New Forest National Park

The New Forest isn't what you'd expect from a National Park. There are no dramatic peaks or windswept moorlands - instead, you get 219 square miles of ancient woodland, open heathland, and genuinely wild ponies wandering across the roads as if they own the place. They do, technically. The forest is medieval common land, and those free-roaming horses, cattle and donkeys have rights that predate most of England's planning system.

You can walk or cycle for hours without seeing another soul, which sounds lovely until you realise the map is confusing and you've somehow ended up back at the car park. The village of Brockenhurst makes a sensible base - it's got pubs, shops, and easy access to the main trails. Serious walkers should allow a full day to explore properly; families with younger kids will get a solid afternoon's worth before the novelty of spotting animals wears off.

What makes it special is the quiet. Not Instagram-quiet, but genuinely peaceful. You'll see wild boar wallows, ancient oaks that have stood for centuries, and on a clear day, proper horizons. It's free to access, though car parks charge a couple of quid. The camping options are everywhere - Long Meadow, Matley Wood, and Hollands Wood all sit within spitting distance, so you can keep a van parked and explore at your own pace.

Not a destination for dramatic views or ticking boxes, then. But if you want to walk somewhere that feels genuinely removed from the usual tourist circuit, this delivers in spades.