New Forest Campsites

DangerMousy

DangerMousy

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All the New Forest campsites are now available for booking when they open in April, but there have been some serious price increases :(

I don't usually complain about prices, but Ocknell, which has toilets but no showers or EHU is now £29 - £35 per night at weekends (compared to last year when it was £15 - £20). I queried this with the new operators who have confirmed the pricing. Is it just me who finds this extremely expensive for a site with virtually no facilities? I don't mind a reasonable increase (lots of costs have gone up) but almost double the price seems a bit much. Longbeech just over the road looks a bit more reasonable, and Setthorns doesn't seem to have increased in price as much (if at all?).
 
I've been watching this and holding off from any bookings. I made regular use of the Camping in the Forest Sites, particularly those without facilities other than water and disposal such as Aldridge Hill. As a single the CiTF sites gave me a 30% saving on their standard pricing so what is currently apparent from the Pitch Up website seems even more exorbitant.

The Forestry Commision partnership with Camping and Caravanning Club (who operated the sites and were the lead partner) ended in 2022. I don't know what operator was found for other parts of the country but the New Forest Sites are now to be operated after a tender process by the people who operate the New Forest Showground. No doubt their intention is to set pricing matching that of their campsite adjacent the ground which was always more expensive than the CiTF sites.

I can accept that these organisations need to run at a profit, but I think there are other motives too. Many local groups want to see some of the CiTF sites reduced in size or even closed for environmental reasons. Raising prices effectively does this by pricing campers out of the New Forest.

I'm waiting to see the new operators launch their own website for bookings, as I wonder if the Pitch Up process is adding unneeded commision and cost.
 
Kannon Fodda said:
I'm waiting to see the new operators launch their own website for bookings, as I wonder if the Pitch Up process is adding unneeded commision and cost.
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I wondered that too so I checked with them via email and they confirmed "The price of £35.00 per night is for a high season and in the low and mid season we are offering a discount for midweek stays."

Sadly I think you've probably got it right....increase the prices and use the lack of bookings to justify closing the sites down (n)
 
I've just looked up one example:
Aldridge Hill, a site with nothing other than water, CDP and refuse disposal:
2022 6 nights start Tuesday 30 Aug - £66.60 (will have reflected the 30% single discount)
2023 6 nights Tuesday 29 Aug - £ 144.00 :whatthe:

Sorry at that pricing my visits to the New Forest are over. Full facility C&CC sites are cheaper, just a shame that they no longer have sites in the New Forest (Verwood claims to be New Forest but isn't really if you want the main cycling common areas)
 
The new operators are going to be a disaster. But don't go forgetting that the camping and caravanning club have rallies and THSs through the year locally at much more realistic pricing. We even have a rally overlooking the solent for the last weekend of Cowes week watching the yacht racing. We also have a rally at Bucklers Hard, which is in the heart of the forest with free access to the historic village known for centuries of building the great wooden warships of the Royal navy. 5 minutes from Beaulieu and the national motor museum and the palace house.

Loads to do in the Forest of course and so beautiful

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TheBig1 said:
The new operators are going to be a disaster. But don't go forgetting that the camping and caravanning club have rallies and THSs through the year locally at much more realistic pricing. We even have a rally overlooking the solent for the last weekend of Cowes week watching the yacht racing. We also have a rally at Bucklers Hard, which is in the heart of the forest with free access to the historic village known for centuries of building the great wooden warships of the Royal navy. 5 minutes from Beaulieu and the national motor museum and the palace house.

Loads to do in the Forest of course and so beautiful
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I am a member of the C&C club and have used a few of the THSites. I had a quick look at the Bucklers Hard rally, it looks like a fab location but its a DA event. I'm still not sure how these work, do you have to be a member of that district to attend?

Edited to say the Temporary Holiday sites are excellent
 
Itsmcb said:
I am a member of the C&C club and have used a few of the THSites. I had a quick look at the Bucklers Hard rally, it looks like a fab location but its a DA event. I'm still not sure how these work, do you have to be a member of that district to attend?

Edited to say the Temporary Holiday sites are excellent
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Absolutely not, DA rallies are open to all members of the club. You can tour the country visiting various DA's, groups and sections and get welcomed everywhere
 
TheBig1 said:
Absolutely not, DA rallies are open to all members of the club. You can tour the country visiting various DA's, groups and sections and get welcomed everywhere
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Ah, I learn something every day :giggle:. That opens up far more options. Thank you.
 
Just had a look at Setthorns we paid £12.02 in November, now £14.40 doesn't sound much more but that is an increase of 20%. They now charge £2.50 for a gazebo or awning I don't know if they did before.
 
They may find it backfiring with some choosing to 'wild camp' if the prices are that exorbitant.

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Wild camping not easy in the New Forest. It is not as open and free as some think. Being surounded by farm land and small towns any wild camping will soon be noticed by those who consider the forest to be theirs. Walk aound and you will be suprised how many folk you see, Forestry Commision vehicles regularly patrol the gravel tracks, ramblers abound and will report anything they consider detrimental. Many houses in the forest have Commoners Rights which they defend. Throw in the Agisters and Verderers and you begin to see how many are actively discouraging too many using the forest.
I live next to the forest and use it regularly to walk or cycle, so I guess I am one of those who have a Nimby attitude.... I quite like the Lake Distruct and Scotland where I like to roam and Wild Park though.
.
 
