Longstock Recreation Ground

A modest strip of land along the River Test, Longstock Recreation Ground offers walkers a proper slice of Hampshire riverside without the crowds you'd find elsewhere. The ground itself is unremarkable - playing fields, a small car park - but it's the water access that matters. The river here runs clear and shallow, excellent for paddling on hot days, and the bankside paths give you a good few miles of wandering if you're inclined.

This isn't a destination in itself. What it is, though, is a solid pit stop if you're exploring Stockbridge and the Test Valley. Families with young children can let them loose on the grass or splash about safely in the shallows. Walkers tackling longer stretches of the Test Way trail often pass through here. If you're staying at Stockbridge View or The Meadow Glamping - both just a short drive away - it's worth an hour's potter on a sunny afternoon.

The best time is spring or early summer when the river's manageable and the banks aren't overgrown. Bring a picnic. There's a certain charm to eating sandwiches watching the water go past, and it costs nothing. Don't expect facilities or concessions - this is a working recreation ground, not a visitor attraction with airs. But that's rather the point. Combine it with a walk up to Stockbridge itself for proper pubs and shops, and you've got a decent half-day sorted.