Shere is about as quintessentially English as a village can get with quaint cottages, timber framed houses, cosy pubs, tea-rooms and a river trickling through it. If you fancy a festive walk, you can follow in the footsteps of the stars of the Christmas movie The Holiday.

Children will want to head straight to the play area and pump track at Beggarwood Park, so it is a good job the walk is super short and easy!

This is a linear walk that features plenty of things to keep young walkers motivated from ancient trees, a tea-room, riverside pubs with play areas, a natural woodland play area, a village playground, a paddling spot and a farm shop.

Hambledon, known as the ‘Cradle of Cricket’, is a rural village packed full of attractive country homes and a popular tea room. Our walk loops around the perimeter of the village, taking you up onto the National Trust’s Speltham Down.

The wide shallow ford at Fordingbridge has to be the best place to paddle in Hampshire and just to add to it, the park next door has its own paddling pool too. You can park up next to the site, or follow our walk from the forest's edge.

We were really excited to visit Hampshire Pantry after it opened and a quick study of the map showed us that we could walk directly to the farm by starting at the superb play area at Oliver’s Battery and hiking over Compton Down with lovely views.