Winters Hill

The walk up Winters Hill takes about twenty minutes from the car park, and you're rewarded with views across Southampton Water and the New Forest beyond. On a clear day you can see right across to the Isle of Wight. It's not dramatic stuff - Hampshire doesn't do Alpine - but it's a proper vantage point and worth the leg stretch if you're camping in the area.

The peak itself is modest, maybe 300 feet or so, but the woodland approach is pleasant enough, and there's something satisfying about reaching the summit and taking in the landscape. Families with young kids will manage it easily; it's not a slog. The real appeal is that it breaks up a caravan park stay without demanding serious commitment. You can do the whole thing in under an hour including the drive from Beechen Glamping or Rookesbury Park.

Best visited midweek when it's quieter, or early morning if you want the place to yourself. Bring binoculars if you're into spotting shipping in the water. The views shift depending on weather - fog kills it, but autumn light here is genuinely lovely.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks and the New Forest is doing your head in (it gets rammed), this is a low-key alternative that feels a bit different. Not a destination in itself, but a solid half-morning if you're based locally.