Clewers Hill

The walk up Clewers Hill rewards you with proper views across the Hampshire countryside - nothing dramatic, but genuinely pleasing on a clear day. It's a modest peak by any standard, yet locals clearly rate it enough to make the trek worthwhile, and from Southampton it's close enough for an afternoon outing without faff.

The hill itself is straightforward walking territory. You'll find the paths well-trodden and the gradient manageable for most fitness levels, though it's steep enough that you won't be rushing. The summit gives you sight lines across the Test Valley and beyond - the kind of view that makes you understand why people bothered to climb it in the first place. Allow a couple of hours there and back if you're not rushing, longer if you want to sit about and actually look at the scenery.

Families with younger children might find it a bit of a slog, but teenagers and anyone with reasonable legs will get on fine. Walkers staying at the nearby caravan sites - Rookesbury Park and ScottsHaven are both within three miles - could easily fold this into a longer loop without bothering with the car again.

There's nothing to pay, nothing to book. Just turn up, park sensibly, and walk. Best in autumn or spring when you're not melting and the views aren't washed out by summer haze. Winter's fine too if the paths aren't waterlogged. It's the sort of place that doesn't need facilities or visitor centres - just decent boots and a willingness to use your legs.