Camping in Fritham

The open heath and grazing commons around Fritham look tailor-made for wild camping, but this is one of the most tightly protected landscapes in southern England, and camping outside a licensed site is illegal here without express permission from Forestry England or the relevant landowner. The New Forest’s fragile mires, ancient trees and grazing animals are easily damaged by informal camping, and rules are actively enforced, so anyone hoping to pitch a tent should stick to one of the National Park’s official campsites.

The closest of these to Fritham are Ocknell and Longbeech, Forestry England-run campsites a short walk or drive from the village, offering fairly simple, back-to-basics camping directly on the open forest with ponies and cattle wandering close to the pitches. Further afield, the forest’s network of Forestry England campsites – including the larger sites around Ashurst, Denny Wood and Roundhills – provide a similar mix of tent pitches, caravan and motorhome spaces, all bookable in advance, especially essential for peak summer weekends and the autumn half-term rush.

For something a step up from a tent, the Royal Oak’s shepherd’s huts on the village green offer a glamping-style alternative right in Fritham itself, with proper beds and heating but the same immediate access to the surrounding heath and woodland. Spring brings bluebells and new foals to the commons, while autumn – when pannage pigs forage for acorns and the woodland around Eyeworth Pond turns gold – is arguably the most atmospheric time to camp nearby, provided you pack for cool nights and the possibility of boggy ground underfoot.