Broomy

Broomy is essentially a ridge-top settlement that sits on the Hampshire-Dorset border, just outside Ringwood, offering proper panoramic views across the New Forest and the surrounding heathland. It's not a managed attraction with admission fees or visitor facilities - rather, it's the kind of place you drive or walk to for the vantage point and the sense of being somewhere genuinely elevated, both literally and figuratively.

The appeal is straightforward: the views are substantial, and on a clear day you can see for miles across open moorland. It works brilliantly as a walking destination, particularly if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby caravan parks like Hill Cottage Farm or Longbeech - both within five miles - and fancy a half-day ramble with a proper payoff at the summit. The terrain is moorland-walking standard: exposed, windswept, good underfoot when dry.

Historically minded visitors will note this is Bronze Age country, and there's genuine archaeological interest in the landscape itself. It's not a site with interpretation boards or guided tours, so you need to bring your own curiosity about the bones of the terrain.

Really it's best visited on foot rather than by car, though parking exists nearby. Allow two to three hours for a proper walk in the area rather than a quick 20-minute stop. Families with young children might find it a bit bleak for extended time - the appeal is views and walking, not facilities or attractions. Winter brings wind and exposure; spring and autumn are genuinely lovely.