Old Park Wood

A proper woodland walk through Old Park Wood near Alresford, and you're immediately struck by how quiet it gets once you're a few minutes in. Ancient beech and oak trees create a cathedral-like canopy, the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think. The forest floor is thick with leaf litter and moss, especially after rain, which means trainers won't cut it - proper walking boots are the sensible choice.

History hangs heavy here. This isn't some managed plantation - Old Park Wood feels like it's been doing its thing for centuries, and there's genuine woodland ecology at work if you know where to look. Families with younger children might find it a bit samey after thirty minutes or so, but serious walkers and anyone who actually enjoys being among trees will spend a good couple of hours in here without getting bored. The paths are reasonably clear if you've got half an ounce of navigation sense, though they're muddy in wet weather and can be easy to lose if you're not paying attention.

Its main strength is the escape value rather than any specific feature you've come to tick off. If you're camping at Woodlands Camping just up the road or staying at Hampshire Hills a mile or so away, this is exactly the sort of place that justifies a park holiday. You roll out of your tent and you're into proper woodland within minutes. Free to access, no visitor centre nonsense, just you and the trees. That's rather the point of it.