The Old Airfield is a family friendly campsite set on an old RAF base in the south eastern corner of the New Forest, located five minutes from Burley and 15 minutes from the sandy beaches at Mudeford and Highcliffe. There are spacious grass pitches for campers with tents and campervans, as well as 15 glamping bell tents. Say hello to the famous New Forest ponies right from your pitch and go for picturesque countryside walks.

Why choose The Old Airfield

An idyllic family-friendly site in the the New Forest - look out for the famous ponies!

Enjoy spacious pitches and bell tents with visiting food trucks for coffee, pizza and more

Just five minutes from Burley and 15 minutes from the sandy beaches at Mudeford and Highcliffe

About the site

This peaceful site set in the heart of the New Forest is the perfect pocket of countryside for you and your family. Based five minutes from the ancient village of Burley on a 1940s RAF airstrip, you'll feel nostalgic as you unwind amongst nature. There are spacious grass pitches for tents and campervans, none of which have electric hookup. Additionally, there are 15 glamping bell tents for those wanting a little added luxury. You'll also find composting toilets, hand-washing basins and a shower block with hot showers (and good pressure!). There are designated washing up areas and drinking water points, and raised firepits are available to hire, with seasoned logs for sale, so don't forget those marshmallows! Hungry bellies won't be a problem here. On weekends, there are visiting food trucks, including a horse box bar, barista-style coffee, and a pizza oven. You'll be surrounded by flora and fauna that fall into the Special Area of Nature Conservation, making this a great place for nature watching. Venture out for walks and explore the countryside as you wind your way through the New Forest. Remember to look out for the famous ponies! Dogs are welcome, and with this being in the idyllic New Forest, it's a great escape for your four-legged pals. Please do just remember to keep them on a lead. BBQs are allowed, but must be raised off the ground. Open fires are only permitted in the raised firepits hired onsite.

The site is open for May half term, weekends in June and July and then from 31st July to 31st August. Pitches from £41/night for 2 people.

"Quiet and peaceful. Having the food trucks, little bar and communal area was just the best"

Bernadette P

Nearby Map

What facilities are at The Old Airfield?

Accessible facilities

Allow commercial vans

Allow pets on site

Café / restaurant / takeaway

Drinking water

Family friendly

Shop

Showers

Toilets

W.C. disposal

WiFi

Fires allowed

Glamping

Near beach

Peaceful

Wash up area

There are basic facilities, including unisex eco toilets and hot showers, as well as a washing up point with hot water. There's also fire pits for hire and seasoned wood for sale.

At the weekends, the horse box bar serves cocktails and local ales, and the barista truck is on hand with freshly made coffee and pastries. There's also a range of other food trucks, too, including a pizza oven.

For picking up the essentials, there is a Co-op a five minute drive away. There are three local pubs all within a five minute drive, The Crown, The Three Tuns and The Carpenter's Arms. Bransgore and Burley are the closest two villages to the site, each with a number of eateries and shops.

Great for everyone

Choose where to pitch, grab a bite from one of the food trucks, then light up a campfire and toast marshmallows under the stars.

There are 247 accommodation options on-site

Bookable pitches and accommodation options

15 x Bell Tents (Dog Friendly)

Max 5 people

Spacious glamping bell tents with countryside views. Fitted with low wooden beds, decorative bunting and an outdoor table and chairs. Linen, pillows, bedding, towels, cooking facilities are not provided. Shared facilities nearby. Dog friendly.

The Old Airfield reviews

4.5 /5

40 reviews

92%

would recommend

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Camping (21)Glamping (2)Motorhome or Campervan (17)Caravan (0)

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Family with young children (4)Family with older children (13+) (3)Solo (4)Couple (16)Group (13)

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Showing the most recent reviews from guests

Excellent campsite

Recommends site

Ian W

Small Tent - Non Electric Grass PitchesAug 2025

Very enjoyable stay, lovely people, very clean and a relaxing time. Staff 10/10.

Fantastic night away

Recommends site

Kate R

Roof Tent - Non Electric Grass PitchesAug 2025

My daughter and I normally stay at Holmsley campsite but it was full. I'm so glad it was otherwise I would never have stayed here. It was really clean, the adult area was quiet the facilities were great and the morning coffee and pastries amazing. My daughter has special needs and feels safer in a quiet environment this was perfect. We will be back. Thankyou

Great site, shame there were no BBQ's or cooking allowed

Recommends site

Gary M

Medium Tent - Non Electric Grass PitchesAug 2025

Booked as it states BBQ's and fires allowed. Turned up and BBQ's / fires are not allowed.

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Need to know

Frequently asked questions about The Old Airfield

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Site rules

What time can I check in and check out of The Old Airfield?

When camping at The Old Airfield you are welcome from 1pm. For the bell tents this is slightly later so please arrive from 3pm. Do make sure you are at the site before 9pm.

On departure day please vacate the site by 11am for camping and 10am for the bell tents to allow for extra cleaning.

Can I bring my dog to The Old Airfield?

Yes, dogs are welcome at The Old Airfield for a small fee. They must be kept on leads, and please ensure that you immediately clean up after them.

Are campfires and BBQs allowed at The Old Airfield?

Fires are allowed at The Old Airfield as long as they are in fire pits and not lit on the ground. You can hire out fire pits and buy any wood you need from the reception area.

Do note that fires must be away from all hedgerows, and in dry weather, the site insists that only their own fire pits can be used for safety reasons.

What is the check-in/check out process at The Old Airfield?

When you arrive at The Old Airfield, guests will need to check-in with a member of the campsite team. On the day of your departure, you will just need to make sure you leave no rubbish behind and check out by the allocated time.

