Townend

The library is viewed from the doorway rather than entered. Inside are about 1,500 well-used books, including 45 surviving copies that are unique in the world. The bedrooms add more personal detail, including a delicate 1832 silk wedding dress and furniture altered to cope with the farmhouse's sloping floors.

Outside, the informal cottage garden is at its best in late spring and summer. It is a good quiet spot for garden birds such as nuthatches, blue tits, and robins; on bright days, look up for buzzards. The bank barn across the road was built in 1666 and is still used for agriculture, so you can see it from the garden but not go inside.

The house is compact, and most visitors will see it comfortably in about an hour before spending a little longer in the garden. Book the small-group guided tour in advance if you want the family stories, books, and objects explained in more depth. There is no cafe on site, so plan refreshments elsewhere.

The small car park is about 300 yards (274 metres) from the farmhouse and the approach lanes are narrow. The site is not suitable for coaches or campervans. You can arrive by bus or on foot, but the final country-lane section has no pavement.

Look for the intricate woodcarving on furniture, bookcases, clock cases, and fireplaces. George Browne carved many of the details himself, including a few playful surprises. The small scale is part of the appeal. You are close to the objects and the rooms, not looking at them across a roped-off state room.