Oak Tree Park

The massive oak standing in the middle of Oak Tree Park near Ringwood is the sort of thing you notice before anything else - gnarled, ancient-looking, the kind of tree that makes you actually stop walking and stare. It's a proper focal point, and locals seem to treat it as such.

There's not a great deal to do here beyond a decent wander round the park itself, which is useful rather than gripping. It works well if you're staying at Forest Edge Holiday Park just down the road - that's barely half a mile away - and need somewhere to stretch your legs without getting in the car. Ashley Heath Caravan Park is only a bit further, so it suits that crowd too. Bring the dog, have a stroll, let the kids run about. Bit steep to expect it to occupy you for hours, mind.

The real appeal is that it's genuinely local and uncommercialised. No admission charge that I can find, no visitor centre nonsense. You just turn up and have a look. It slots nicely into a caravan park holiday in the New Forest fringe - somewhere to break up the day if you're based nearby rather than a destination in its own right. Worth the detour if you're staying in the area and fancy twenty minutes of fresh air, but don't expect it to rival the bigger attractions.