Campsites in the New Forest

Fancy going camping New Forest style? With its stunning mix of ancient woodlands, heathland, rivers and valley mires, the New Forest National Park is a very popular holiday destination for people who love camping and the outdoors. This scenic park is home to a variety of wildlife and is famous for the animals that wander freely and graze the land, including the iconic new forest ponies, cattle, donkeys and, at certain times of the year, pigs. The park also boasts pretty villages and an unspoilt coastline. Explore the beauty of nature at one of the many campsites New Forest offers, perfect for a peaceful getaway.

The New Forest’s highlights include

• The New Forest National Park
• Beaulieu
• Lyndhurst

Picture perfect surroundings

The real reason visitors flock to the New Forest is the stunning landscape. Essentially it’s crammed with chocolate box style cottages hidden away among the ancient trees, so the views to be had are spectacular.

Hatchet Pond, Balmer Lawn, and Bolton's bench are all popular picnic sites in the heart of this beautiful space. The impressive Knightwood Oak is the largest and most famous oak tree in this national park. 

With all the fun happening inland, it is easy to forget that the New Forest has a coastline to be enjoyed. Lepe County Park has a great beach, a welcoming seaside café and stunning views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.

The ancient seaport of Lymington, the market town of Ringwood and the quaint village of Buckler's Hard are all lovely days out, offering period architecture and historic sights.

Active exploring

The New Forest is best enjoyed by getting out of the car and getting active. There are a huge number of walking routes in the park to suit everyone from self-declared couch potatoes to fitness freaks. Cycling is a very popular way of exploring the forest - there are over 160km of well-marked cycle routes in the park and it is easy to hire a bike in any of the towns.

Horse riders enjoy open access to the majority of the park and there are a number of riding stables based here. Plus, it won’t take you long to find a wild pony to watch, horses rule the roost in these parts.

The region has a good selection of golf clubs and courses all set in picturesque surrounds.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, there are numerous restaurants, pubs and tea rooms in the New Forest featuring dishes using fresh local produce. Several Taste Trails allow you to sample the delicious cuisine while exploring the beautiful environment.

The area is home to several vineyards and breweries but above all New Forest Cider deserves a mention as it produces traditional cider the old fashioned way. Travellers in the village of Burley can taste the unpasteurised cider from barrels, chock full of local English apples, before they buy.

Other attractions

The village of Beaulieu is home to one of the UK's most popular attractions and makes for a really great day out. Admission to Beaulieu allows you to visit the famous National Motor Museum, the beautiful Palace House and Gardens, Beaulieu Abbey and the World of Top Gear so it really is a car lover’s paradise.

As if there wasn’t enough motoring in the area already, the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum and Beaulieu National Motor Museum each house an incredible collection of vehicles guaranteed to excite fans of racing, Top Gear and James Bond.

There are fabulous gardens to explore at both Furzey Gardens and Exbery Gardens, plus a steam railway to get you in the retro spirit.

There are a host of historical attractions lying just outside and easily accessible from the National Park. Hurst Castle and Highcliffe Castle are both historical highlights.

Lyndhurst is very much the centre of activity in the national park and there you can browse the New Forest Centre and Museum.

Also nestled in Lyndhurst is the Church of St Michael and All Angels, where Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland, is buried. Why not pay your respects for her colourful journey.

Animal loving children will enjoy the New Forest Wildlife Park, New Forest Deer Safari, and New Forest Reptile Centre, all located within the national park. Also worth a visit is the nearby Marwell Zoo and Liberty's Owl Raptor and Reptile Centre.

Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary delicvers on its promise to bring you up close with these shy creatures, and you can wander among deer and spend the day enjoying the landscape.

Paultons Family Theme Park is filled with fun rides, games and attractions. Young ones attached to Peppa Pig will especially love Peppa Pig World, featuring play areas and rides for younger children.