Camping in the New Forest

Mike Svenson visited the New Forest and sent us this account of his ‘desperate’ search for a campsite.

Hollands Wood Campsite

Ok, so with the weather forecast predicting some of the best temperatures of this summer to date for the weekend just past, we decided it was time to try out some camping in the New Forest.

We set off from the in hope of setting up camp at Hollands Wood Campsite which is situated on the A337 road near the Balmer Lawn Hotel, on the northern edge of Brockenhurst. However even with their 600 pitches, it looked as though pretty much ever campr in the country was intent on making use of the good weather, and sadly we were turned away.

This was to become a frequent trend, as we rather desperately used the satnav to locate alternative campsites using the ‘points of interest/save our bacon’ feature.

After a handful of rejections by what looked like large campsites we felt it was almost time to turn home, (or perhaps look for a hidden away bit of land for a spot of wild-camping – not that’d we do that of course… that’s illegal don’t you know).

Making bacon (eggs)

Chapelfield Campsite

However our prayers were answered by the lovely, wonderful, owners of Chapelfield Campsite, near Fordingbridge. They thankfully managed to put us up for the night even though they too were very much full.

So – Chapelfield Campsite? Although the people were wonderful and answered our calling, the campsite was relatively ‘basic’. I guess you would probably say it was lacking in atmosphere, and had an air of carboot sale field, rather than camping field.

Saying that, the campsite did have a good number of portaloos and hot showers for that morning freshen up, so it covered the basic needs of your every day campr, but certainly couldn’t be described as luxurious.

So, I guess the summary would be, a nice little campsite if you just want to pitch a tent and survive, but if you want a bit more adventure, and perhaps the odd wild horse poking his head into your tent during the night there’s one thing to remember… book in advance!

Further information

Chapelfield Campsite
Pitches from £5 a night

8-10 Whitsbury Road
Fordingbridge
Hampshire
SP6 1JZ

Tel: 07807 471621

Camp sites

3 Responses to “Camping in the New Forest”

Gary Says:
April 28th, 2011 at 11:16 am

Hi Mike,

To be totally honest, and this is only my opinion, but not being able to squeeze into Hollands Wood may well have been a lucky escape. The site does possibly have the best shower and washroom facilities of all the Forest Holiday sites in the area admittedly and yes you may well have got a glimpse of a stray pony wandering past your pitch if you had been lucky enough to find a spot on the inner edge of the site overlooking the common, but I can assure you from bitter experience that Hollands Wood is one site that you want to steer well clear of when its busy.

Don’t get me wrong its a great site when not over run with bear swilling teenagers crammed 5 high into a two man festival tent whilst at the same time dueling with their mates in a battle of the hot hatch base box challenge into the early hours with little or no intervention from the site staff. Hollands Wood is normally a near perfect family orientated site with, as previously mentioned, superb facilities and which offers real forest camping with snug corners amongst the heather and hedgerow to tuck yourself away from it all under the canopy of the forest above yet also within a comfortable stroll of Brockenhurst Village and some great family pubs.

Its worth noting though that the right hand side of the site as you drive in can tend to flood in places when the heavens open and you do also get quiet a bit of road noise on that side during the night but all in all well worth a visit again during the week or on a more normal weekend weather wise.

Chapelfield is not a site that we have visited, I must admit, but I guess the pitch rates, when compared to the Forest Holiday sites, does suggest that the facilities will be less comforting shall we say. However, this can sometimes work in a sites favour depending on what it is you are looking for, peace and a good nights sleep for me! At the end of the day you had a weekend away under canvas in the forest and in my books that’s far better than the same time at home catching up on all those nagging jobs that need doing.

Good luck for your next trip away, oh and if you have not done so before its well worth having a look at the Forest Holidays web site as booking on line in advance is very simple and being that they are now part of the Caravan and Camping Club then if all are booked then there is always the option of a triple C accredited site close by.

Happy Camping

Gary

Gary Says:
April 28th, 2011 at 5:03 pm

Me again. My better half has just pointed out that I dont know my left from my right and that it is an fact the left hand side of Hollands Wood as you drive in that has the flooding issue and road noise and not the right as I said above. She also enjoyed pointing out that teenagers tend to prefer drink beer and not bears !

Thank you dear x

Jane Says:
June 12th, 2011 at 3:06 pm

We stayed at Chapelfield on the May bankholiday weekend and had a lovely time. Very family friendly and the owners could not be more helpful. Although it looks abit basic, don’t be put off by the portaloos and trailer type showers, they were both some of the cleanest that I have come accross. Also in walking distance of a very nice pub and in a good location to explore the New Forest. For the price I would definately recommend.

Gary Says:
April 28th, 2011 at 11:16 am
Hi Mike,

To be totally honest, and this is only my opinion, but not being able to squeeze into Hollands Wood may well have been a lucky escape. The site does possibly have the best shower and washroom facilities of all the Forest Holiday sites in the area admittedly and yes you may well have got a glimpse of a stray pony wandering past your pitch if you had been lucky enough to find a spot on the inner edge of the site overlooking the common, but I can assure you from bitter experience that Hollands Wood is one site that you want to steer well clear of when its busy.

Don’t get me wrong its a great site when not over run with bear swilling teenagers crammed 5 high into a two man festival tent whilst at the same time dueling with their mates in a battle of the hot hatch base box challenge into the early hours with little or no intervention from the site staff. Hollands Wood is normally a near perfect family orientated site with, as previously mentioned, superb facilities and which offers real forest camping with snug corners amongst the heather and hedgerow to tuck yourself away from it all under the canopy of the forest above yet also within a comfortable stroll of Brockenhurst Village and some great family pubs.

Its worth noting though that the right hand side of the site as you drive in can tend to flood in places when the heavens open and you do also get quiet a bit of road noise on that side during the night but all in all well worth a visit again during the week or on a more normal weekend weather wise.

Chapelfield is not a site that we have visited, I must admit, but I guess the pitch rates, when compared to the Forest Holiday sites, does suggest that the facilities will be less comforting shall we say. However, this can sometimes work in a sites favour depending on what it is you are looking for, peace and a good nights sleep for me! At the end of the day you had a weekend away under canvas in the forest and in my books that’s far better than the same time at home catching up on all those nagging jobs that need doing.

Good luck for your next trip away, oh and if you have not done so before its well worth having a look at the Forest Holidays web site as booking on line in advance is very simple and being that they are now part of the Caravan and Camping Club then if all are booked then there is always the option of a triple C accredited site close by.

Happy Camping

Gary
Gary Says:
April 28th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Me again. My better half has just pointed out that I dont know my left from my right and that it is an fact the left hand side of Hollands Wood as you drive in that has the flooding issue and road noise and not the right as I said above. She also enjoyed pointing out that teenagers tend to prefer drink beer and not bears !

Thank you dear x
Jane Says:
June 12th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
We stayed at Chapelfield on the May bankholiday weekend and had a lovely time. Very family friendly and the owners could not be more helpful. Although it looks abit basic, don’t be put off by the portaloos and trailer type showers, they were both some of the cleanest that I have come accross. Also in walking distance of a very nice pub and in a good location to explore the New Forest. For the price I would definately recommend.