Can you recommend a good CAMPSITE - possibly NEW FOREST area?

[noonar]

ok, we've not camped since we had the dds, aged nearly 3 and 5. we'd like a site with clean facilities. we dont want to have to queue for the shower. a small shop on site might be handy. a pool might be nice, but we want to avoid big eurocamp style sites, full of swanky caravans, iyswim.

i actually think that a basic field would suit me fine, but with the dds, this might be hard work.

any ideas for a good site, not too basic, and in a pretty setting, definately WITHOUT a 'holiday camp' atmosphere?

tia

try the foresty commission ones, we went to hollands somethign or other it was absolutely excellent.

well first off I'd recommend broadway holuse in cheddar, we know it very well, were there last week and a friend does the 'entertainment' (low key and entirely aovidable LOL), DH used toa s wella ctually years back. Shall grab a link, they ahev a pool and a great park too

otherwise sandyballs in the new forest (I know the name sounds like a joke...) which I have heard peole rave about though never been there personally, wood farm in charmouth, and the forestry commission ones (owuld prob need to be holmsley for you)

forest holidays for holmsley and hollands wood, and others

wood farm

\link[http://www.broadwayhouse.uk.com/\ this site in cheddar is amazing- ask for a pitch in badgers hole to be near the kids park and away from entertainment(yet another dodgy name LOL)}

this site is lovely and has a small farm kids can visit

oops

as before ask for badgers hole at this one- reasons below (and its not a set up honest- pitch no. 814 or tehreabouts should you wish to avoid dodgy names }

peachy, those links are really useful, thanks.

i wthink the forestry commission ones might suit us, as they sound less commercial than some .

do you think we need an on site shop, bearing in mind that we'll have no fridge?

also, does anyone know which of the FC site are especially scenic?

quad, i'm v interested in your recommendation. what made it such a great site? i note that the facilities are pretty basic. was it especially pretty?

I've done hollands wood too, its lovely- no shop its true (though not far to one, youd still have to drive there though) which is why we're doing Holsley next- small shop, kids palya rea etc

Hollands Wood is lovely and scenic

What about forest fo dean as well? Also FC sites, can recommend Christchurch 9and sallystrawbeery loves bracelsnds), small shop and nto much else but incredibly scenic

ah, peachy, i see holmsey (sp) is the only one with a shop. hmmm...that narrows it down a bit. and you do really need to be able to buy milk etc for breakfast, dont you?

we're off to holmsley for my birthday, the ul campsite reviews are pretty good anyhow.

Holland Wood is right by the main road though so be careful to pitch on the other side!

Holmesley is massive but you can walk straight into the forest (as with Holland Wood).

ok foks, can i hijack my own thread for a minute and ask what essentials you would take for a weekend break, apart from basic cooking/ sleeping equipment?

Hi Noonar, it was excellent for many reasons. Not only is it a fantatstic base, lots of nice walks nearby, It is wonderfully run, a group of youngish people camped fairly near to us and the people in charge came straight over and told them to behave or they'd be off. The people in charge of the site, live in a campervan type thingy on site and are very friendly and always stop for a chat. the toilets and showers were clean, no queues despite it being fully booked when we went. There was also a shop, play area and hair dyers in the toilets that went down well!!
You don't have specific pitches either so you have a fair amount of space, although we went when it was busy we weren't right next to anyone. Very peaceful, chilled out camping, like it should be

hang on I might be talking about Holmsley actually just checking wait a mo

yeah it was Holmsley sorry about that, i have no idea why i got confused!

LOL

I did wonder about the space- we did Hollands last Whitsun and space was a premium (although aprtly coz we went Thursdaya nd this annoying family proceeded to turn up Friday, claim it ahd been their pitch for a decade and camp as awkwardlya s they could to vlock us out.

noonar - a wine box and 2 glasses.

what is on your list?

Holmselely is lovely peachy you will love it

I hate territorail campers
I think it would have turned me into a very irritating screamy type of woman who you wouldn't want to camp next to!

wellies, raincoats, shorts (whatever the weather we do shorts, even with wellies, as trousers drag in the mud and get horrid- now obv would not do that if minus ten!!)

towels washbags washing up stuff, loo roll, wipes, dustpan and brush, warm stuff for sleeping in (and a blanket under the beds for insulation), MALLET, erm thats about it?

Quad we had a better way

we allowed DS1 to satre at them, normally we reign him in (ASD) but that time we thought sod them,- 3 days of staring they got

I do wish we had somewhere like the New Forest a bit nearer to us - we are severley lacking any interesting sites less than 2 hours away, that aren't 20 minutes away iyswim.

Peachy that made me larf

smae as us lucycat, we are about 2 hours from anywhere, about 3 if we want to see the sea

great. holmsely it is, then.

lucycat, we dont have a list as suchjust a bargain tent from halfords which came with sleeping bags, lamps and lilos. we have no other equip at all, so would like to know what else to buy.

lets see, am thinking maybe...

fold up all in one chair/ table thingy
2 ring burner
picnic ware
washing up bowl
couple of pans
bucket with lid

what else do i need?

camping chairs are a must, the ones that fold into a bag

I like the one ring burner thingies in a case with the integral gas, we have both but i prefer that, its much quicker and alot less faffing.

TBH that'll be largely OK, there's a camping store in brockenhgurst which'll sell anything you miss off. when are you going?