The best campsite walks in the New Forest
- Jul 5
- 4 min read
A guest article written by New Forest Walks.
The New Forest is a wonderful destination for walking - ancient woodland, open heathland, and picturesque villages are all within walking distance of many of the forest's campsites.
With campsites located in the heart of the forest, you can start a walk the moment you set foot out of your campervan.
Here’s a selection of some of the best walks you can do while staying at sites within the national park, as featured on NewForestWalks.co.uk.
Ashurst
Located on the eastern edge of the national park, Ashurst is known as the gateway to the forest.
Join the nine-mile Ashurst-Lyndhurst loop as it passes close to the Ashurst Camping in the Forest site.
The route links the two villages and also goes through Matley Wood campsite after crossing White Moor. Look out for some Bronze-Age burial mounds on the edge of the woods - signs of the history of settlement in the region which goes back thousands of years.
It’s also possible to walk all the way to Brockenhurst on an eight-mile route taking you through the woods of Deerleap Inclosure and Matley Wood. If you don’t fancy the return leg, take the bus or train from Brockenhurst straight back to Ashurst campsite.
For a gentle short stroll through the woodlands surrounding the campsite, try the two-mile Ashurst walk through Churchplace Inclosure before crossing the railway bridge into Ashurst Wood.
Something to note, is that Ashurst Campsite does not allow dogs.
Roundhill
Roundhill campsite is located off the B3055 between Beaulieu and Brockenhurst. The road itself is one of the most beautiful drives in the forest - cutting across the vast open expanse of Beaulieu Heath and through the woodlands of Stockley and Perrywood Ironshill inclosures.
The campsite is part of a fantastic circular route taking you from Brockenhurst, through Roydon Woods, and back to the village through woodland inclosures.
It is situated on the edge of what was Beaulieu’s War War Two RAF airfield. Old Nissen huts and the campsite water tower are signs of the area’s wartime role in accommodating some of the 2,000 personnel based at the airfield. Although the water container on the tower is new, the supporting structure is believed to date back to the war years.
The walk passes through Roydon Wood - a 380-hectare nature reserve managed by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust - which is one of the best places to see swathes of bluebells in the late spring.
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. Enjoy a stop in either village’s selection of pubs, cafes and restaurants, before completing the 10-mile circular route.
Long Meadow is also ideally placed for for short strolls such as the riverside Ober Water walk taking in Puttles Bridge and Whitefield Moor. A longer Aldridgehill Inclosure circular walk winds its way through the patchwork of wildlife habitats over towards the Rhinefield arboretum.
Holmesley
Holmesley campsite is a family favourite with on-site facilities including a kids play park and takeaway. It is close to a walk which takes in the spectacular views from Holmesley Ridge and the woodland beauty of Holmesley Inclosure.
A section of the route is along the now-disused Castleman’s Corkscrew railway line. The winding Southampton to Dorchester line was named after solicitor Charles Castleman who promoted it. The rails were pulled up in the 1960s but the route is now part of the New Forest cycle network.
Nostalgic glimpses of the old railway do still exist - not least at the Old Station Tea Rooms. The cafe in the old Holmesley station building is full of rail memorabilia and is an enjoyable food-and-drink stop on any walk in the area.
From Holmesley Campsite, you can also join the Turf Hill walk - a circular trail over the rolling heathland surrounding the village of Burley. Call in to the village itself to enjoy the pubs and cafes as well as the gift shops inspired by Burley’s links to witchcraft and folklore.
All of the above campsites are part of the Camping New Forest group.
Walking in the New Forest - what you need to know
· Choose a route - paths in the forest aren’t well signposted and can lead into bogland or disorientating woodland plantations. New Forest Walks has a selection of more than 50 self-guided trails, along with descriptions, GPX tracks and maps with live geolocation.
· Take a paper map or download a GPX track as phone signals in the forest can be unreliable.
· The vagaries of the British weather mean its best to be prepared for all conditions - pack a raincoat, hat, waterproofs, water bottle and sunscreen as required.
· Paths in the forest can be muddy after rainfall or hard and uneven in the summer months, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
· Always follow the New Forest Code - feeding or petting ponies and other livestock is forbidden and could land you with a fine. Wild camping, campfires and barbecues are also not allowed.
· Always use a designated car park - parking on roadside verges damages wildlife habitats and can block access for emergency vehicles.
· Parking at forest car parks managed by Forestry England and the district council’s village and coastal car parks is chargeable. Overnight stays in car parks are not permitted.
New Forest Walks is the complete guide to walking in the forest. With self-guided suggested routes, essential information as well as news, features and special offers from local businesses, it’s all you need to plan a great walking getaway.
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