Great Witch

Great Witch is a modest hilltop on the edge of the New Forest, offering surprisingly decent views across Wiltshire's rolling countryside. It's the sort of place you climb in ten minutes and immediately wonder if you've reached the top - there's no dramatic summit marker, just the satisfying knowledge that you're standing higher than most of the forest around you.

The walk itself is straightforward rather than thrilling. You're looking at a gentle ramble through woodland, popular with locals who know it's a proper leg-stretch without the scramble. History buffs will note it's been a landmark for centuries - the name alone suggests old folklore - but don't expect interpretive boards or heritage details. This is about the walking, the air, and the views rather than learning anything formal.

It works brilliantly as a park holiday addition if you're camped at Ocknell or Longbeech, both within easy reach. You could easily combine it with a broader New Forest loop, maybe heading towards Lyndhurst for lunch. Families with kids over seven will manage it without complaint. Much younger and they might find it a bit of a slog for what amounts to a quiet viewpoint.

Allow 90 minutes return if you're not rushing. There's no café at the summit, so pack water and snacks. The lack of ceremony is actually refreshing - it's the kind of hill that rewards you for showing up, without demanding you book months ahead or pay admission. Worth the detour if you're in the area, though don't rearrange your holiday around it.