Smedmore House

You'll find Smedmore House tucked away on the Dorset coast between Wareham and Swanage, a proper 17th-century limestone manor that sits like a pearl in the Purbeck landscape. It's the kind of place that rewards curiosity - not a grand stately home with velvet ropes and tour groups, but a lived-in family house with genuine character and real stories embedded in its walls.

The house itself dates from around 1650, built by the Clavell family, and you can still feel their presence in the panelled rooms, the period furnishings, and the eclectic collection of objects that line the shelves. The gardens are worth the visit alone, rolling down towards the Dorset coast with views that stretch for miles. There's a working kitchen garden too, which adds to the sense that this isn't just a museum piece.

It's best suited to history enthusiasts and walkers rather than young kids - there's not much here for the under-tens unless they're genuinely interested in architecture and period interiors. Allow a couple of hours to do it properly, longer if you want to linger in the gardens. The farmland around it is beautiful for exploring on foot.

Access can be tricky - check ahead before you visit, as opening is seasonal and sometimes by appointment only. If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby campsites like Norden Farm or Woodyhyde, both within 3 miles, Smedmore makes an excellent half-day excursion when the weather's decent.