Sun Hill Recreation Ground

The walk up to Sun Hill from Alresford is what makes this place work - you're climbing through proper Hampshire countryside, which feels properly earned once you reach the top. The reserve itself isn't massive, but the views across the surrounding valleys justify the leg work, especially on a clear day when you can see for miles across rolling chalk grassland.

What you're really here for is the ecology. The hillside is chalk grassland, which means orchids in spring and summer, along with butterflies and birds you won't find everywhere. If you're into walking or wildlife, you'll spend a solid hour here, poking about and actually seeing things. If you're after a quick leg-stretch with little ones, it's bit steep for what it is - the paths are manageable but it's all uphill at least one way.

The nearest facilities are back in Alresford, a cracking little market town with proper cafes and pubs to recover in afterwards. Both Hampshire Hills and Woodlands Camping are just a few miles out, making this an ideal half-day addition to a park holiday without feeling tacked on.

Go in late spring if you can - that's when the wildflowers are actually doing something interesting. Early morning or late afternoon you might catch deer. It's free, as far as anyone can tell, and you won't need more than ninety minutes unless you're genuinely into butterfly spotting.