Hawkhill Enclosure car park

A car park isn't usually what gets the heart racing, but Hawkhill Enclosure near Brockenhurst is the kind of place that proves the exception. This is where you leave the car and properly step into the New Forest - a proper gateway to some of the loveliest walking territory in Hampshire.

The enclosure itself is a historical relic, one of several Victorian-era fenced areas created to protect young trees from the forest's roaming ponies and cattle. It's not dramatic or Instagram-friendly, but if you're into the bones of how the New Forest actually works, there's something quietly compelling about it. The car park serves as a jumping-off point for walks ranging from gentle woodland loops to longer forest rambles that'll take you deep into the quieter bits.

Walkers will get far more from this than anyone just passing through. You're looking at a minimum of two hours if you want to make proper use of the surrounding trails - longer if you're a slow, stopping-to-look sort. It's free to park and wander, which is exactly what the New Forest should be.

If you're based at Roundhill Campsite just over a mile away, Hawkhill makes a sensible morning destination before the trails get busy. The New Forest National Park is bigger and more famous, sure, but this spot gives you the forest without the crowds. Come on a weekday if you can. Autumn's particularly fine here - the enclosure's protective fence creates a distinct woodland character when everything's turning bronze.