Sarson Wood

You'll find yourself in proper woodland the moment you enter Sarson Wood - tall beeches, oaks, and the kind of damp earth underfoot that smells like autumn even in summer. It's a decent-sized forest just outside Stockbridge in Hampshire, the sort of place that rewards a proper wander rather than a quick loop.

The wood itself is straightforward: footpaths wind through mixed woodland, nothing too dramatic but reliably pleasant. You get that feeling of being genuinely away from things, even though you're never far from civilization. It's the kind of place where you can spend an hour or three without seeing anyone, which feels like a win these days. Families with young kids will manage fine on the main routes - it's not technically challenging - though older children might find it a bit samey if you're only here for 45 minutes.

Walkers and anyone after a proper forest ramble will get the most from Sarson Wood. There's something about these Hampshire woodlands that feels right - not dramatic like the New Forest, but honest and workable. Spring is excellent for bluebells; autumn works too if you fancy some peace.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Salisbury Hillside or Stockbridge View are both five miles or so away - Sarson Wood makes a solid morning out. The Meadow Glamping site is marginally further but equally within striking distance. Combine it with a wander around Stockbridge itself and you've got a proper day sorted. Free to enter, naturally. Just go when the ground isn't waterlogged if you can help it.