No 3 Wall Target

Out on the open heath near Fritham, you'll find a rather peculiar relic of wartime Britain - No 3 Wall Target, a concrete structure that once served as a practice range for soldiers training to breach fortifications. It's exactly what it sounds like: a solid block of reinforced concrete, pockmarked with bullet holes and blast damage from decades of military use. The thing's still standing, grim and functional, a tangible reminder that this corner of Wiltshire wasn't just farmland during the Second World War.

Walkers and history buffs will find it genuinely interesting, though don't expect a visitor centre or interpretation boards. You simply turn up, have a look round, and piece together the story yourself. It's the kind of place that rewards a bit of curiosity and a willingness to explore rough ground. Families with older children might get something from it, but younger kids will probably lose interest after a few minutes - it's not interactive or showy.

The target sits accessible from the heath, free to view, and it works brilliantly as a waypoint on a longer walk rather than a destination in itself. Allow twenty minutes to examine it properly. If you're camping at Longbeech or Ocknell, both within a few miles, this makes a solid half-day excursion across the heathland. The New Forest surrounds this whole area, so bundle it into a proper rambling trip rather than treating it as a standalone stop.