Dunner Hill

The walk up Dunner Hill near Petersfield is short, sharp, and properly rewarding if you're after a quick leg-stretch with views that punch above its modest 271-metre height. It's not a slog - you can be up and back in under an hour - which makes it ideal for families who want to tick off a summit without the commitment of something like Butser Hill just down the road.

What you get at the top is a genuine sense of having climbed something. The views across the Hampshire countryside roll out in all directions, and on a clear day you can see far enough to justify the effort. The walk itself is straightforward enough that kids won't complain about the gradient, though it's steep enough to feel like actual exercise.

Timing matters here. Go early to avoid other walkers, and absolutely avoid it if there's been heavy rain - the paths turn into proper mud traps. Autumn's lovely, when the light's golden and the crowds thinner.

If you're staying at Adhurst Yurts just five miles away, this makes a crackling morning activity before you settle in for a day of their outdoor skills. It won't fill a whole day on its own, but paired with other bits around Petersfield - the town itself has decent cafes and the South Downs are genuinely close - it slots into a weekend nicely. Free to access, obviously. Just park sensibly near the start and manage your expectations: it's a proper little hill walk, not an expedition.