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Longbeech Camping

Hampshire So43 7 Hh, Hampshire, England
1 acre hosted by Abi ?.
One of 'Camping in the Forest’s' ten New Forest locations, Longbeech comes steeped in wartime history and brimming with rare flora and fauna

At a time when many campsites are turning their back on traditional camping in favour of more lucrative options, such as Mongolian style yurts or a renovated shepherds' huts, Camping in the Forest makes a refreshing change with its back-to-basics, conventional attitude to pitching up. Found on a beautiful open clearing, overlooked by ancient beechwoods, Longbeech is one of Camping in the Forest’s ten New Forest locations, in a spot steeped in wartime history and brimming with rare flora and fauna.

No matter how well run or welcoming a campsite may be, it’s only as good as the natural environment that surrounds it. Thankfully Longbeech is engulfed by beauty. Ponies and deer are frequent visitors to the flat, mown camping areas where visitors have the choice of shaded or sunny spaces. As previously mentioned, Longbeech is a back-to-basics campsite, so there’s no shower or toilet facilities, and your own chemical loo is essential. Whilst this primitive experience won’t suit everyone, it’ll certainly appeal to campers with a sense of adventure.

Longbeech has direct access to plenty of heathland and forest walks, as well as the New Forest cycle route, with over 100 miles of approved biking paths. Only a short walk away is the tiny, but charming, village of Fritham, with its serene lake, thatched cottages, and ponies wandering freely down the road. From Fritham runs one of the New Forest’s most favoured walks (so it can get a little crowded during summer). At just over 4 miles long, ‘The Fritham Loop’ covers woodland and a grassy heathland, with fabulous views of the surrounding forest. Afterwards, why not pop into the Royal Oak pub for a pint of local ale, drawn straight from the barrel.

It’s not often you can camp somewhere with a fascinating past. Running through Longbeech is a small network of narrow concrete roads, which were used as taxiways and aircraft hard standings during the Second World War. Understandably, all that concrete may not be to every campers taste, however strolling around the site – which is one of the New Forest’s 12 wartime landing grounds – certainly gets the imagination going. So, what looked initially like a scene from pitch-up purgatory, is actually a captivating, secluded spot with more stories to tell than an episode of Jackanory.

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Location
Hampshire So43 7 Hh, Hampshire, England, United KingdomTraditional, ancestral territory of various First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Abi ?.Joined in March 2015
From the host
Please be aware that our Camping in the Forest sites are closed until further notice. Please refer to the Camping in the Forest website for more details.
Nearby attractions

Paultons Family Theme Park (02380 814442) is only a 15 minute drive away and has over 60 family rides and attractions. The little ones will love Peppa Pig World (023 8081 4442), the first dedicated Peppa Pig Theme Park in the world. Another fun family day out can be found at Longdown Activity Farm (023 8029 2837.) Visitors can bottle-feed the calves and goats, feed the ducks, meet the pigs and cuddle the baby rabbits. After meeting the animals, the kids can explore the farmyard buildings and enjoy plenty of indoor and outdoor play areas including trampolines, a ball pool and the straw bale barn. Liberty’s Owl Raptor and Reptile Centre (01425 476487) is the perfect day out for animal lovers. Visitors can enjoy daily flying displays, see a wide range of birds of prey on display and visit the reptile house with snakes, lizards and more. One of the area’s most popular attractions, Beaulieu (01590 612345), has over 250 vehicles from every motoring era and is a must-see for motoring enthusiasts. James Bond fans can view the fascinating exhibition of genuine vehicles and props at the ‘James Bond Experience.‘ For those not interested in motoring there are stately homes, historic buildings and beautiful gardens to explore.

Food and drink

The Sir Walter Tyrell (023 8081 3170) is a few minutes drive and caters for the whole family with a wide and varied menu. Just 200 yards away from the inn lies the Rufus Stone that marks the spot where King William II died, accidentally killed by Sir Walter Tyrell. A traditional Italian pizzeria, La Pergola (023 8028 4184) offers a friendly, relaxed atmosphere in a delightful building with a pergola covered in wisteria and vines. All dishes are freshly prepared on the premises made with locally sourced produce. The Royal Oak (023 8081 2606) is situated in the lovely village of Fritham. This free house dates back to the 1600s and has a thatched cottage with 19th century additions, the pub serves good quality, home-cooked food. Serving since the 15th century, The Crown Stirrup (023 8028 2339) is set in a fantastic New Forest location, offering a comprehensive menu with quality homemade food and a good range of beers, wines and spirits. The name of the pub relates to the king’s law regarding the size of dogs. During Tudor times only the king and his entourage could hunt in the New Forest; commoners were only allowed to hunt if their dogs were small enough to fit through the ‘Verderer’s Stirrup’. The Glasshouse Restaurant (023 8028 6129) is located on the outskirts of Lyndhurst. If you are looking for a fine dining experience for lunch or dinner, this is the place to go.

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