Kings Pond

Kings Pond sits just outside Alton and delivers exactly what you'd want from a nature reserve - water, woodland, and proper peace and quiet. It's a small spot, nothing grand, but that's rather the point. You get a decent walk around the water itself, with good sightlines for spotting waterfowl, dragonflies in summer, and the occasional heron if you're lucky enough and quiet enough.

The reserve works best for families with children old enough to manage a woodland walk without constant carrying, or for birders and nature photographers who'll spend a good hour picking out species. Walkers will appreciate the gentle terrain - no scrambling required. It's the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think, which has become properly rare.

Allow a solid hour if you're taking your time, maybe ninety minutes if you're seriously interested in what's living there. The best light is early morning or late afternoon, when the pond gets that golden quality and the animals are actually moving about rather than hiding from midday heat.

If you're staying at Feather Down Manor Farm or Wigwam Holidays nearby, Kings Pond makes a cracking morning or late-afternoon addition to your park holiday - close enough that you're not spending half the day driving, but far enough away that it feels like a proper outing. The reserves around here aren't dramatic, but they're genuine and unspoiled, which counts for a lot.