Hampshire
Open woodland pitching among ancient oaks, a short walk from Brockenhurst
Hollands Wood is one of the largest and best known of the forest campsites, laid out beneath mature oak and beech just north of Brockenhurst on the Lyndhurst road. There are no marked pitches and no hedges or fences dividing the site — you drive in, find a spot among the trees and set up. Ponies and cattle wander through freely, which is part of the appeal and also the reason food and rubbish need keeping secure. The tree canopy means shade on hot days and shelter in wind, though it also makes some corners slow to dry after heavy rain.
Facilities are better here than at the more basic forest sites. There are heated shower and toilet blocks, washing-up sinks, a laundry room, chemical disposal points and drinking water taps spread around the site. There is no electric hook-up anywhere at Hollands Wood, so this is a site for tents, campervans and caravans running self-sufficiently rather than for anyone needing mains power. A small shop covers basics during the main season, and dogs are welcome throughout on leads.
The location is the strongest argument for booking. Brockenhurst village is around 15 minutes on foot, which means pubs, cafes, a Co-op, bike hire and a mainline station to London Waterloo — a rare combination for a woodland campsite. Walking and cycling routes lead straight out of the site into the open forest, and Lymington and the coast are 15 minutes by car. The site opens from around March to the end of October and fills quickly for school holidays and bank holiday weekends, so book several months ahead for summer.