Itsmcb said:
I am a member of the C&C club and have used a few of the THSites. I had a quick look at the Bucklers Hard rally, it looks like a fab location but it’s a DA event. I'm still not sure how these work, do you have to be a member of that district to attend?

Edited to say the Temporary Holiday sites are excellent
Click to expand...
Hi, which DA is organising this?
 
Itsmcb said:
I am a member of the C&C club and have used a few of the THSites. I had a quick look at the Bucklers Hard rally, it looks like a fab location but its a DA event. I'm still not sure how these work, do you have to be a member of that district to attend?
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I've stayed on the DA rally at Bucklers Hard. Excellent spot, beautiful village, river tours and great walks, especially along the river to the lovely village of Beaulieu.
You can register with your nearest DA on the CAMC website - no cost, just add it to your details and you can attend all events run by any DA and you'll get notified with an events calendar by email.

TheMachMan
Details on the CAMC website of all DA events
 
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€72 for 3 nights on Matley wood!! We will definitely make alternative arrangements. It was rarely full at the old prices.
 
We did three nights mid week at Hollands Wood last August and I'm sure it was the best part of £30/night. No EHU but decent showers/toilets etc and we absolutely loved it despite the price.

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TheMachMan said:
Hi, which DA is organising this?
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I think Spriddler might mean the CCC site.
Details are on the Out And About app.
Screenshot_20230308_194854_Out & About.jpg
 
LesW said:
I think Spriddler might mean the CCC site.
Details are on the Out And About app.
View attachment 724555
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No, the CAMC. I've never belonged to the C&CC.
It was in the field adjacent to the museum/visitor centre/caff/loos.
It's used by various outdoor clubs for rallies.
(In fact it was the only rally I've ever attended, anywhere).


Bucklers Hard 3.jpg
 
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Spriddler said:
No, the CAMC. I've never belonged to the C&CC.
It was in the field adjacent to the museum/visitor centre/caff/loos.
It's use by many clubs for rallies.
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Sorry about that, I didn't know that the CAMC did temporary holiday sites.
 
Sorry to ask a probably silly question, but what's a DA?
 
Langtoftlad said:
Not true - they have actually started doing a few eg
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/whats-on/pop-up-campsites/beaulieu/?utm_content=

Granted not as many as the C&CC's THS, nor quite as good value ;) .
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I did one night at the CaMC pop-up campsite right next to their permanent campsite near Woodstock last year.
A ridiculously over-engineered affair with metal temporary roadway, one of those "Posh toilet" trailers with showers and a massive generator truck thing supplying 16amp EHU to every pitch.
Totally different to the Caravan club temporary sites I have been to, which were literally just a field with a water tap and waste points.

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A DA is a District Association, of which there are dozens round the UK. Each DA and other local group, like lightweight campers, photographic, folk dance, cycle camping, Motor Caravan section and many more come under a local Region Council.

The point is though, if you are a member of the camping & caravanning club, regardless of which group that you have on your membership card, all are welcome at all meets. Being the local New Forest DA, we get visitors from all round the UK every year. We regularly get members of adjoining area DAs at our meets and ours at theirs. I guarantee if you come to our meets, you will be made very welcome
 
TheBig1 said:
The new operators are going to be a disaster. But don't go forgetting that the camping and caravanning club have rallies and THSs through the year locally at much more realistic pricing. We even have a rally overlooking the solent for the last weekend of Cowes week watching the yacht racing. We also have a rally at Bucklers Hard, which is in the heart of the forest with free access to the historic village known for centuries of building the great wooden warships of the Royal navy. 5 minutes from Beaulieu and the national motor museum and the palace house.

Loads to do in the Forest of course and so beautiful
Click to expand...
SOME THSs are ‘more reasonable pricing’, but others definitely aren’t. The last time I camped at Beaulieu it cost £10 overnight, and vans had to be self contained. Perfect for a couple of days. When I looked up the THS there this year the cost for the same period was FOUR TIMES higher! I’m not paying £40pn for a THS.
 
Tonks said:
SOME THSs are ‘more reasonable pricing’, but others definitely aren’t. The last time I camped at Beaulieu it cost £10 overnight, and vans had to be self contained. Perfect for a couple of days. When I looked up the THS there this year the cost for the same period was FOUR TIMES higher! I’m not paying £40pn for a THS.
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We are not running a THS, we have a 5 day meet at £16.50 a night. The landowners are increasing prices everywhere, but for a green field site, with water and elsan, £16.50 is fairly good. They ask a premium as it give access to the historic village in the price. We often get a deal that discounts the ferry etc as well. I don't know what we will get this year yet though
 
Tonks said:
SOME THSs are ‘more reasonable pricing’, but others definitely aren’t. The last time I camped at Beaulieu it cost £10 overnight, and vans had to be self contained. Perfect for a couple of days. When I looked up the THS there this year the cost for the same period was FOUR TIMES higher! I’m not paying £40pn for a THS.
Click to expand...
I think you must be looking at the Caravan and motorhome club pop-up site in Beaulieu. That will be one of the over-organised affairs as I mentioned in my post above (post#25). The cost will be to cover all the site set-up costs.
 

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