Camping in Ower

Ower sits right on the edge of the New Forest, and while the hamlet itself has no campsite of note, it is within easy reach of a good selection just across the parish boundary and into the National Park proper. As with anywhere in England, wild camping is not permitted without the landowner's explicit permission — the New Forest's open heaths might look inviting, but pitching up without booking a recognised site risks a fine and does real damage to sensitive forest habitat, so stick to licensed campsites and Forestry England sites nearby.

The terrain around Ower is gentle farmland giving way quickly to New Forest heath and woodland, so nearby sites tend to offer a mix of open grass pitches and more sheltered, tree-lined spots. Facilities range from simple, back-to-basics fields to fuller-service holiday parks with electric hook-ups, shower blocks and on-site shops, many of them well used to families visiting Paultons Park just up the road.

Late spring through to early autumn is the best window for camping here, when the forest is at its most walkable and the ponies and cattle that roam it are easiest to spot, though the New Forest's relatively mild, sheltered climate keeps some sites open for shoulder-season trips too. Midsummer weekends near Paultons Park book up fastest, so anyone planning a visit around Peppa Pig World should reserve well ahead.

For those who would rather skip the tent, glamping options in the wider New Forest area — shepherd's huts, pods and safari tents — offer a softer way to enjoy the same woodland setting, and are worth considering if comfort matters as much as being close to the forest.