Does The Old Airfield allow day guests to visit those staying onsite?

Yes, The Old Airfield does allow day visitors/guests but they will need to check-in at reception and pay a small fee per car for the day. The site ask that there are no more than two adult visitors (and accompanying children) per pitch at any one time. Visitors need to leave their car at reception and depart by 9pm. Visitors must adhere to all campsite rules.

Does The Old Airfield allow groups or pitches being booked together?

No, The Old Airfield does not allow group bookings without prior arrangement as the site is aimed at couples and families.

Does The Old Airfield have a quiet time or noise policy?

Yes, The Old Airfield does operate a quiet policy. No amplified music is allowed to be played on site at any time. At 10:30pm, the site asks that you keep all noise to a minimum, and at 11pm the site has to be totally quiet.

Pitches

Can I bring a gazebo?

Gazebos are allowed at The Old Airfield for a small additional cost, as are windbreakers and event shelters, as long as they fit on your pitch.

Can I park next to my pitch at The Old Airfield?

Yes, you are welcome to park on your pitch at The Old Airfield. Extra vehicles can be added as a bookable extra.

Facilities

Is there WiFi at The Old Airfield?

No, The Old Airfield does not offer WiFi.

Does The Old Airfield have a shop onsite?

No, there is not a shop at The Old Airfield. For picking up essentials, there is a Co-op a five minute drive away. Larger supermarkets can be found in Christchurch, within a ten minute drive.

Is there a restaurant or cafe at The Old Airfield?

There is not a restaurant at The Old Airfield, but there are food trucks onsite, including freshly made coffee, pizza and a bar.

Does The Old Airfield have electric vehicle charging?

No, The Old Airfield does not offer EV charging. The closest electric vehicle charging point is at the New Milton Community Centre, a 15 minute drive away.

Does The Old Airfield have a communal fridge and freezer?

No, The Old Airfield does not offer a communal fridge or freezer.

What is phone signal like at The Old Airfield?

Most phone service providers should be able to access a phone and 4G signal at The Old Airfield.

Getting there

What are the nearest public transport links to The Old Airfield?

The nearest train station to The Old Airfield is Hinton Admiral which is a five minute drive. The closest bus stop is Thorney Hill Crossroads which is a 15 minute walk away and offers services to Ringwood and Christchurch.

Are there any local taxi service companies to The Old Airfield?

Local taxi companies to The Old Airfield include Aldance Taxis (07969 353484) and Red Express Taxis (01425 474747).

What's nearby

What are the nearest pubs to The Old Airfield?

The nearest pubs to The Old Airfield are The Crown, The Three Tuns and The Carpenter's Arms, all within a five minute drive.

What are the nearest beaches to The Old Airfield?

The nearest beaches to The Old Airfield are Highcliffe Beach (10 minutes), Avon Beach (10 minutes), Southbourne Beach (20 minutes) and Bournemouth Beach (25 minutes).

What walking routes are close to The Old Airfield?

There are plenty of scenic walks in the New Forest close to The Old Airfield. These include the Burley village walk (5 minutes), the Burley and Whitton Pond loop (5 minutes) and the Smuggler's Road trail (10 minutes).

Other

Can I pitch near my friends?

At The Old Airfield, the camp field is so large that there are no allocated pitches. This means you are free to pitch next to your friends, depending on how busy the site is, of course, and the time of year.

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Ask a question and a member of the team will get back to you as soon as they can

A note from the site themselves...

Camping is a tradition that has flowed through our family for decades. From Great Grandad Frank's legendary trips to Anderby Creek in the 1930's that, quite astonishingly, involved him packing a family of three and all their camping equipment onto a motorbike and sidecar!

We also had our Grandad Harry's camping trips in Canada in the 1950s, to us packing up the old Volvo and heading to the Dorset coast, listening to Neneh Cherry in the mid-1990s. There's something about the freedom afforded by a camping trip that has deeply resonated with our clan for many years.

We then finally opened a campsite of our own in 2015 and haven't looked back. Over the past years, we have grown with the families that come back and camp with us year after year, often with the addition of some of their friends.

We hope for this to be you soon, Vivien

The Old Airfield is ideal for...

Couples

Older children (13+)

Peace and quiet

Young children

Things to do on site and in the Burley area

Explore the beautiful New Forest, perfect for anyone looking to get out and about in nature! Take a leisurely stroll or go cycling - there are endless walking trails right from your tent, some of the New Forest's most popular cycle tracks, and plenty of places for den building and tree climbing in the site's own little copse.

Further afield is the south coast seaside, where you can explore the dramatic cliffscape of Lymington (20 minutes) or Mudeford (10 minutes). For slightly more peaceful activities, Highcliffe Castle has a beach and tea rooms (10 minutes).

Barton on Sea Golf Course is there for the golfing keen beans (20 minutes). Otherwise, you might want to wander around the harbour in Mudeford, Christchurch Priory (15 minutes) or the National Trust's Kingston Lacy (40 minutes).

Nearby Bolderwood is one of the most beautiful forests in the area, where you can watch the fallow deer being fed (15 minutes). There are also many walks in the woods for all abilities and a large picnic area amongst the tall trees, alongside a New Forest information centre.

Paultons Park (25 minutes) will surely pick up the pace again - many of the rides are Peppa Pig themed, which will be a hit with little ones! For older thrillseekers, you'll hit the jackpot with a visit to the Lymington Sea Water Swimming Baths for watersports, zorbing and an inflatable aqua park, just 25 minutes away.

Other local attractions include: