The New Forest is a popular camping destination with campers and caravaners looking to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of the forest. The official campsites are located throughout the New Forest and so are on, or near to, some marvellous walking routes.

It’s easy to step out from your tent or caravan awning straight onto walk taking you to explore ancient woodlands, picture postcard villages or vast expanses of heath.

Wild camping is not permitted in the New Forest.

Ashurst

As the gateway to the New Forest, Ashurst campsite on the Ashurst – Lyndhurst road is conveniently located for both bus and rail services. To explore the woodland immediately surrounding the site, our Ashurst walk takes you on a two-mile trip through Churchplace Inclosure and into Ashurst Wood. For a longer walk, it’s possible to walk through Deerleap Inclosure and Matley Wood on an eight-mile route taking you all the way to Brockenhurst.

Hollands Wood

Another site convenient for public transport is Hollands Wood. Within walking distance of both Brockenhurst rail station and the Bluestar 6 bus route, the site is nestled in woods alongside Balmer Lawn. It means you can join the Lyndhurst – Brockenhurst Loop which runs on the main path through the site. Or you can explore the surrounding woods on our eight-mile Balmer Lawn walk.

Roundhill

On the site of the World War Two RAF base, Roundhill has telltale signs of the area’s wartime role. The remains of the neighbouring airfield makes a great cycling or walking circuit while joining the Brockenhurst – Roydon Woods route will take you on a wonderful varied walk exploring the woodlands of the nearby nature reserve and discovering some of Brockenhurst’s history. Roydon Woods can also have wonderful displays of springtime bluebells.

Denny Wood

Set on the fringes of beautiful beech woods, Denny Wood campsite is another great starting point for a walk through the inclosure to Brockenhurst or through nearby Matley Wood to Ashurst. Our circular Denny Wood walk follows the cycle paths in the area. It’s also easy to join the Shatterford circular walk which skirts the edge of Denny Wood.

Long Meadow

The campsite situated alongside the New Forest and Hampshire County Show showground is also perfectly located to enjoy some of the forest’s best bluebell woods during the springtime. Join the Lyndhurst – Brockenhurst Loop near Bolderford Bridge and either head in the direction of Brockenhurst, via Black Knowl, or towards Lyndhurst through New Park Plantation. Alternatively, follow our Aldridge Hill walk to take you on a seven-mile route through woodland inclosures and healthland. It’s also not far from the short stroll along the Ober Water.

Set Thorns

Among the limited-facility campsites, without shower or toilets, Setthorns is set in an inclosure with an extensive network of cycle paths. It is also located alongside the Old Castleman’s Corkscrew rail line, now a cycle and footpath linking Burley and Brockenhurst. Follow the route of our Sway to Brockenhurst train-to-train route to walk the three miles to Brockenhurst. Or join the circular Longslade Heath and Set Thorns walk taking you across the valley to Hilchelsea Wood.

Longbeech

The adults-only Longbeech campsite is on the route of our three-mile Janesmoor Pond walk route. The concrete path through the site is a reminder that it was part of the Stoney Cross airfield during World war Two.

Matley Wood

Another small limited-facilities site without showers or toilets, Matley Wood on the Beaulieu Road near Lyndhurst is perfectly located for a walk to both Ashurst and Brockenhurst. Or join our five-mile Bolton’s Bench route which runs nearby for a walk across the ridgeway to Lyndhurst before returning through woodlands south of the village. A circular six-mile route also links with Denny Wood for a wonderful walk through the beech woods and pine plantations.

Aldridgehill

Aldridgehill campsite has lots of options for short strolls such as the riverside Ober Water loop taking in Puttles Bridge and Whitefield Moor. A longer Aldridgehill Inclosure circular walk drifts through the patchwork of habitats that the area boasts, while it’s a short walk to join the Lyndhurst – Brockenhurst Loop linking the two villages.