A group of friends and I spent three nights camping within the New Forest, UK at the end of the English summer. We go on annual camping and festival trips together; it's our favourite, spending-savvy thing to do to be in the outside, play games and drink and chat into the wee hours around a campfire.
It was my first time camping in the New Forest, though my buddies had camped here before and recommended it. I have to admit, I was sold at the reference to wild ponies. We settled on a campsite approximately 4km from charming and quintessential New Forest town Brockenhurst and 7km from Beaulieu, famous for its National Motor Museum. England's south coast can be one of the country's most expensive regions, however with a pinch of self-catering and cheap ground rent, you can expect to be in for a wholesome and cost-effective trip.
Pre-trip spending
Petrol: lb30 (lb15 for me) topped up between two people got us there and back from London comfortably.
Accomodation: lb35.74 per person for three nights. There were eight of us within the group, with four tents and pitches. We found a 15-percent-off discount code to make use of at our campsite – it's always worth checking for offers.
On the ground
Friday
5pm: On our way down we stop off at a supermarket and stock up on food for a camp stove breakfast the next day (lb15 each between a couple).
7:30pm: With four cars heading down, we're in a race to see who arrived first. I was (just!) beaten by one of the other duos, and subsequently checked in. The campsite is sprawling; an apparently infinite terrain of lush grass, bushes, heather and forests, and that we immediately spot wild ponies, donkeys and cows roaming about. We discover an ideal corner big and flat enough to become comfortable (after sweeping the ground of pine cones), then swiftly set to work on setting two tents up. When others come along after dark, we all pitched directly into help put up their tents with simply torches and front lights to assist us – a part of the fun!
10pm: Our stomachs growling, we head to Brockenhurst town for some late-night food. We scouted out several historic pubs with beer gardens, fires and live music, but alas, all of the kitchens had closed. Here we are at some junk food – and quick.
We trundle over to the other side of town to locate a brightly lit Chinese restaurant going to close for the night. Allowed in only over time and with a gigantic menu to select from, we get more than we could probably handle. I order a veggie set menu including crispy seaweed, veg, rice and noodle dishes (lb10 per person). Grabbing our not-so-little bags of hot food, we dash back to the cars and return to camp.
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11pm: Devouring our combos of sweet and sour and sesame-based delights, we gather within my tent (we've the very best fairy light and cosy blankets set-up). After a little beers and making up ground, we hit the airbed sacks for that night.
Saturday
9am: A decidedly relaxed sunny morning in the campsite cooking breakfast and becoming ready, everyone either on beans, sausages, coffee or washing up duty.
11am: We go out to coastal maritime town Lymington, wandering through markets, record stores and nautical-themed shops, and making our way on the steep cobbled streets towards the harbour. Tempted by a children's pirate boat tour, I was told we was probably a little more suited to the scenic boat tour, and now we could bring our very own food and drink. We buy boat tickets (lb7.50 each) and visit a supermarket for many G&T and beers (lb4.50 for me) and snacks. We also swing with a cafe for any fresh crab sandwich (lb5 each).
1pm: The weather had been pretty decent up until now, but in tune with a typically British summer it begins to rain included trip, and gets remarkably chilly all of a sudden. After the boat docks, we take shelter in a nearby pub, but it seemed everyone else had the same idea. We elect to literally raincheck and head back.
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3pm: We detour, looking to get some goods for a fire later on. We find fire-lighters and kindling, but it would be a struggle to find something to place the fire in as we didn't have fire pit. Someone developed the genius concept of using two dog bowls as it wouldn't damage the grass and would keep your fire in! Some of the others led to the cost and that we were pretty happy with ourselves.
4pm: The rain eased off by the time we got back, but another thing was in store for us-two of our tents have been zipped open entirely, and we discovered chaos of crumbs everywhere. Turns out once the campsite says 'no food to become left in tents because of hungry horses', they meant the horses could even obtain teeth into sealed packages! We'd left all other food in the cars but thought sealed bags of crisps and bread would be fine. Apparently not.
After a clear-up session we chilled out: read books, took naps after which played football, frisbee and games within the golden hour sun, before getting ready to go to 1 of the pubs we'd been admiring in Brockenhurst.
7pm: After meandering with the forests in the evening light, we visited a pub called The Huntsman, which boasts a varied food menu as well as an enormous plant-filled garden, adorned with fire bowl and heaters. We ordered a whole bunch of things, from Bloody Mary cocktails and craft ales to two mouth-watering sharing camembert cheese platters. For my main, I selected a tasty, piquant veggie chilli with polenta fries, and that we each helped ourselves to each other's dishes when can not finish. We split the bill eight ways (lb27.50 each).
11pm: We retire indoors to experience board games, then order two taxis which other chipped in for (ours was alarmingly and entertainingly customised with neon lights combined with dance music).
Midnight: Back at camp, we were ready to attempt the makeshift fire, and it worked! Still feeling creative, we were able to also use an airbed pump to blow around the fire to keep it going. The night time ended with some drinks and telling scary stories round the campfire, which was definitely as cliche because it sounds.
Sunday
9am: Having chosen a non-electric pitch, we don't have a fridge around, so have to make use some leftovers from yesterday's brekkie: coffee, slightly chilled milk, bread and beans. We manage to toast the bread around the stove, so beans on toast was actually very good for no expense!
11am: This is actually the day using the best weather forecast, so we visit just a little pebbly beach at Barton-on-Sea. About half people get into our swimming gear and dived into some pretty mighty waves. After i got beyond the huge breaks the water is relatively calm, and not as cold as the English Channel can potentially be, probably since it was the end of summer.
2pm: Having to restock our energy after drying off, we make our method to a cliff-top eatery most abundant in amazing view over the sea. Hankering after a little fish and chips, it was as though the restaurant read our minds as it's their speciality offering. I get a plate of scampi and chips accompanied by a hot chocolate to warm up (lb11.78). Some of the others purchase a rounders bat and ball in the adjoining shop and I'm eager to play.
4pm: Back at the campsite, we have a carefree afternoon of games in the sun. A number of families packed up after the weekend due to the summer break coming to a close, therefore we have a ton of space to ourselves to run around like big kids. We play rounders and hide-and-seek '40-40-in' until we're exhausted.
6pm: After a stroll within the woods, a few of us get disposable BBQs and food for supper at a supermarket (I chip in lb10). We've burgers, grilled halloumi, peppers, corn on the cob and toasted marshmallows, and finish our last few cans of beer. Following a gorgeous pink sunset fades away and also the evening air leaves us a little cold, we play board games within the tent and sleep within clear, starry sky.
Monday
11am: Glum to be packing up our tents and saying goodbye, we visit a charming local garden centre and cafe for breakfast. I order smoked salmon, eggs along with a latte (lb9.97). I'm taking care of cute house plants to add to my collection and walk away with a cactus plant as well as a plant mister (lb10).
1pm: Following a stop at the beach in Portsmouth on the drive back for frozen treats (lb1.65) I'm prepared to get home to my bed and 4 walls, and am pretty exhausted after this type of fun weekend, but I'll definitely miss camping underneath the stars. Until next summer!
Notes: I'd recommend travelling round the New Forest National Park in a vehicle as otherwise it's pretty nearly impossible to find around. The next time we visit we might make certain there is a local pub within a shorter walking distance, however it was great to stay in an online spot within the outdoors.
As a group we weren't strict on who paid what, and splitting costs randomly between us over the long weekend designed for a stress-free time. There's always something to chip in for on a holiday like this, and so i think that this is the most organic way to do it. We all had this type of fun time, and thus many of the activities were free.
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