Pistle Hill

The walk up Pistle Hill rewards you with one of the best views across the New Forest and beyond - assuming the weather cooperates. It's not dramatic in the Alpine sense, but from 367 metres you get proper 360-degree visibility on a clear day, stretching toward the Dorset coast if you're lucky.

It's a straightforward ascent from Fordingbridge, and most walkers will manage it in under two hours there and back. The route itself is pleasant rather than spectacular - woodland paths that open onto heath as you gain height. You'll pass through typical New Forest terrain: gorse, bracken, the occasional pony wandering across the path.

Historybound types might find the views from up here interesting enough to linger. Walkers doing a wider loop through the Forest will find it a worthwhile detour. Families with young children should know it's a bit of a slog for small legs, though not insurmountable if they're capable hikers.

If you're camped at Hill Cottage Farm or any of the surrounding parks - Ashley Heath, Forest Edge, or Oakdene Forest Park - Pistle Hill makes a solid half-day outing. There's free access to the area, as you'd expect with New Forest walks. Avoid the peak tourist season if you can. Autumn is particularly good: quieter, and the light hits those distant views properly.

Go for the walk itself rather than expecting a landmark or a destination. The value is in the climb and what you see from the top.