Southampton

The rolling downs here rise and fall like green waves across Hampshire's chalk landscape. This slice of countryside sits between Winchester and Portsmouth, where ancient trackways cut through beech woods and open hilltops offer sweeping views across the Meon Valley.

Wickham Vineyard produces some decent English wines on south-facing slopes that catch every scrap of sunshine. The terroir works well for sparkling whites, and tastings run most weekends. For proper walking, Stephen's Castle Down gives cracking panoramic views - it's a bit of a climb but well worth the effort on a clear day.

The area's peppered with ancient woodlands like Bottom Copse and Downleaze Copse, where bluebells carpet the forest floor come spring. Breach Hill and White Hill offer different perspectives across the Test Valley, while Galley Down provides one of the highest vantage points in the immediate area.

Bishop's Waltham sits nearby with its ruined palace - once a favourite retreat of medieval bishops. The village has a proper butcher and decent pub, plus the Saturday market draws folk from miles around. Getting here couldn't be easier: the M27 runs just south, connecting you to Southampton in twenty minutes or Portsmouth in half an hour.

Staying at one of the local parks puts you right in the heart of proper Hampshire countryside. You're close enough to nip into Winchester for cathedral visits or Southampton for shopping, yet far enough out to wake up to birdsong rather than traffic. The South Downs National Park boundary runs close by, making this an excellent base for exploring both the Test and Meon valleys without the tourist crowds.