Wade Hill

The walk up Wade Hill takes about forty minutes from Ashurst, and it's genuinely worth the leg-work. You're looking at a proper moorland peak with 360-degree views across the New Forest and into Dorset beyond - on a clear day you can see for miles. The summit itself is fairly modest, nothing dramatic, but the approach through heathland scrub feels properly wild for somewhere so close to civilization.

History types will appreciate the Bronze Age barrows dotted about the slopes. It's the kind of place where you actually feel the passage of time rather than being lectured about it. The path is straightforward enough, though a bit muddy after rain, and you won't find facilities up there so bring water.

Families with older kids will manage it fine. Younger ones might struggle with the sustained climb, and there's no real payoff at the top besides the views - no café, no shop, no distraction. Walkers and photographers absolutely should do this. It's become a bit more popular in recent years, so go early morning or late afternoon for peace.

If you're staying at Ashurst Campsite or Green Hill Farm Holiday Village nearby, this is exactly the kind of half-day excursion that makes a park holiday work. Combine it with a wander around Ashurst village afterwards - there's a decent pub for a post-walk pint. It's not dramatic, but it's honest terrain and the views are cracking.