Collaboration
With my husband working over the late August bank holiday, it was the perfect excuse for me to head down to The New Forest for a solo glamping break. Read on to find out more about my stay at Long Meadow Campsite.
Where did I stay?
Long Meadow Campsite
New Forest National Park
Brockenhurst
Hampshire
SO42 7QH
Book accommodation or find out more at campinginthenewforest.com
Glamping & Camping
- Bell tents start from £100 per night
- Glamping pods from £75 per night
- Grass camping pitches cost from £25.50 per night
- Camping pitches with EHU cost from £35 per night
My Visit
It’s always lovely not needing to go to the effort of packing and pitching a tent, so I jumped at the chance to stay in ready-pitched canvas dome bell tent, complete with a proper bed, furniture and cool box in the heart of The New Forest.
I set off as early as possible on the Friday of the bank holiday weekend and having planned my route, realised I’d be passing through Salisbury, providing me the perfect opportunity to finally visit Stonehenge before reaching my final destination.
Breaking up a long journey to the south from ‘up north’ and planning something to do on the way was definitely a good call, and Stonehenge proved to be just as spectacular as I knew it would be.
I eventually entered The New Forest at around 4:30 on Friday afternoon and was immediately reminded of just how lovely this part of the country is, stopped in my tracks almost immediately by pigs, followed by ponies, then later cattle roaming around, a sight which continued to delight me throughout my stay.
It should go without saying, but however cute and endearing, the ponies, deer etc. are wild animals. Please respect them by giving them space, do not approach and certainly do not try to feed or pet them.
Long Meadow Campsite was easy to find and upon arrival, I was given a warm welcome by site managers Ian and Suzy and efficiently shown to my canvas home for the weekend.
I was immediately struck by how pristine the entire site is, and despite it being a bank holiday and the site being technically full, there was still so much space between pitches, and indeed between the 3 glamping bell tents, so the site felt spacious and the bell tents, wonderfully private.
Outside the tent, there’s a barbecue and a picnic table with a parasol, all looking out onto a wide open field (often full of deer). Inside the big bell tent, there’s a comfy double bed, two single futon chair beds, 2 large indoor/outdoor beanbags, bedside tables, fairy lights, an electric cool box and a storage unit containing kitchen essentials.
I set about making the bed and lugging inside my camp stove, pots and pans and various other things and then went on to pour myself a glass of wine and make a simple supper of crusty bread and cheese, enjoyed whilst sitting outside gazing out at the herd of deer and several ponies.
The perfect family campsite
Whilst of course on this occasion, I stayed on my own – the bliss of having enough time and space to read an entire book in just 24 hours is indescribable – the site is perfect for families.
The no noise after 10pm rule was abided by and early morning noise from kids was also thankfully minimal. It felt like a welcoming, well-kept campsite, full of lovely, considerate campers which as far as I’m concerned is a massive bonus and not always easy to find.
For those with kids, there’s so much space for them to run around or ride bikes, that given the campsite is secure, you might actually get a little peace and quiet of your own while they play and make new friends.
As I discovered though, you don’t have to have kids to love this campsite! I spent a couple of hours exploring the forest and despite trails being relatively busy, it was easy to wander off for a spot of quiet Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing) and nature meditation, which I loved.
The facilities on site were all spotlessly clean each time I used them, the washing-up area provided clean sinks and hot water and there were also plenty of bins and a chemical loo disposal point.
Out and About
For those that like cycling and walking, there’s easy access to plentiful forest trails right from the campsite, with meandering woodland that leads to a lovely river, ideal for paddling in on warm days and easy access to the village of Brockenhurst where I thoroughly recommend you purchase a naughty treat or two from The Bakehouse.
Local pubs to note include The Huntsman of Brockenhurst and The Snakecather, whilst further afield a visit to Burley Village, known for its fudge and witchy shops is well worth a visit too.
For those on holiday/staying longer than a weekend, seaside towns like Bournemouth provide a great option for an easy day trip, there’s the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu and you can even get the ferry over to the Isle of Wight from the nearby port town of Lymington.
More About My Stay
23rd August – 26th August 2024, I visited over the late August bank holiday weekend, staying in a fully furnished bell tent that can sleep up to 4 (2 adults and 2 children).
Camping New Forest operate 10 fab campsites in The New Forest, and it’s an area packed full of things to do. Perfect for everything from relaxed woodland walks and bike rides, to afternoon tea in quaint villages and visits to the beach and of course, the free-range ponies, pigs and cattle are a joy to see!
DISCLOSURE | I was invited to stay at Long Meadow Campsite by Camping New Forest. I have not been paid to write this review, but I did receive free accommodation.
Where to next?
From open water swimming, snowboarding and kayaking to hill walks and meditation, Shell shares her travels and microadventures here on the blog and in various publications she’s written for, Shell has a particular interest in promoting wellbeing and the many benefits of nature therapy.
from:www.campingwithstyle.co.uk
published 2024-08-28 15:03:06
