Castle Hill

Two thousand years ago, Romans stood on this windswept hilltop overlooking Christchurch Harbour, and you can still see why they chose this spot. The earthwork remains of Castle Hill might not look like much at first glance - just grassy bumps and ridges - but walk the perimeter and you'll start to make sense of the defensive banks and ditches that once protected this Iron Age settlement.

History enthusiasts will appreciate the layers here: Bronze Age barrows, Iron Age fortifications, and later Roman occupation all jumbled together on one commanding hill. The views across the harbour towards the Isle of Wight are properly spectacular on a clear day, making this a lovely spot for a picnic even if ancient earthworks leave you cold.

Families with energetic kids will find it's a good hour's exploration, though little ones might struggle with some of the uneven ground. The site sits just outside Christchurch, making it an easy detour if you're staying at one of the New Forest campsites like Holmsley or Setthorns. It's free to wander around whenever you fancy, and there's roadside parking at the base of the hill. Worth combining with a trip into Christchurch itself - the priory there is far more impressive architecturally, but Castle Hill gives you that proper sense of standing where people lived and fought centuries before Christ was born.