you feel like you're walking through someone's very old-money property, because you are.

Families will find it absorbing for a couple of hours if there's energy for exploring, though it's not the sort of place with a play area or cafe to hang about in. Serious gardeners and walkers will get proper value. The approach from Dorchester is pleasant enough, with Giants Head Caravan Park less than two miles away if you're based at the campsite.

Timing matters - summer crowds it out a bit, and autumn when the trees turn is when the place really works. There's a modest admission charge and you'll want to allow at least ninety minutes to see it properly without rushing. Worth the stop, especially if you're combining it with walks around the Dorset hills.