Tothill Wood

Deep paths wind through ancient heathland where ponies graze between the gorse and silver birch. Tothill Wood sits on the edge of the New Forest proper, just outside Christchurch, offering a proper taste of this landscape without the summer crowds that pack the more famous spots. The woodland feels wilder than many New Forest areas - less manicured, more authentic somehow.

Families with energetic children will find plenty of space to roam, though bring wellies as the ground stays damp well into spring. Dog walkers absolutely love it here. The network of informal tracks means you can easily spend a couple of hours exploring, or just take a quick 30-minute loop if the weather turns.

What makes this spot special is how it connects to the broader heathland. You're not just walking through trees - the landscape opens up into that classic New Forest mix of woodland, heath and grassland that feels quintessentially English. It's free to wander, naturally, and there's roadside parking though spaces fill up on sunny weekends.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Hoburne Bashley or the glamping sites scattered around this corner of the forest? Tothill Wood makes a lovely morning walk before the day heats up, and it's close enough for evening strolls when the light turns golden through the canopy.