Running Hill

Running Hill is a modest rise on the edge of the New Forest near Fritham, and honestly, it's the sort of place that rewards a quiet morning walk rather than a deliberate expedition. The summit itself isn't dramatic - there's no tower, no café, no viewpoint indicator - just open heath and the satisfaction of being slightly higher than the surrounding forest.

What makes it worth the visit is the walk itself. The terrain around here is proper New Forest - gorse, heather, the occasional stunted oak. You get a real sense of scale and solitude that the more famous forest trails don't always deliver. The views from the top sweep across the forest canopy, and on a clear day you can feel genuinely remote despite being only a couple of miles from Fritham.

This suits walkers far more than families with young children - there's nothing to do once you're up there, and little ones tend to get restless without a destination or a story. History types will find it less interesting than the archaeological sites dotted elsewhere in the forest. But if you're based at one of the nearby campsites like Longbeech or Ocknell, or exploring New Forest National Park more broadly, a morning walk to Running Hill breaks up the routine nicely.

The whole jaunt takes about an hour and a half at a steady pace. It's free, obviously - just park sensibly and follow the forest tracks. Go early to avoid other walkers, and bring waterproofs; this ground gets boggy after rain.