Ovington Down

The view from Ovington Down stops you mid-stride. On a clear day you can see for miles across the rolling Hampshire countryside, with Alresford sitting below like a model village. It's not a dramatic peak - nothing like the Lake District - but that's rather the point. This is gentle, proper English downland walking territory.

You'll want to factor in at least an hour if you're doing the walk up from Alresford itself, though fit walkers can knock it out in half that. The terrain underfoot is reasonable enough, but it does climb steadily, so take it at your own pace. This works brilliantly for families who fancy a proper walk without the scrambling and the fear of little ones sliding off a cliff edge. Older kids will appreciate getting to the top and spotting Alresford's church spire from above.

The down is free to access - it's open countryside - and there's no formal visitor centre or facilities up there. Bring water. Bring a packed lunch if you want to sit and soak it in properly. Early morning or late afternoon light transforms the whole thing.

If you're camping at Holden Farm Cafe (barely over a mile away) or staying at Winchester Morn Hill further afield, this makes a cracking morning or afternoon sortie. It slots perfectly into a park-based holiday where you want a bit of legwork without overdoing it. The walk beats sitting in a field for hours, though admittedly the views don't command the same respect as proper mountain scenery. Still worth the effort though.