West Harting Down

The walk up West Harting Down rewards you with views that stretch across three counties on a clear day - Hampshire, Sussex, and West Sussex all visible from the 715-metre summit. It's a proper South Downs experience without the crowds you'd find at more famous peaks nearby.

The climb itself takes about 45 minutes from the car park at Harting, a small village just outside Petersfield. The path is well-trodden and manageable for most abilities, though it's steep enough that you'll feel like you've earned those views. At the top, the landscape opens out completely - chalk grassland rolling away in all directions, with the Weald visible on clearer days. There's an ancient fort up here too, though the earthworks are subtle if you're not looking for them.

This is ideal for walkers wanting something with proper purpose but without major scrambling. Kids aged eight and up would manage it fine, though younger ones might find the ascent a slog. Allow two hours for the round trip if you're not rushing.

It pairs brilliantly with a stay at one of the nearby parks - Adhurst Yurts just four miles away offers a different kind of walking base, or Bow Hill Farm if you want a quieter, more traditional caravan experience. Cedar Valley, slightly further out, gives you a good central position for exploring the broader Downs. The landscape around here is proper walking country, and West Harting Down makes a cracking half-day objective while you're based nearby.