New Forest Campsite Recommendations

After a successful trip along the Monsal trail to Thors Cave, we fancy an adventure closer to home (SE) this weekend.   Thinking New Forest with the kids (6 and 9) and bikes.

Any campsite recommendations with off /quiet roads from the site to something of interest – stream/beach/town/pub.

The STW go to, Avon Tyrrell, looks fully booked.

thanks in advance

I’ve overnighted at Red Shoot a couple of times. lots of tracks coming from it and a good pub (disclaimer, i haven’t stayed there for over 6 years)

I am local so have never stayed, but Toms Field always seems popular and allows open fires.

The old airfield – part of the Harry’s field campsite group is good

Stayed at Tom’s field many years ago and it was good then.

A fair number of the FC campsites require your own toilet.

I came to say the old airfield looks like a good location though I didn’t know what it was called.

Go to Avon Tyrell next weekend and tie-in with the Big Bike Bash!! http://www.bigbikebash.org.uk

I live in between Avon Tyrell and the Old Airfield and there are no off/quiet roads from there to the beach, towns or streams that I know of.  Obviously haven’t used any campsites within a mile from my house but Holmsley Campsite looks like a nicer setting to me (within trees and direct access into forest without going on roads) rather than what is basically an open field at the Old Airfield

Ah Holmsley is the one I meant! Though in the map both are in the same place?

You can go out the back of that into the woods. Short section of quiet road then join the old railway line cycle path into brockenhurst. Yes there is a fast road section after the old station however I think there is a way around that in the inclosure to the South.

I think we’ve used Holmsley before and had a nice weekend. Quite a few years ago.

According to OS Maps there seems to be some traffic free cycle routes in the nearby inclosures. You might have to cross an A road but it’s mostly off road.

Burley and Bransgore are nearby for pubs and assuming they’re still there a village shop or two.

Ah Holmsley is the one I meant! Though in the map both are in the same place?

Yes, they almost back onto each other divided by what used to be a runway.  Holmsley has been there a long time whereas the Old Airfield only started a few years ago.

Short section of quiet road then join the old railway line cycle path into brockenhurst. Yes there is a fast road section after the old station however I think there is a way around that in the inclosure to the South.

Yes you can go straight across onto some single-track or ride down the fast road for a mile and then turn left into more fire road cycle routes.   I can do a 20 mile loop from my house and hardly ride on any roads so there are a lot of cycle routed gravel roads.

There’s a Harry’s field at Frogham, in the (vastly superior (emoji goes here)) northern part of the forest.  It’s “in” Frogham village if that makes a difference (pub, maybe a shop – it’s not big).  Good access to even legit offroad biking, let alone the other tracks nearby and streams nearby.  It is up a hill though (and near the steepest hundred yards of road that I know of locally)

Also Greenfields at North Gorley (bottom of the “hill”) seems OK as I ride past now & then – really close to the water park & other lakes

Lepe beach also has campsites. Not sure in the cycling from there but the beach is interesting (ww2 history).

I’ve always enjoyed Hollands Wood  FC site.  Also Wareham Forest Tourist Park is a lot nicer than the name suggests with woodland camping and direct access to kid-friendly off road bike trails.

https://www.campinginthenewforest.com/campsites/ashurst/ is very close to Ashurst train station.

Co-Op a short walk north east where we discovered amazing spicy multi-cheese loaves ten years ago.

A bit further that way is Deerleap Lane which has the Owl & Otter Sanctuary (now called New Forest Wildlife Park).I’ve not ridden it often, but said lane isn’t bad to cycle on as regards traffic levels.

Not that far from Motor Museum.

Used to be a tour bus, no idea if still running.

Blissford Hill isn’t far away from there, never did get around to trying that monster before long covid!

Not ridden it, but I think Woodlands Rd almost opposite campsite is quite popular with cyclists.

Roundhill just outside Brockenhurst is pretty good. Puts you in striking distance of Beaulieu, Lymington and Lyndhurst.

Surrounded by mature forest with loads of tracks. It’s as good as most places, since nowhere is good for anything more than gravel riding in the New Forest.

I used to go there 30 years ago, since I hail from those parts. Evidently my parents and Kerley must be almost neighbours.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.  I have been to Roundhill in the past and really liked it.  However I have also driven past an enormous traffic jam of cars queuing to get in.  I have also been to Red Shoot and remember a heated floor in the wash block.

Think we will just arrive in the Forest mid afternoon and see which of all your suggestions take our fancy.

thanks again.

‘Acres down’ for me. Simple campsite, just stuff a £20 into the farmhouse on your way out. Puts you at the start of an excellent gravel trail, easy cycling distance of bolderwood etc.

The Hollands Wood an Ashurst sites are both really nice, close to Brokenhurst and Lyndhurst respectively and straight into miles of easy riding in the forest. Pitch where you like as long as you leave a reasonable distance from your neighbour.

But I’d be amazed if you can just turn up on spec, they’re usually booked up well in advance this time of year.

Setthorns campsite spans the old railway line (now a bridleway) just outside Brockenhurst. You can easily ride/walk into the town and ride across the forest from there.

Never stayed there as I’m on the edge of the forest but I’ve cycled through it plenty of times and it looks ok.

Edit: just read it’s got no bogs or showers so unless you’ve got a camper van then maybe not a good idea.

I like Hollands Wood as you’re straight into the forest tracks for offroad access to Lyndhurst/Brockenhurst and onwards for bigger rides but also just to nip out in the evening for dinner etc.

I imagine it’s less tranquil in the summer holidays but I suppose they all will be!

Thanks all for your recommendations.

Went to Roundhill first and they appeared quite surprised we hadn’t booked in advance but let us in so we stayed.  Kids loved the donkeys wandering through the camp; me shooing a horse out the awning with a camping chair and swimming in the stream by Brockenhurst.  Less impressed when we got mildly lost on the forest trails.  Fun times.