West Meon War Memorial

You'll find this memorial in the heart of West Meon village, just a short drive from Alresford. It's a straightforward but moving tribute to the local fallen from the two world wars - the sort of place that rewards a quiet five minutes rather than a lengthy visit. The stone itself is modest, situated in a peaceful corner of the village where you can actually hear birdsong rather than traffic. Worth stopping for if you're exploring Hampshire's War Memorials on a walking route, or if you've got family connections to the area.

Historians and those tracing local history will get the most from it, though it's honestly more about paying respects than deep exploration. There's no visitor centre, no interpretation boards - just the memorial doing what it's meant to do. Free to visit, obviously, and you can linger as long as you like without anyone bothering you.

If you're camping at Cedar Valley or Woodlands Camping nearby, it's an easy hop to include West Meon in an afternoon walk through the village. The Meon Valley itself is proper countryside - rolling hills, quiet lanes - so you could combine it with a longer ramble if the weather holds. Don't expect much else in the immediate vicinity, though. It's the kind of stop that fits between other things rather than a destination in itself. Allow ten minutes, maybe twenty if you're the reflective type.