Stoneywell is an Arts and Crafts cottage zigzagging down a rocky outcrop in Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire, built in 1898 by the architect Ernest Gimson for his brother Sydney to look as if grown from the rock. Its 11 rooms on seven levels still hold furniture made for the house by Gimson and the Barnsley brothers, family treasures and a small ceramics collection. Outside, a semi-formal garden mixes Charnwood heathland with daffodils, bluebells and rhododendrons, and 11 acres of ancient woodland lie beyond. Reviewers love the quirky house, the woodland walks and above all the volunteer guides, who bring the family's story to life. Visits must be pre-booked: you park on Whitcroft's Lane and a shuttle bus takes you to the stables, where you choose a guided tour or explore at your own pace. Tips from visitors: take the tour on a first visit and expect steep garden paths; assistance dogs only, and the small tearoom doubles as a second-hand bookshop.
