Tatchbury Mount

The climb to Tatchbury Mount takes about twenty minutes from Ashurst, and it's steeper than you'd expect for a Wiltshire peak. The summit itself is modest - nothing dramatic - but on a clear day the views across the New Forest sprawl out properly in front of you, rolling green and surprisingly wild. It's an Iron Age hill fort, though the earthworks have softened over the centuries, so you won't see dramatic ramparts. What you get instead is a quiet, grass-covered mound with a handful of interpretation boards if you're lucky.

Walkers planning a week at one of the local campsites - Ashurst Campsite sits just down the road, or push to Green Hill Farm Holiday Village a bit further out - can make this a straightforward morning sortie. It's the kind of place that works best when tacked onto a longer loop rather than as a standalone trip. History enthusiasts will find it satisfying enough, though the lack of visible stonework means you need to use your imagination. Families with younger kids might manage the ascent, but there's nothing to do once you're up, so don't expect to keep them occupied for more than thirty minutes.

Free to visit, no facilities, and best walked in drier months when the grass isn't boggy underfoot. New Forest National Park sits just a few miles south, so it's worth combining with proper woodland walks in that direction. Worth the detour if you're already in the area, but don't rearrange your holiday to visit it.