New Forest recommendations...

[Potta787]

Hi all,

I have a touring caravan & 2 young children (3 & 8yr old)

I’m looking to do a long weekend in the New Forest this August.

Could someone give me some recommendations to any good sites there please?
Somewhere that has electric hook up and is child friendly

Thanks

[Nath911t]

We've used a few in that area for camping and caravanning.

Hill Cottage Farm nr Ringwood was good with a restaurant on site (take your own alcohol in with you), the shower and toilet block is very good and clean and there are pubs, shops fairly local. Back of beyond (no under 16's) was also good (for us but not for you as you have kids) but there is another site just before the entrance to it - I think it's called Shamba which is geared up for families. There are also another couple in that area which is local to shops, restaurants, takeaways, etc.

There's 42 here so take your pick:

https://www.campsites.co.uk/search/campsites-in-th...

Last year we joined the caravan and motorhome club at £50 or something like that. It gave us access to some sites only used by them and with decent prices. Our first trip out paid for the membership. It worked well for us till I sold the caravan.

Edited by Nath911t on Thursday 9th July 07:30

[PurpleTurtle]

Biggest problem this year is that the main sites in the New Forest that absorb a huge amount of the volume are run by Camping In The Forest.

Due to Covid 19 they have announced full closure for the entire year.

https://www.campingintheforest.co.uk/

That has in turn put pressure on the indie sites in the New Forest, all of the ones I have looked at are running on reduced capacity, and many are fully booked up for the school holidays already. You might turn something up if you just need a few days, but our search for similar has been fruitless so far.

[Deerfoot]

We`ve managed to book a long weekend in Sopley but they`re pretty much booked solidly too now.

Not sure why Camping in the Forest decided to remain shut, a lot of their sites in the new forest have no facilities anyway, they could`ve reduced numbers and demanded pitches were spread out and partially opened.

[PurpleTurtle]

Deerfoot said:

We`ve managed to book a long weekend in Sopley but they`re pretty much booked solidly too now.

Not sure why Camping in the Forest decided to remain shut, a lot of their sites in the new forest have no facilities anyway, they could`ve reduced numbers and demanded pitches were spread out and partially opened.

In 25yrs of camping in the New Forest I’ve tended to avoid the CITF sites wherever possible, they always seem to have an air of ‘happy to take your money but not particularly welcoming’ about them, I’ve actually heard site managers refer to paying guests as that horrible word ‘grockles’ on more than one occasion.

I get the impression that they thought they would be overwhelmed with said grockles, all ravaged with Covid, so pulled up the drawbridge. A bit reactionary but their prerogative. We’re going a bit further afield to try somewhere a bit more welcoming.

[Deerfoot]

PurpleTurtle said:

In 25yrs of camping in the New Forest I’ve tended to avoid the CITF sites wherever possible, they always seem to have an air of ‘happy to take your money but not particularly welcoming’ about them, I’ve actually heard site managers refer to paying guests as that horrible word ‘grockles’ on more than one occasion.

I`ve only stayed with them twice, once at Ashurst (it was OK but very busy) and once at Denny Wood. Denny Wood was nice.

They`re not cheap for what they offer...

[Chrisgr31]

The Shorefield site near Lymington Lynton Lawn is nice, it’s not on the Forest itself but close.

It’s not cheap though, partly as it comes with access to leisure facilities at their nearby caravan park - but they might not be open!

[TwinKam]

As weekend campers, we have avoided the CITF sites as they insist on 3 nights minimum, 4 nights on a BH!
Try looking just outside the Forest eg Fordingbridge, and grab what you can because most places are fully booked now.