Great Copse

A proper woodland walk through Hampshire's Test Valley, Great Copse is the sort of place you stumble into rather than plan a trip around - though you absolutely should. The forest sits just outside Stockbridge and rewards a couple of hours wandering with dense beech and oak, occasional clearings where light floods through, and the kind of quiet you won't find near the motorway.

It's genuinely good for families with older kids who can manage uneven ground without complaining every five minutes. Younger ones might flag after an hour, depending on temperament. Walkers will appreciate it as a proper woodland experience without the crowds of somewhere more famous. The paths are there if you want them, but half the fun is pushing between trees and discovering your own route.

Bringing a packed lunch makes sense - find a fallen log or clearing and you've got yourself a proper forest picnic. Spring's exceptional here, with bluebells carpeting sections of the woodland floor. Autumn's equally good if you're after that golden-light mood. Winter's fine too, though it gets boggy in patches.

If you're based at The Meadow Glamping or Stockbridge View nearby, Great Copse fills an afternoon without requiring any faffing about with entry fees or opening hours. It's the kind of place you just go to. Combine it with a pint in Stockbridge itself and you've got a solid half-day sorted. Not spectacular enough to warrant a solo pilgrimage from elsewhere, but absolutely worth knowing about if you're in the area.