Park Hills

The walk up Park Hills takes about twenty minutes from the car park, and honestly it's worth every step. You're rewarded with proper views across the New Forest and beyond - on a clear day you can see right across Hampshire. The summit itself is modest in size, but that's rather the point; it's not some mad scramble, just a steady climb through woodland that opens out to grassland at the top.

Walkers will absolutely love this. It's accessible enough for families with capable kids, though the path can be muddy after rain so come prepared. You're looking at an hour total if you take it leisurely and spend time at the top with a flask. History types might find the Iron Age fort earthworks interesting - there's evidence of ancient settlement up here, though you need to know what you're looking at.

Park Hills works brilliantly as part of a wider New Forest exploration. If you're based at Beechen Glamping just three and a half miles away, this makes a cracking morning before heading into the forest proper. Holden Farm Camping is five and a half miles distant and equally convenient for combining with other walks in the area.

There's no admission fee - it's just open access. Best visited outside peak holiday season when the car park isn't rammed. The views are genuinely excellent and the walk is proper satisfying without being exhausting. Not a 'must do', but if you're in Southampton and fancy an hour's ramble with a payoff, this delivers.