Staplewood Hill

The walk up Staplewood Hill takes about twenty minutes from Ashurst, and on a clear day you'll see right across the New Forest towards the Isle of Wight. It's not a dramatic peak - Hampshire doesn't do drama - but it's a proper viewpoint, the kind of place locals actually use rather than somewhere that exists only in guidebooks.

The summit itself is modest, maybe fifty metres of open ground with a handful of benches. What makes it worthwhile is the perspective it gives you over the forest. Pines stretch out in every direction, interrupted by patches of open heath. On weekends you'll spot families dotted across the slopes, but it never feels crowded because most people seem to be in the actual New Forest National Park a few miles south.

It works best as an add-on rather than a destination in itself. If you're based at Ashurst Campsite or Matley Wood, you could knock it out in an hour including the walk back. The route is straightforward - well-trodden enough that you won't get lost, but not so manicured that it feels like a theme park. Kids will manage it without complaint, though under-fives might find the climb tedious.

Go on a weekday morning if you want the place to yourself, or save it for late afternoon when the light softens everything. The free admission and zero facilities mean you're entirely self-reliant - bring water. It's the sort of walk that justifies a caravan holiday in the area without requiring you to venture far from base.