Woodchester is a strange and handsome local landmark: an octagon house built in 1882 for woollen-mill owner Henry James Bird. Its concrete and masonry walls, eight-sided plan, and wooded perch above the Muskoka River make it stand out from the more familiar cottage-country architecture around town.
The house has had a complicated public life, including years as a museum and later restoration work. Even when interior access is limited, the grounds and exterior are worth a look if you are already walking between the river and downtown.