Greenway Copse

A proper woodland walk south of Petersfield, Greenway Copse is the sort of place you'd stumble upon while cycling the lanes rather than plan a day trip around. It's modest - ancient woodland, mixed broadleaves, the kind of forest that feels lived-in rather than curated. Dog walkers and local families know it well. You get a genuine sense of what Hampshire's landscape looked like before the fields took over, which matters if you're spending time in the area.

The walk itself is straightforward and quiet. No visitor centre, no facilities that I could find, no entrance fee as far as I could tell - just woodland as it comes. Allow an hour to meander through properly, longer if you're the sort who stops to identify trees or listen for woodpeckers. It's decent terrain for families with older kids and sturdy walkers, though pushchairs would struggle after the first stretch.

If you're based at Cedar Valley or one of the other camping spots nearby, this fits perfectly into a day's exploring. It's close enough to Petersfield for a morning wander before heading into town for lunch. Not a destination in itself, but absolutely the real thing - no gift shop, no Instagram moment, just woodland doing what it does. That's worth something.