Breamore Miz Maze

The turf maze at Breamore is one of those oddly compelling things that stops you mid-walk and makes you actually think about what you're looking at. It's a proper ancient puzzle carved into the hillside - the sort of thing that makes you wonder who had the time and patience to maintain it, let alone create it in the first place.

Walking the maze takes about five to ten minutes depending on how lost you get, which is rather the point. The paths are shallow grooves worn into the grass, and on a sunny afternoon you can see the whole pattern from above if you climb back out. It's free, naturally, since it's just sitting there on the Dorset chalk.

You'll want to allow longer than the walk itself if you're actually visiting Breamore - the village is small and there's a manor house nearby if you fancy a proper look around. It works best as a stop-off rather than a destination in itself, though walkers heading through the area should definitely include it. Kids get a kick out of trying to solve it without cheating, and adults often get equally caught up trying to work out the logic.

The nearest base is Salisbury, about fifteen minutes' drive, though if you're camping at Hill Cottage Farm over in Fordingbridge you're well-positioned for exploring the whole area. Go when the grass is dry - muddy paths rather kill the appeal. Spring and early autumn are ideal, when you've got decent light but it's not baking hot.