Meon Hill

The walk up Meon Hill rewards you with proper countryside views across the Test Valley, and it's the sort of modest summit that works brilliantly if you're based at one of the nearby parks around Stockbridge. Nothing dramatic - it's barely 600 feet - but the climb itself is straightforward enough for most walkers, and the views across Hampshire's rolling chalk downs justify the leg work.

You get a real sense of how the landscape sits together from the top. The River Test winds through the valley below, and on clear days you can pick out the Winchester direction. It's not a walk that demands proper hiking gear or hours of your time, which makes it dead useful if you're staying at Stockbridge View or The Meadow Glamping and want to stretch your legs without committing to a full day's march.

The village of Stockbridge itself - right at the foot of the hill - is worth a potter around. Good pubs, decent shops, and the river walk through town is genuinely pleasant. If you're doing a park-based holiday in this pocket of Hampshire, you could easily knock out Meon Hill as a morning walk, then spend the afternoon exploring Stockbridge or pushing on to some of the other Test Valley walks.

Allow about ninety minutes for the walk itself if you're not rushing, and go when the chalk paths are dry - they're proper slippery when wet. Early morning or late afternoon light hits the valley nicely, which matters more here than the actual summit views.