Foxbury Hill

Views across the New Forest and beyond make this modest Dorset summit worth the steady climb. Foxbury Hill sits just north of Ringwood and offers proper countryside walking without the crowds you'll find on more famous peaks. The path winds through heathland and scattered woodland, giving glimpses of ponies and the occasional deer if you're lucky.

Walkers who enjoy a bit of solitude will find this spot particularly rewarding. Families with older children should manage the terrain fine, though it's not buggy-friendly and younger legs might struggle with the gradual ascent. The summit itself isn't dramatic - no rocky outcrop or trig point - but the views more than compensate.

On clear days you can see right across to the Isle of Wight, with the Forest's famous heathland spread out below like a patchwork quilt. Pack a flask and make an afternoon of it, especially during autumn when the gorse blazes yellow and the bracken turns copper.

Staying at one of the Shorefield parks like Oakdene Forest or Forest Edge puts you perfectly placed for this walk, with several other New Forest trails within easy reach. Allow two to three hours for the round trip, though you could easily stretch it longer if the weather's playing ball.