Camping in the New Forest

[Helloandgoodbye]

Young family - where do we go? I want to be near some life, pub and maybe small village etc. Any recommendations?

[MrsWembley]

Do you mean, where to go once you are there or where to camp? And are you looking for all mod cons or as basic as possible?

South, near the coast, there are some lovely, more lively spots. The north of the Forest is wilder and more sparsely populated. There really is something for everyone. Depends what you want.

[Artfooldodger]

Try Hollands Park if you want walkable in to a village as its on the edge of Brockenhurst with the "Beach" nearby (a stream which all the kids love to paddle in).

There are a few pubs in Brock, you're on the cycle tracks so can get around easily & not on roads. You can drive or take the train to Lymington for crabbing on the quay, shops & a great Saturday market.

Go through the forest to The Oak at Bank for a gentle cycle rewarded with a good pub lunch.

Whitemoor is great to see ponies & cattle out & about, plus a trip along Rhinefield Drive is always beautiful.

If you have your own chemical toilet & are happy to not have an EHU then consider Aldridge Hill campsite - perfect for getting back to nature, but still within a 10 minute safe cycle to Brockenhurst.

By the way, go to Mudeford Quay and Avon Beach for the day too.

[SummerSazz]

Red Shoot Inn has a campsite behind the pub. Food was good. Not near a village but plenty of ponies and cycle paths nearby

[Helloandgoodbye]

Oh wow thanks for the response. I want somewhere to camp that makes carting along 3 young children easy! I have been camping a few times but I still like a clean set of toilets and nearby shops. Thanks to all of you and especially artfool I had been looking at that site so glad you recommend it. X

[AnnPerkins]

Red Shoot has lovely showers with underfloor heating 😁

It's not very spacious which can actually be quite good with young children. Beware if you pitch between two snorers though 😡

[Helloandgoodbye]

I was also looking at redshoot but I'm sure that's where some people had complained of being put next to a main road and I had experienced something like this the last time I camped and it was hell on earth...

[AnnPerkins]

I can't remember a main road, it's in the forest.

[AYD2MITalkTalk]

Is there still one called Sandy Balls...?

[Linus33]

We've camped at both Red Shoot and Sandy Balls. Different sites. Red Shoot has a small camp shop and a pub just off site. Lovely site with clean facilities and a small play area for children. It is near a road but it is a quiet forest road and you won't hear it. Good for cycling.

Sandy Balls is a different affair. Still lovely but has a much bigger centre with swimming pool, arcade, restaurant, shop, bar. On site there also a bigger adventure play area. Also good for cycling but more on the road than Red Shoot.

It really depends on what you're looking for I.e. Quiet with fewer facilities or bigger, more lively. Both have EHU.

[Helloandgoodbye]

I may have got that wrong about the red shoot being near a main road actually just checked trip advisor and it wasn't that one at all. Someone had said the site was covered in dog poo but I take these reviews with a pinch of salt. As long there isn't one to avoid then that's good. The kids are happy playing together as they are all close in age.

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

I came on here to recommend Avon Tyrell Activity Centre where we just spent the weekend. However, it isn't really walking distance from anywhere I don't think - not easy walking distance anyway. It is near to Bransgore and is certainly easily drive-able from good pubs etc.

We had a fantastic weekend and there are lots of outdoor activities to choose from for kids and adults, though you need to book them up fairly quickly. In our case, the children did bushcraft and high ropes, but there was canoeing on the site's lake, a zip wire, a climbing wall, archery and I think other activities too. Also, a heated swimming pool (only open at certain times when we were there but it may be open more in the summer).

You could chose to camp with or without electricity and the loos and showers were pleasant and cleaned regularly I think. You could also reserve a free barrel BBQ or have a fire in your own raised firepit, as we did (many sites don't allow any type of fire in the New Forest..

Where we camped, there was also a children's playground which the children really enjoyed and made friends there too.

There is a cafe on the site which, again, I suspect is open longer hours and with a bigger food selection in the summer.