Littledown Park

Littledown Park sits just outside Christchurch and is one of those reserves that rewards a proper wander rather than a quick lap. It's a working nature reserve - heathland and woodland mixed together - where you'll actually spot things if you go quietly and don't expect a manicured experience.

The walking is straightforward. There are paths through heather and gorse, with patches of birch and pine scattered about. Spring brings migrant birds, summer gets the dragonflies going around the damper bits, and autumn is genuinely quiet if you want to think. The whole thing takes between 45 minutes and two hours depending on how many detours you fancy.

This is birdwatcher territory, really. Bring binoculars if you're that way inclined. Families with young kids will have a fine time on the paths, though there's not much in the way of facilities - no café, no toilets that I saw, so come prepared. The ground can be boggy after rain, so proper shoes matter.

If you're staying at Meadowbank Holidays just down the road, or any of the other parks dotted around Christchurch, Littledown makes an excellent morning or late afternoon diversion. It's free and it's real - no gift shop, no interpretation boards working too hard, just a bit of Dorset heath doing what it does. Worth combining with a visit to Christchurch Priory in town, which is genuinely worth your time.