Sheet Common

Sheet Common sits just outside Petersfield and is exactly what the name suggests - a proper stretch of open heathland where you can actually breathe. It's the kind of place where locals walk their dogs, families let kids burn off energy, and ramblers use it as a jumping-off point for longer routes across the South Downs.

The ground is boggy in places, especially after rain, so waterproof boots aren't a bad shout. There are established paths crisscrossing the common, none particularly demanding, which means you can tailor your walk to however much time you've got. The views open up nicely once you're away from the road, with rolling countryside stretching toward the downs. It's not dramatic, but it's properly restful - the kind of place where you actually notice whether the light's changed.

Families with younger kids will find it manageable and free-roaming, though there's not much in the way of facilities or attractions to hold attention for hours on end. Walkers passing through the area will appreciate it as a quick leg-stretcher or as part of a longer boot around the Downs. If you're staying at Adhurst Yurts just half a mile away - where you can actually do proper outdoor skills courses - this common becomes your local playground. Cedar Valley, five miles off, offers more structured activity if you need it.

Go early or late afternoon if you want some peace. The light's better then anyway.