Hollands Wood Campsite

This is forest camping with almost no separation between your tent and the trees. Pitches weave through tree lines, ferns, and patches of more open ground, so you get shade, cover, and the feeling of being properly in the woods while still having toilets, showers, dishwashing facilities and a shop on site. Brockenhurst is a short walk away, which makes it one of the easier New Forest sites to use without a car for every trip.

Big, green, and low-key. The site is large enough that your experience depends a lot on where you settle: some spots feel tucked into the trees, others sit on more open grass. Pitches are generally picked on arrival rather than assigned in advance, so it pays to arrive with a little patience and take a slow look around before unpacking. Ponies and other New Forest animals wander through the area, which is a highlight for most people and a reason to keep your camp tidy.

• There is no electricity on site, so plan for battery power, gas, and cool boxes rather than hookups.
• Grass pitches suit tents, touring caravans and trailer tents, with seasonal and XL pitches available.
• Dog-friendly, with a dog wash on site.
• Cook only on a proper raised barbecue. Disposable barbecues are not allowed.
• Access is directly off the A337 near Brockenhurst. The train station is roughly a ten-minute walk and the nearest bus stop is closer still.
• The entrance, parking area and a restroom have wheelchair-accessible features, though the wider site is natural woodland, so check specifics for your needs before booking.

Do not feed, pet, or approach the ponies or other animals around the campsite. They are free-roaming and can bite or kick. Keep all food sealed and put away, including in awnings and porches, and do not leave scraps or bags out overnight.

Road noise from the A337 carries to pitches nearer the boundary, so ask for something deeper into the site if quiet matters to you. Facilities are clean and well kept by most accounts, but some blocks feel older and more basic in layout, and the walk to them can be long depending on where you pitch. Because the site is large, expect a bit of a trek with water containers and washing-up. Wild camping is not permitted on Forestry England land nearby, so this or another managed site is the way to stay overnight in the forest.

Paths lead straight off the site into the forest, which makes it easy to walk or cycle without loading the car. Combined with the short walk into Brockenhurst for shops, food, and the train, you can park once and leave the car alone for the rest of your stay.