Parley Common Nature Reserve

Walk across Parley Common and you're in proper heathland - the kind of landscape that's been disappearing from England for decades. It's a sprawl of gorse and bracken near Ringwood, with paths that wind through restored heath and occasional woodland. The reserve itself isn't dramatic; there are no peaks or waterfalls, just the gentle roll of working habitat where heather blooms in late summer and birds nest in the scrub.

This is the sort of place walkers and nature enthusiasts come to potter. Birdwatchers do well here, particularly in spring and autumn. Kids might find an hour interesting if they're the exploring type, though there's nothing to "do" in the theme-park sense - just walking and looking. The space feels alive though, even when quiet.

Access appears to be free and unrestricted, with no formal visitor facilities that I'm aware of. Best visited outside the height of summer when the heathland is less parched. Allow a couple of hours for a decent walk; the paths are straightforward enough.

If you're staying at Forest Edge Holiday Park or Ashley Heath Caravan Park - both within four miles - Parley Common slots in nicely as a half-day ramble. It won't replace a trip to Christchurch Priory or the nearby coast, but as a wild interlude during a park holiday in Dorset, it's exactly what it should be: genuine, unmanicured, and quietly rewarding for anyone who enjoys heath and open ground.