Lookout

The views from Lookout stretch across the New Forest heathland and beyond, giving you a proper sense of why people bothered settling in Dorset at all. It's a straightforward affair - a viewing point where the landscape opens up and you can see for miles if the weather's on your side. On a clear day it's worth stopping for, though I'd be honest: don't expect dramatic clifftop drama here. This is gentle, rolling countryside, the kind of place that rewards a ten-minute pause rather than a two-hour expedition.

Walkers doing circuits around Ringwood will find it a natural spot to catch breath and get oriented. Families with young kids won't struggle - it's accessible without being a trek. The real appeal is if you're staying at one of the caravan parks nearby, like Ashley Heath or Forest Edge just down the road. Pop up here between activities rather than planning a day around it.

If you're in the area for a park holiday, it slots in nicely with a ramble through the New Forest proper. The vantage point helps you understand the lie of the land before you head off on foot. No facilities to speak of, so bring what you need. Free access, no faffing about with opening hours or admission fees. Worth twenty minutes of your time, not much more.