It’s the only part of South East England that’s preserved and protected from modern development, with its landscape probably still navigable by the likes of William the Conqueror, who used to hunt there hundreds of years ago. Without visiting the area and seeing for yourself what majestic England looks and feels like, you’ll never truly grasp the beauty of it.
So if, like many, you’re planning a trip to the New Forest to see it for yourself, then you may well be looking for somewhere to stay - and where better to stay then right in the heart of it, at one with nature?
Camping in the New Forest Hampshire is extremely popular in the New Forest National Park, and there’s a host of great campsites for you to pitch your tent. There’s literally something for everyone, with basic and luxury campsites, caravan sites and even log cabins.
Forest holidays has ten stunning campsites, most without facilities, so you can truly immerse yourself in the outdoors. Aldridge Hill, for example, is a natural camping and caravan site with no facilities, located in a heathland clearing and bordered by Ober Water and Blackwater Stream.
Then there’s Ashurst, popular amongst many campers for providing a great taste of the best of New Forest, set in a stunning woodland glade and failing to disappoint.
If you’re looking to surround yourself with old oak trees, Denny Wood, Matley Wood, and Setthorns are all fantastic, set in grassy clearings amongst scattered oaks and entirely secluded - affording you true tranquility and privacy. Hollands Wood is also a great site if you’re looking to surround yourself with oak trees and is the winner of the David Bellamy Silver Conservation Award.
Travelling with kids can be tough if you can’t keep them entertained, but Holmsley camping and caravan site is just a short drive from the beaches of Christchurch and Bournemouth, and the grassland site has plenty of space for them to play too.
If you’re looking for an open heathland site with plenty of blue sky, space (and toilets!) then Ocknell Caravan Park and Camping Site is for you, whilst Longbeech site is tucked away nearby in the midst of an ancient beech wood and is facility free.
Roundhill Caravan Park and Camping Site is perhaps the best option if you’re staying with the whole family, with the spacious heathland site offering refurbished facilities and more than enough space for the children to run around.
If it’s real luxury that you’re looking for though, then perhaps somewhere like Sandy Balls Holiday Centre would suit you. Nestled in 120 acres of breathtaking woods and parkland right on the border of the legendary River Avon, this all year round holiday park offers a whole host of guest facilities. Quite literally everything you could wish for is catered for here - with accommodation ranging from fully serviced touring and camping pitches to ReadyTents and luxury cabins. There’s indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an entirely indulgent beauty suite, stunning onsite restaurants and bistros in the newly refurbished central pedestrianized piazza, and even a state of the art gym! Hire a bike and go cycling through the woods, or take a leap and go horse riding - you name it, you can do it here in style.
There’s something for everyone in the New Forest National Park, and even in the most luxurious and modern of venues the emphasis is always on organic, back to nature living. You won’t regret a trip to this amazing destination, and whether you opt for the basic facility free nature sites or the luxury, facility loaded holiday parks, there’ll be no doubt in your mind that your holidaying in a place of genuine and valued prehistoric natural beauty.
Recommended Reading:
Caravan & Camping Britain 2011 (AA Caravan and Camping)
New Forest National Park: Short Walks
Further detailed on Camping in the New Forest Hampshire at: http://www.new-forest-national-park.com/new-forest-camping.html
Other Campsites:
Green Hill Farm Holiday Park is a peaceful hide-away site on the edge of the New Forest. It is within the National Park and has its own direct access to the forest from the site.
Lytton Lawns Milford - good facilities and value off-peak. Pricey at peak periods but can use Shorefield.
Hurst View nr Pennington - great location for Coastal walk to Lymington. Have new facilities.
