Holmsley Campsite; What are the features?

Holmsley Campsite is located in the New Forest in Dorset. It is a large campsite with 600 pitches for tents, caravans and motor homes.

Introduction

With 600 pitches under the trees or in grassy fields, Holmsley Caravan park and Campsite is a good option for campers in the area. Tents, caravans, and motor homes can be accommodated on pitches with or without electricity. There are a number of activities that visitors will have access to from this campsite. As well as hiking or cycling in the New Forest, visitors can easily visit the coast or go to the nearby Beaulieu River. Visitors will also have access to the activities in the towns and villages in the area. Transportation is easy with bus, train, or coach travel.

Where is Holmsley Campsite?

Holmsley Caravan Park and Campsite¹ is located on Forest Road in Christchurch, Dorset, UK.

The villages are Burley and Bransgore are the closest, but it is also quite close to Bournemouth and Christchurch. Parts of the campsite are situated on Holmsley Airfield which was used during World War II. To learn more about Holmsley Airfield, see this article by New Forest Knowledge².

What are the features of Holmsley Campsite?

Holmsley Campsite has 600 pitches most of which are on grass, although they do have some hard pitches. The campsite is accessible for tents, motor homes and caravans. 320 of the grass pitches do not have electricity, but there are 45 grass pitches that do. The site has toilets and showers, a laundrette, and some disabled facilities. There is a children’s play area and a licensed shop and hot food takeaway service. The campsite also provides battery charging facilities.

Is Holmsley Campsite open all year round?

Holmsley Campsite is not open all year round as it is closed in winter. It is open from 22 March to 29 October.

Can you wild camp in Holmsley?

Wild Camping is not permitted in the New Forest. Although there isn’t any wild camping at the campsite, it is quite large, so it may be possible to find a quiet place to set up camp. Just remember that any Barbecuing needs to be raised off the forest floor – no firepits.

What are the accommodation options at Holmsley campsite?

The accommodation options at Holmsley are tent, caravans, and motor homes. Most of the pitches have electricity. Campers have the option of forest camping among the trees or on a large grassy area.

Why is Holmsley campsite so popular?

What makes Holmsley Campsite so popular would have to be its location. Campers have access to the New Forest, but it is also ideally situated close to the sea, a river, and a number of villages (for shop and takeaway service). This gives campers a lot of choices when it comes to deciding what to do.

For those who are interested in history, there are a number of WWII memorials that you can visit. Parts of the old airfield are still being used today as roads or parking areas for the campsite. There are also museums in nearby villages.

For those campers who also like the beach, you can easily reach the coast by car. For visitors who like the beach, a visit to nearby Bournemouth³ will give visitors access to a number of different activities as well as wonderful beaches.

While hiking and cycling in the New Forest are some of the great attractions of Holmsley, visitors to the area can enjoy canoeing or kayaking on the Beaulieu River⁴. In addition to this, located within the forest are villages where you can enjoy restaurants, pubs, and cafes, along with museums and exhibitions. Read this article on TimeOut to find out the 10 best things to do in the New Forest⁵.

What are the advantages of Holmsley Campsite?

• The New Forest has a network of walking tracks and footpaths, so visitors can enjoy hiking and walking.
• It is near the National Cycle Route and is great for cyclists.
• It is close to Burley and Bransgore villages where you can go to cafes, pubs, and restaurants as well as museums, or shops if you forgot any camping essentials.
• It is near Bournemouth so it is just a short drive to the coast to see stunning beaches
• The New Forest is home to wildlife, such as ponies and deer, and they can also be seen at the campsite.
• The campsite is large with lots of grassy areas and there is also a children’s playground making it a great place for children.
• Holmsley Campsite is dog friendly, and visitors can bring up to 3 dogs as long as they are kept on a leash to avoid disturbing other campers.

“A fantastic campsite in the New Forest. The non-electric pitches operate in a ‘pitch where you want’ way, so there is soo much choice and flexibility when considering where to pitch. The site has many facilities including fantastic, hot showers. There is also a shop and takeaway on site which is useful for last minute buys. The staff were extremely friendly. I am very much looking forward to my next visit”

lady hannah (trip advisor review)

What are the disadvantages of Holmsley campsite?

