Moors Valley Railway

The narrow-gauge trains here run through some proper New Forest woodland, and if you're staying at Ashley Heath or Forest Edge just down the road, it's an easy afternoon out. Moors Valley Railway isn't a grand heritage line - it's modest, family-focused, and honest about what it does: a short ride through the trees on a miniature railway that kids genuinely enjoy without the pretence of somewhere trying to be more important than it is.

You board at Ringwood end and trundle through the forest on what amounts to a very pleasant woodland walk with wheels underneath you. The whole experience takes maybe an hour from arrival to departure, which is about right - long enough to feel like something happened, short enough that fidgety children don't start climbing the walls.

Walkers will appreciate the setting more than anyone else. The route passes through decent Dorset forest, and if you're doing a proper park holiday at one of the caravan sites nearby, combining this with a longer woodland walk makes a solid day. Families with younger kids (six to twelve range get the most from it) will find the novelty of the miniature trains does its job.

Go on a weekday if possible - weekends here get rammed with school groups. The best light comes mid-morning, before the sun gets too high through the trees. Check ahead for running days, as these things can shut down randomly. It's not revolutionary, but it's well done and genuinely free from the tackiness that kills a lot of these attractions. Worth the detour if you're in Ringwood area.