Becket's Down

Walking through Becket's Down feels like stepping into Hampshire's proper countryside - all beech trees and rolling chalk downland that actually gives you the sense of being somewhere. It's a forest that doesn't pretend to be anything flashy, which is precisely why it works.

The woodland covers good ground and the paths are straightforward enough, taking you through mixed forest with patches of open downland where the views start to open up. You're looking at decent walking territory here - not a quick twenty-minute stroll but something you'd want to give a solid couple of hours to do it justice. Bring proper shoes; the chalk can get slippery when it's wet.

This is squarely walker territory. Families with younger children might find the length a bit much, but anyone who actually likes being in the woods will get on with it fine. The open downland sections mean you're not trudging through dense forest the whole way - there's rhythm to it.

Alresford sits just down the road, so it's easy to fold this into a broader exploration of the area. If you're staying at The Spinney Caravan Park nearby, you're well positioned - it's only a short drive. The bonus is there's none of the queuing or admissions nonsense; just turn up and walk. Bring a map though, or at least download an offline trail guide. The paths are decent but this isn't somewhere you want to wing it with just your phone.