Mitchelland Copse

A proper woodland walk rather than a destination in itself, Mitchelland Copse sits just outside Southampton and offers the sort of quiet forest experience you'd think had disappeared from Hampshire altogether. The trees are dense enough to feel properly removed from the world, with paths that wind through beech and oak without too much fuss. It's the kind of place where you notice things - moss on rotting logs, birds you can't name, the smell after rain.

Really best for walkers who want thirty minutes to an hour of something genuine rather than a ticketed attraction. Families with younger kids might find it a bit samey after a while - there's not much to stop and gawp at, just woods being woods. If you're into spotting birds or want somewhere to clear your head before heading back to the Southampton sprawl, it's worth the detour.

The nearest caravan parks - Rookesbury Park and ScottsHaven are both roughly two and a half miles away - make this a solid option if you're basing yourself in the area for a few days. Pair it with a proper walk to the New Forest (not far north) for a fuller woodland holiday. Free access, no facilities that I could find, so come prepared. Go early morning if you can, when the light filters through properly and you might actually have the place to yourself.