Outshott Hanger

Ancient beech woodland thick with chalk streams and the sort of quiet you don't find near towns anymore. Outshott Hanger sits just outside Alton, Hampshire, and it's the kind of place you can slip into for an afternoon walk without planning anything formal - there's no entrance fee, no visitor centre, just the forest itself.

The hangers (that's the local name for these steep wooded hillsides) are proper disorienting if you're used to flat walks. The paths wind through dense beech trees, and in spring the bluebells are genuinely worth timing a visit for. Summer gets thick and green, autumn is all russet and gold underfoot. You'll spot chalk streams running through, and if you're unlucky with timing you'll get very muddy indeed.

It works best for walkers who actually like walking - not the stroll-round-a-car-park sort. Kids manage it fine if they're the outdoor type, though the steep bits mean younger ones will need carrying sections. History enthusiasts will find the steep topography interesting but won't find plaques or interpretation boards.

Allow two hours if you're doing a proper loop. Go midweek if you can; weekends pull in families from Alton proper.

If you're staying at Feather Down Manor Farm just three miles away, this becomes an easy morning mission before heading back for lunch. The yurt glamping at Adhurst (4.5 miles) works too - forest walks suit that whole outdoor-living vibe. Wigwam Holidays at 4.8 miles gives you similar options. All three parks sit within easy reach for combining with woodland exploration.