Brockenhurst

The New Forest ponies wander right up to your car here. That's Brockenhurst - where ancient woodland meets Victorian railway romance, and wild ponies treat the high street like their personal playground. This proper forest town sits bang in the heart of Hampshire's most famous national park, with centuries-old oaks casting shadows over tea shops and country pubs.

Spinners Garden offers a lovely retreat if you fancy something more manicured than the wild heathland. The woodland feels genuinely ancient - Stockley Inclosure and the surrounding copses like Moonhills and Jarvis's have that deep forest atmosphere where sunlight filters through in cathedral shafts. For something completely different, Beaulieu's motor museum showcases everything from vintage Rolls-Royces to James Bond cars.

Getting here couldn't be simpler. The railway station connects directly to London Waterloo in just over an hour, making this one of the most accessible parts of the New Forest. Lymington's just down the line if you fancy the coast, while the forest tracks spread out in every direction from the town centre.

Staying at one of the nearby forest campsites makes perfect sense. Places like Roundhill or Hollands Wood put you right among the trees, with ponies as your neighbours and miles of heathland on your doorstep. You can cycle or walk straight from your pitch into some of England's most unspoilt countryside - no car journeys required. The Test Track Challenge at Beaulieu's worth the short drive if you've got petrolheads in tow.