Our verdict
Miles of proper heathland walking with boardwalks over the boggiest stretches, and enough space that it rarely feels busy. Tracks get muddy and uneven, so wear boots; cattle graze the heath as part of its management, so keep dogs under close control.
A National Nature Reserve of over 1,000 acres in east Dorset, mixing dry heath, wet heath and mire with the ancient oaks of Holt Forest alongside. One of only a handful of places in England where all six native reptile species occur.
Open access land — you can roam freely on foot.