Hallsgrove Copse

A proper woodland walk rather than a marked trail, Hallsgrove Copse sits just outside Farnham and offers the sort of peaceful forest ramble you'd half-forgotten existed. The trees are mature and dense enough to actually make you feel removed from the world, even though you're only minutes from town.

It's best suited to walkers who don't mind a bit of navigation and families with older kids who can manage uneven ground. Younger children might find it all a bit samey after twenty minutes or so. The main draw is simply time among the trees - no visitor centre, no interpretation boards, just woodland as it is. Allow an hour for a decent circuit depending on how far you fancy venturing in.

The beauty of Hallsgrove is that it pairs well with a broader exploration of Hampshire's green spaces. If you're staying at nearby Feather Down Manor Farm, a working farm stay just six miles away, this makes an excellent morning outing before heading back for lunch. The contrast between the open farmland and the enclosed woodland works nicely.

Go when it's been dry enough to avoid mud clogging your boots completely. Autumn's proper atmospheric here - lots of light filtering through thinning canopy - but it's wet and slippery come winter. Spring's lovely too if you're after bluebells, though I can't promise they'll be spectacular. It's free, obviously, and you can turn up whenever suits you.