Poulner Lakes

The water here is surprisingly clear when you first spot it through the trees. Poulner Lakes, just outside Ringwood, is a proper working nature reserve - not the kind of place that's been polished up for tourists, which is precisely why it's worth the visit.

You're looking at a series of former gravel pits that have been left to their own devices long enough to become genuinely wild. The walking trails wind between the lakes themselves, and if you time it right - early morning or dusk - you'll see herons, kingfishers, and various wildfowl going about their business without much fuss from you. Bring binoculars. Seriously, binoculars make the difference between a pleasant walk and actually spotting something interesting.

It's the kind of place where families with younger kids might manage an hour, maybe ninety minutes, before restlessness sets in. Birdwatchers and serious walkers will happily spend half a day here, moving between different vantage points. The paths are flat and manageable, which helps.

If you're camping at Hill Cottage Farm over in Fordingbridge - only a few miles away - this makes an excellent morning excursion before the heat builds. The reserve has that understated quality that defines so much of the New Forest area: nothing flashy, everything genuine. You won't find cafes or facilities, so bring a flask and plan accordingly. It's exactly what a nature reserve should be.