Camping in New Milton

Camping around New Milton means combining New Forest woodland with an easy run down to the Solent coast, and the area has a good spread of established sites catering to both. As with everywhere in England, wild camping is illegal without the landowner's explicit permission, so stick to licensed campsites, certified locations and caravan parks, several of which sit in the countryside just north of the town around Bashley, Wootton and Hinton Admiral, within a few miles of open Forest heath and grazing ponies. Sites closer to the coast, around Milford-on-Sea and Lymington, put you within easy reach of Hurst Spit, Keyhaven and the clifftop walks at Barton-on-Sea.

The terrain here is a mix of flat, sheltered Forest woodland and more exposed coastal ground, so it's worth checking a site's setting before booking: pitches tucked into the Forest tend to be calmer in windy weather, while coastal sites trade a bit of shelter for sea views and easier beach access. Facilities vary considerably, from simple, back-to-basics fields with standpipes and portable loos to fuller-service caravan parks with electric hook-ups, shower blocks and on-site shops, so it's worth matching the site to how much comfort you want.

The best camping season runs from late spring to early autumn, when the ground is drier underfoot, the New Forest ponies and their foals are commonly seen on the commons, and the Hurst Castle ferry and most coastal cafes are open. High summer brings the biggest crowds and the tightest availability, particularly for coastal pitches, so early booking is worthwhile for July and August, while May, June and September tend to offer a quieter, often better-value alternative with similar weather. Winter camping is possible at some year-round sites but conditions on open coastal or Forest ground can turn wet and exposed.

For those who'd rather skip the tent, glamping has a growing presence around the New Forest, with options ranging from simple pre-erected canvas bell tents to fully-equipped shepherd's huts and safari tents with proper beds and heating. These give a good middle ground for a Forest-and-coast break at New Milton: the same access to ponies, heathland and the Solent shore, without needing to haul your own kit.