Withyhayes Copse

A proper woodland walk rather than a destination where you'd spend the whole day, Withyhayes Copse sits just outside Southampton and offers a decent escape into the trees when you can't face driving far. The forest floor is thick with fallen leaves and moss, and there's something satisfying about the quiet - no gift shops, no café, just you and the canopy. It's the kind of place where dog walkers outnumber tourists, which tells you everything.

You're looking at a couple of hours maximum if you want to do the whole thing properly. The paths wind through mixed woodland with occasional glimpses of the New Forest types of scenery, though it lacks the drama of the big attractions nearby. Children will manage it without too much moaning, though after an hour they'll be ready for something else.

Free to access, no facilities that I could find, and best visited when it's not raining - the paths get muddy fast. Late autumn is lovely when the canopy thins and the light changes everything.

If you're based at Lepe Beach Campsite just down the road, this works as a morning walk before heading to the coast. Sunnycott and Comforts Farm are close enough that you could knock it out between breakfast and lunch. It's not going to be the highlight of your New Forest holiday, but it fills a gap on a day when the bigger woods feel crowded.