Buttermilk Copse

The woodland around Buttermilk Copse is proper Hampshire - ancient beech and oak packed close together, with that particular smell of damp earth and leaf mould that hits you the moment you step in. It's the kind of place where the canopy gets so thick you lose sense of the time, and the ground beneath your feet stays soft even when everywhere else is parched.

This is walkers' territory, frankly. The footpaths wind through without much faffing about, and there's enough space to actually breathe without feeling you're on some well-trodden tourist route. Children will enjoy it if they're the type who like poking about in trees rather than expecting a playground, though honestly it's more for adults who want a decent couple of hours in proper woodland without the circus.

You're close enough to Petersfield that it makes sense as a half-day stop while you're exploring that stretch of Hampshire. Cedar Valley and Bow Hill Farm are both within easy reach if you're basing yourself at a park holiday - neither's far enough to make multiple visits a hassle. The copse doesn't demand hours of your time, but it's the sort of place that clears your head better than somewhere more showy would.

Free access, naturally, and you can just turn up. Go early if you want any sense of peace - late afternoon on a weekend gets a bit meh.