• There have been some negative reviews on Trip Adviser. Reviewers have said that there is poor service and that the site facilities are old and not kept up to date.
• If you are booking online, there is a minimum stay of 2 nights.
• It can get crowded at times as thousands of campers stay at Holmsley each year.
• May be difficult to get a grass pitch with electricity.
• The ponies that roam the forest are wild animals and may bite or kick. The management of the campsite also mention that you will need to keep your food sealed and out of reach of the ponies.

FAQs about Holmsley Campsite:

Does Holmsley campsite have Wifi?

There is wifi at Holmsley Campsite and recent reviews say that it is good.

Is Holmsley campsite easy to get to?

Holmsley Campsite is easy to get to as you have a number of transport options. You can get to it by train, bus, or coach as well as by car. The bus is the cheapest option, but it takes much longer. The trip from London will take about 3.5 hours by bus and less than 2 hours by car. Plan your transport to Holmsley using the Rome 2 Rio Website⁶.

Can you take pets?

You can bring your dog to the campsite any time of the year, but your dog must be kept on a leash. A maximum of 3 dogs are permitted. You are allowed to bring your dogs into the New Forest and the area is quite dog friendly see this article about dog friendly things to do in the New Forest.⁷

Conclusion

Holmsley Caravan Park and Campsite is a dog friendly area which is located in the New Forest, in Dorset. It is open for most of the year, and has 600 pitches both with and without electricity. Some of the roads and parking areas of the website are part of the historic Holmsley Airfield which was used in World War II. 

The location of the campsite makes it very popular as campers can enjoy nature and forest site camping but they can easily get to nearby villages for cafes, pubs, and restaurants as well as museums. It is also close to the coast and the Beaulieu River for those who enjoy water sports.

What kind of camping holidays do you enjoy? Have you visited Holmsley before? Let us know in the comments!

“We return annually because the staff are so welcoming and the site is perfect for us. If you want a stress free holiday then come to Holmsley campsite. We return every year because of the amazing people that run and supervise the site. Always clean and tidy. Excellent experience, highly recommended”

helen brooker (Trip advisor review)

Reference List:

1. ‘Explore Holmsley Caravan Park & Campsite’. New Forest National Park Information. Accessed online at https://new-forest-national-park.com/holmsley-caravan-park-campsite/ on 23 Sep, 2022.

2.  ‘Holmsley South Airfield – Overview’. New Forest Knowledge. Accessed online at https://nfknowledge.org/contributions/holmsley-south-airfield-overview/#map=10/-1.7/50.79/0/24:0:0.6 on 23 Sep, 2022.

3. ‘Bournemouth’. Accessed online at https://www.bournemouth.co.uk/ on 23 Sep, 2022.

4. ‘Things to Do’. Beaulieu River: Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour. Accessed online at https://www.beaulieuriver.co.uk/things-to-do/ on 23 Sep, 2022.

5. ‘10 Best Things to do in the New Forest’. Timeout. Ellie Walker-Arnott, Grace Allen, Joe Minihane. Published 28 March, 2022. Accessed online at https://www.timeout.com/new-forest/things-to-do/best-things-to-do-in-the-new-forest on 20 Sep, 2022.

6. Rome 2 Rio. Accessed online at https://www.rome2rio.com/ on 25 Sep, 2022.

7. ‘Dog Friendly Things to Do’. The New Forest. Accessed online at https://www.thenewforest.co.uk/things-to-do/attractions/dog-friendly on 25 Sep, 2022.

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‘New National Forest: A Complete Guide. Accessed online at https://www.new-forest-national-park.com/a-complete-guide/ on 20 Sep, 2022.

Reviews. Trip Advisor. Accessed Online at https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g186297-d210547-Reviews-Holmsley_Campsite-New_Forest_National_Park_Hampshire_Hampshire_England.html on 20 Sep, 2022.

 ‘Places to visit in the New Forest’. Visit England. Accessed online at https://www.visitengland.com/things-to-do/new-forest on 20 Sep, 2022.

 ‘Holmsley Campsite And Caravan Park’. Life in The New Forest. Accessed online at

http://lifeinthenewforest.com/holmsley-campsite-and-caravan-park/ on 20 Sep, 2022.