Telegraph Hill

The walk up Telegraph Hill rewards you with proper views across Winchester and the Test Valley - assuming the weather's playing along. It's not a serious hike, more a brisk twenty-minute push from the car park, but it does climb and your legs will know it. Once you're up there, the panorama justifies the effort: rolling countryside stretching out, Winchester Cathedral visible on a clear day, and on a decent afternoon you can sit on the grass and actually hear why this spot mattered enough to warrant a telegraph station back in the day.

It's the kind of place that appeals to walkers who don't want a full-day commitment - you can do this in an hour without rushing - and families with reasonably fit kids. The views alone keep you entertained for a bit, though don't expect a visitor centre or tearoom. Bring a packed lunch if you're making an afternoon of it.

The main thing: go when visibility is good. A grey drizzly day renders Telegraph Hill pointless. Winchester Morn Hill Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite sits less than a mile away, making it an easy morning walk before breakfast or a late-afternoon stroll before dinner. If you're camped at Holden Farm or The Spinney further out, it's still a straightforward drive in. Free to access, no facilities, and best attempted when you can actually see something.