New Forest Camping

[PennyJane]

Hello folks!
I'm planning a camping trip over the summer, and fancy giving the New Forest a whirl. Has anyone got any suggestions of a tried and tested campsite for a group of friends in their 30's and a couple of babies, who like their hot showers and clean loos, but don't want to be told to be quiet if they're still up and chatting after 9.

Any suggestions much appreciated!
Thanks PJ

[seamusagleann]

hi penny jane and welcome to wab . here is a link to some campsites in the new forest run by the forestry commission,hope they help!!
http://www.forestholidays.co.uk/camp...ew_forest.aspx

[PennyJane]

What a great site! Thanks very much for that and cheers for taking the effort. I'm getting very excited about going now!

[The Black Rabbit]

Me and my fiancee go to ashurst campsite most years - PERFECT location - decent pub (kid friendly too) nest door and railway station with links to other parts of the forest.
Otter and Owl sanctuary just round the corner too...
Its VERY good indeed.
We won't be going this year - but I guarantee if you do, you WON'T regret it.
TBR

[Stewy]

We've camped at Ashurst quite a few times aswell TBR, the last time was a nightmare, some bloke in a tent near us was snoring so loudly I had to try and kip in the car but I could still hear him and didn't sleep a wink!!

The nearby pub is called The Happy Cheese.

[seamusagleann]

Originally Posted by Stewy

We've camped at Ashurst quite a few times aswell TBR, the last time was a nightmare, some bloke in a tent near us was snoring so loudly I had to try and kip in the car but I could still hear him and didn't sleep a wink!!

The nearby pub is called The Happy Cheese.

one of the reasons why i'd rather wild camp

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by seamusagleann

one of the reasons why i'd rather wild camp

You can't in the New Forest though can you?

[big bill]

Hello PennyJane and welcome to the site enjoy your camping holiday dont know New Forrest weel but have been there as eldest son stays in Southampton so go there occasionally when on holiday

[seamusagleann]

Originally Posted by Stewy

You can't in the New Forest though can you?

sorry to mislead you stewy ,i meant camping in general !!

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Stewy

We've camped at Ashurst quite a few times aswell TBR, the last time was a nightmare, some bloke in a tent near us was snoring so loudly I had to try and kip in the car but I could still hear him and didn't sleep a wink!!

The nearby pub is called The Happy Cheese.

I think we picked our pitch each time we went Stewy in a pretty decent place - pretty near the entrance - although maybez we've been lucky - there are always decent pretty secluded spots there that we've seen?

The happy cheese is the worst of the two (IMMEDIATE) local pubs we reckon - although better for drinking in I s'pose.
The pub I was talking about is actually the "New Forest Hotel" which is less of a traditonal boozer, more of an eaterie. Lovely food, but gets CROWDED in the summer, and has a great welly throwing competition organised by the new(ish) landlord.
That said, with Ashurst station RIGHT THERE - good travel links to other half decent (Ringwood) boozers all over the forest.

We'll not go to another Campsite in the forest!

TBR

[Stewy]

Have never eaten in the Happy Cheese and to be honest I don't really think I would wan't to, alright for a drink though and a nice easy stumble back to the canvas!!

[PennyJane]

Thanks chaps,

This is all good info. I'm glad to see how high the quality of local boozers is on your list of priorities. People after my own heart.
I'm quite sold on Ashurst. Any idea if its possible to just try your luck on the day in the height of summer (mid-August time) or should I definately book ahead?

You have to book for 3 nights if so, and most of the party can only make it for two.

Thanks again for your help!

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by PennyJane

Thanks chaps,

This is all good info. I'm glad to see how high the quality of local boozers is on your list of priorities. People after my own heart.
I'm quite sold on Ashurst. Any idea if its possible to just try your luck on the day in the height of summer (mid-August time) or should I definately book ahead?

You have to book for 3 nights if so, and most of the party can only make it for two.

Thanks again for your help!

We've always just "turned up and paid" Penny - though the upsurge in UK-based holidays etc... this year (rather than holidaying abroad) (as in the recent news) MAY alter the wisdom of that decision.
That said, if the weather doesn't markedly improve by mid August, people may still all troop down to the Costa del whatever rather than camp in Hants!

My advice - just turn up as early as you can on the day and try your luck - but if it all goes pear-shaped, I didn't give you that advice!

TBR

[Stewy]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm it's a tough one that, I turned up at Ashurst campsite once on a bank holiday weekend just to stay for a night but they were full, tried a few others and they were full too and in the end we just went home which thankfully is not too far away.

If you book then at least you have peace of mind that you will get in but then again the rest of your gang would have to pay for 3 nights and only stay for 2 plus the weather could be total rubbish. Also how far will you be travelling? If it's say a 2 or 3 hour drive you'd be gutted if there was no room when you arrived.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm???

[deer boy]

Originally Posted by PennyJane

Any idea if its possible to just try your luck on the day in the height of summer (mid-August time) or should I definately book ahead?
You have to book for 3 nights if so, and most of the party can only make it for two.

Why not ring them up, explain your situation & see if they will book u in for 2 nights instead

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Hmmmmmmmmmmm it's a tough one that, I turned up at Ashurst campsite once on a bank holiday weekend just to stay for a night but they were full, tried a few others and they were full too and in the end we just went home which thankfully is not too far away.

If you book then at least you have peace of mind that you will get in but then again the rest of your gang would have to pay for 3 nights and only stay for 2 plus the weather could be total rubbish. Also how far will you be travelling? If it's say a 2 or 3 hour drive you'd be gutted if there was no room when you arrived.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm???

Yeah.
Fair enough Stewy.
Maybez you should book in advance.
We go camping pretty spontaneously I guess, so that wasnt an option for us.
And maybe we got lucky...

TBR

[nightshade]

We tented it at Ashurst, beware the railway it can be noisy, the reptile farm was brilliant

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit

Yeah.
Fair enough Stewy.
Maybez you should book in advance.
We go camping pretty spontaneously I guess, so that wasnt an option for us.
And maybe we got lucky...

TBR

Same as us TBR, we have never booked a campsite and just turn up on the off chance apart from a couple of times when we have phoned in advance to see if they have any space.

I can't remember the amount of times that we have chucked all the camping gear into the car and headed off in a random direction and have ended up driving around like idiots for a few hours trying to find a site that is not full!!!