New Forest Campsites; New Forest Camping; New Forest Caravanning

	New Forest Campsites - Denny Wood

New Forest Camping offers great value for money. A good quality tent, equipment and accessories can be bought for less than the cost of a family holiday abroad in a hotel, and once the initial outlay has been made, the gear can be re-used year-after-year for full-scale holidays and weekend breaks.

Caravanning, of course, requires a little more expenditure, but otherwise, the same principles apply.

New Forest Campsites are located throughout the area. Those on the Crown Lands – the open lands of the New Forest - are managed by Forest Holidays, a partnership between the Forestry Commission and The Camping and Caravanning Club, whilst there is also a choice of privately owned, independent New Forest Campsites and Caravan Parks. Visitors should note, though, that pitching tents in places away from the organised campsites is not allowed.

New Forest Campsite facilities vary widely, and range from little more than a field or plot of land, right the way up to well-equipped holiday parks with bar, swimming pool and shop. Charges are equally variable, and usually reflect both the facilities available and the time of year - Bank Holidays and high summer usually attract the highest charges.

Of the New Forest Campsites operated by Forest Holidays, Setthorns is open throughout the year, whilst almost all the others are open from the beginning of March to the end of September. Holmsley, though, remains open until the beginning of November, whilst Aldridge Hill does not open until the end of May and closes at the beginning of September.

Similarly, a small number of privately owned New Forest Campsites are open all year round, but many are open only in spring, summer and into the autumn.

	New Forest Campsites - a visiting Great Spotted Woodpecker

Walkers, too, are well-catered for, with many miles of New Forest tracks and paths quite literally on the doorstep – check out a range of New Forest Walks here – whilst there are few better ways of getting close to nature. Grey squirrels, for example, are widespread throughout the New Forest Campsites, whilst deer, foxes and badgers often wander through after dark, when all is quiet.

Birds, though, perhaps provide the greatest interest, so-much-so that many regular users of New Forest Campsites bring with them feeders to erect beside tent or caravan. Then, it’s not unusual to see great spotted woodpeckers, nuthatches, marsh tits and many other species attracted to the feast. Here’s a link to lots of information about New Forest Wildlife.

Commoners’ ponies, too, are often regular visitors to the New Forest Campsites operated by Forest Holidays, and whilst some might find the prospect a little daunting, the stock are an integral part of the landscape and add memorably to the overall New Forest Camping experience.