Pilgrims Ash

The walk up Pilgrims Ash, just outside Winchester, rewards you with proper views across Hampshire's rolling downs. It's not a dramatic peak by any stretch - more of a steady climb through woodland that opens onto open chalk grassland near the summit. You're looking at 30-45 minutes from the nearest car park, depending on your pace and which route you take.

This is walker territory, genuinely. Families with small kids might find it a bit of a slog without the payoff of a café or visitor centre at the top. But if you're staying at one of the local caravan parks - Holden Farm is just 2.5 miles away, or Winchester Morn Hill if you want something more established - it's an absolutely cracking half-day outing. The views back towards Winchester itself are worth the effort, especially on a clear morning before the haze rolls in.

Go for the walk rather than the destination. The real interest lies in how the landscape shifts as you climb - from dense beech woodland to more open grazing land. It gives you a genuine sense of the Hampshire countryside rather than another Instagram-friendly viewpoint. Best tackled early in the day when you've got the paths mostly to yourself. Spring bluebells can be lovely too if you time it right, though you're relying on nature's schedule there.