Ridgeway Copse

A proper woodland walk through beech and oak, Ridgeway Copse sits a few miles outside Newbury and delivers exactly what you'd hope for - trees, quiet, and the occasional glimpse of daylight through the canopy. It's not dramatic, not packed with visitor facilities, just solid forest that feels properly Hampshire. The paths are decent underfoot once you're in, though they can be boggy after rain, and there's a real sense of being away from things despite the proximity to town.

This is walker territory, pure and simple. Families with young kids might find an hour sufficient before restlessness kicks in, but if you've got teenagers or you're after a proper two-hour loop, the woodland delivers. Birdwatchers should bring binoculars - the variety can surprise you in a small woodland like this.

Admission is free, as you'd expect for a public woodland. Best visited autumn through winter when the undergrowth isn't quite so thick and the ground's firmer. Summer can feel a bit hemmed in and damp.

If you're camped at Bishops Green Farm Campsite - just six miles away and a solid four-star spot - this makes an easy morning or late-afternoon break from the site. It won't eat up your whole day, which is the point. Pair it with a walk around Newbury town centre or a longer route through the surrounding heathland if you want to make a proper day of it. Worth doing once if you're in the area, though it's not the sort of place you'll rave about down the pub.