Row Wood

Row Wood sits just outside Alton and is one of those Hampshire forests that hardly anyone talks about - which is precisely why it's worth a visit. It's a proper woodland walk, the kind where you actually feel like you've left the world behind rather than trudging round a theme-park version of nature.

The trees are tall and dense enough to feel genuinely sheltered, and the ground is soft underfoot with the kind of leaf litter that makes walking feel almost soundless. There's no visitor centre or car park fanfare here - just access to a real working forest where you can potter about for an hour or two without bumping into crowds.

It works well for families with kids old enough to handle uneven ground and the odd muddy patch, and walkers will appreciate the quiet. History types won't find much in terms of ruins or monuments, but there's something satisfying about walking through ancient woodland that's been here long before the nearby Alton roads were even drawn on maps.

If you're staying at Wigwam Holidays just down the road, this makes an excellent half-day break - close enough that you won't spend ages driving, far enough that it genuinely feels separate from the park. Allow a couple of hours to wander without rushing. Admission appears free, which only adds to the appeal. Go on a weekday morning if you can; weekends can draw the Alton day-trippers.