Petersfield

Rolling chalk downland stretches in every direction from this handsome Georgian market town, creating some of the finest walking country in southern England. Petersfield sits snug in the South Downs National Park, where ancient drove roads wind between beech-crowned hangers and grassy ridges that have barely changed since Jane Austen's day.

The town itself has proper character - independent shops line the high street, and the Wednesday market still draws farmers from across Hampshire. Heath Pond sits right in the centre, where ducks paddle between the town's Georgian terraces and Victorian villas. It's a working place rather than a tourist trap, which keeps things refreshingly real.

Walk ten minutes in any direction and you'll hit serious countryside. The Wealden Edge Hangers offer spectacular views across the Weald, while Shoulder Of Mutton Hill and Stoner Hill provide lung-busting climbs with rewarding panoramas. Warren Corner and Head Down are local favourites for shorter rambles, and the ancient woodlands of Adam's Wood and The Slip make for atmospheric walks whatever the weather.

Getting here couldn't be easier - the A3 runs right past, and there's a direct train line to London Waterloo in just over an hour. Portsmouth lies 20 miles south, Winchester the same distance north.

Staying at one of the nearby parks puts you right in the heart of this landscape. You can walk from your tent to Holt Down or West Harting Down, then return to a proper pub dinner in town. The combination of accessible countryside and genuine local character makes this corner of Hampshire rather special.