Lambermoor Copse

Lambermoor Copse is a proper woodland walk just outside Lyndhurst in the heart of Hampshire's New Forest area. It's a small forest patch - nothing massive - but the trees are mature and thick enough that you feel properly removed from the world after just five minutes in. The paths are well-trodden and easy to navigate, which means it works for families with younger kids without turning into a half-day expedition.

You'll find yourself surrounded by beech and oak, the kind of forest floor that's soft underfoot in autumn. There's no dramatic overlook or ancient monument to tick off - this is just good, straightforward woodland walking. Bring binoculars if you're interested in birds; the canopy here supports decent numbers of woodland species. In spring the light filters through new leaves in a way that justifies the trek alone.

As a pit-stop between the bigger attractions around Lyndhurst and New Forest National Park itself, it's sensible. It's free to access and you can spend anything from 30 minutes to two hours depending on how lost you want to get in the trees. The nearby campsites - Matley Wood is closest at just over three miles away - make it an easy morning walk before heading to one of the larger parks for the afternoon. Don't expect facilities or signposted loops; this is low-key forest exploring, and that's rather the point.