Ringwood

The ancient heathland stretches for miles in every direction, dotted with gorse and silver birch that turns golden come autumn. Ringwood sits right on the edge of the New Forest, where Hampshire bleeds into Dorset - a proper gateway town that most people rush through on their way to somewhere else. They're missing a trick.

Avon Heath Country Park sprawls across 500 acres just south of town, offering walking trails through some of the finest lowland heath in southern England. The views from Matchams Viewpoint take in the whole sweep of the forest, right down to the Isle of Wight on a clear day. It's a bit of a climb, but well worth the effort for those cracking panoramas.

Ringwood itself has that lived-in market town feel - not tarted up for tourists, just quietly getting on with things. The high street runs fairly quiet midweek, but there's proper character here if you look for it. JACQ STUDIOS showcases local artists, while the old Wednesday market still draws folk from across the forest.

Getting here couldn't be easier. The A31 cuts straight through town, making it a doddle from London or the south coast. Southampton's 20 minutes up the road for bigger shopping or transport links.

Basing yourself at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense for New Forest exploration. You're close enough to walk into proper forest within minutes, but far enough from the tourist honeypots to avoid the summer crowds. The ancient woodland of the forest proper starts just beyond Avon Heath Country Park, where the commoners' ponies still roam free and you can walk for hours without seeing another soul.