Shawford Down

The chalk ridge running south from Winchester offers proper walking country, and Shawford Down is where you'll find yourself if you've got any sense. It's a straightforward downland site - open grassland, the sort of place where you can actually see across Hampshire without trees getting in the way. The walk up takes twenty minutes from the car park near Shawford, and once you're there the views back towards Winchester are genuinely worth the leg work.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not dramatic or particularly high, but it's the kind of spot that reminds you why people bothered to settle around Winchester in the first place. You can see how the land sits. Kids will manage it without complaint if they're the outdoor type, though there's nothing to do once you arrive except look and breathe fresh air - no café, no facilities, no surprises.

The real value is as a break from a park-based holiday. Holden Farm Camping & Cafe just down the road is exceptional if you've booked there, and Winchester Morn Hill is close enough for a morning or afternoon excursion. Allow ninety minutes total if you're starting from Winchester town centre - a decent walk without eating up your whole day. Go on a clear day or don't bother; the mist makes it forgettable. Free, obviously, since there's nothing to charge for.