Camping in the New Forest – 2017 Family Travel Archive

Archive note: This is my original 2017 family camping experience in the New Forest. Campsites, facilities, activities and operators may have changed since our stay, so the practical details below are preserved as memories of that trip rather than current visitor information.

Bewildered in the Wilderness

I’m a girl for luxury. I love a nice comfy bed, bubble bath, air conditioning and all the mod cons — including Wi-Fi and a toilet in proximity.

However, I was stuck in a tent camping in the New Forest, in the wilderness. No mod cons, no Wi-Fi and no TV. What had I let myself in for? Was I mad? Yes. Yes, I was.

We were greeted by Nick, the camp leader, who was helpful, friendly and, more importantly, up for a laugh. At first glance there were large tents dotted around the camping area, with a central section where the leaders kept supplies. There was also a hexagonal area with picnic tables and a campfire for the evening.

Day 1: Finding My Camping Feet

Day one was mainly about chilling and letting the children run around. I was still worried about letting Monkey wander too far out of sight, while KK was busy having tree-climbing competitions with the other campers.

At around 6pm we had our welcome meeting. Nick explained how the camp worked and where the facilities were — we practically needed a map to navigate our way to the toilets and showers.

The Eco Toilet Experience

There was, however, an eco toilet closer to camp. Sounds glamorous, doesn’t it? Solar-powered lighting, a swishing door that in my opinion needed a hell of a lot of WD-40 on the runners, and the luxury of not having to flush.

And by “not having to flush”, I mean exactly that. It was crap on crap, wee on wee. There was no flushing involved and, because it was an eco toilet, the smell was something else.

Look, I said I was a girl for luxury. This was character building. 😂

The first night was also a little strange because I love my own bed and my space. Instead, I had a single camp bed. I’m 5’10" and I wasn’t exactly tiny, so turning over during the night was rather entertaining.

Day 2: Settling Into Camp Life

By day two I was quite enjoying sitting around and getting to know the other campers. There was a real community feeling to the place and, aside from a couple of people we didn’t particularly gel with, it was a lovely environment.

We headed up to reception to look at activities for the girls. At the time of our 2017 stay, activities for children aged six and over included wall climbing, archery, a zip line, high ropes and low ropes, and there was also a small heated pool open at certain times.

Sadly there wasn’t much for Monkey’s age group, but we were able to book pioneering for KK. Then it was back to camp armed with sweets and a few bits, while Monkey enjoyed the freedom to run around with the girls.

Those activities and age requirements are a record of our 2017 visit and may not reflect what is available today.

Mushy Pea Curry and Marshmallows

Dinner was mushy pea curry, Slimming World style, and of course it was lovely.

After getting Monkey settled — which took a little while because she’d had a nap earlier — we finished the evening around the campfire toasting marshmallows. Now that is a part of camping I can get behind.

So, Was Camping Worth It?

For someone who likes a proper bed, a bathroom and all her home comforts, camping was definitely outside my usual comfort zone. But watching the children run around, sitting around the campfire and getting that little community feeling made it an experience worth remembering.

Would I still complain about the eco toilet? Absolutely.

We stayed with Campmates for this 2017 trip. Because this is an archive post, please search for current New Forest camping providers and check facilities, activities and booking information directly before planning a visit.

For more adventures, head to Travel & Days Out for our newer days out, UK breaks and local guides.

Have You Camped With Younger Children?

How did you cope with the lack of home comforts — and, more importantly, how did you get on with the toilets? Let me know in the comments.