Chalk Hill

The walk up Chalk Hill from Stockbridge is straightforward enough - a gentle climb through beech woodland that opens onto proper downland. You're looking at maybe forty minutes from the town if you're not rushing, less if you're fit. The summit itself isn't dramatic, no stone tower or viewfinder, just open chalk grassland with views across the Test Valley towards the New Forest. On a clear day you'll pick out Winchester to the east. It's the kind of place where you understand why people bothered to build settlements down below.

This suits walkers far more than families after a set-piece attraction. Kids might manage it, though they'll ask why you've dragged them up a hill that doesn't have an ice cream van at the top. The grassland has that thin, springy feel underfoot that's either lovely or knackering depending on your mood. Summer's best - wildflowers, decent light, fewer muddy patches.

If you're staying at Stockbridge View or The Meadow Glamping, it's a proper half-day loop from your base. Combine it with a pint in Stockbridge itself, which sits right on the Test - one of England's most famous chalk streams. The whole thing works as a neat escape from whatever Sussex or Isle of Wight beach routine you've got lined up. Free to walk, naturally, and no facilities at the top so bring water.