Maple Field Camping
UK England South East England Hampshire Fordingbridge
Wildflowers, birds and butterflies abound at this traditional tent camping pop-up on the Hampshire-Dorset border
Straddling the Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire borders, Martin Down is a wild, chalky grassland that stretches for almost 1000 acres across Cranborne Chase AONB. Birds and butterflies of various song and shade can be found here, attracted to the profusion of wildflowers that pepper the sprawling meadows and scrub. It’s an ancient landscape, and while it might lack the dramatic contours and undulating slopes of the South Downs, the hand of history seems to touch the very air here, from its Bronze Age barrows to its Second World War firing range.
Set amidst this captivating backdrop lies Maple Field Camping, a three-and-a-half acre farm hosting camping for a few privileged pitches throughout the summer. Helmed by affable host Nick, this simple yet charming spot offers up to 40 informally laid-out camping pitches with scenic views towards the surrounding hills of Cranborne Chase. Children will love the spacious meadow to run themselves ragged in, while parents will be equally pleased at the safety of it all, with just one entrance it the bottom corner and therefore no secret escape routes for curious kids. Bushcraft courses are an exciting new addition for the 2020 season, including campfire cooking, whittling, animal tracking and spear-throwing. Rustic facilities are housed in the farm’s L-shaped barn with a basic washing-up facilities, hot shower and proper loo (supplemented by a couple of other portable varieties onsite). This cosy communal space also makes a decent refuge from the rain (enjoy a warming cuppa, a game of table tennis or hang up your wet clothes), but when the warm summer evenings draw in, most campers congregate around the central fire pit that serves the whole site, gazing upward in awe at the pristine star-studded night sky.
Nick is a wellspring of local knowledge, and a veritable Wikipedia of the resident flora and fauna. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for blackcaps, buzzards, hawks, robins, red kites, wrens, thrushes, jackdaws, starlings, turtle doves and finches (both bull and gold) to name but a few, not to mention the vibrant Chalk Hill Blue and Adonis Blue butterflies. Nick can point you in the direction of the best walking routes and Neolithic burial mounds. Lying just outside Fordingbridge – the gateway to the New Forest – and with medieval Salisbury, Stonehenge and the sandy beaches of the South Coast lying close by, there’s enough in the region to keep you entertained. One local little gem is Damerham, the pretty nearby village set beside the River Allen (a tributary of the Avon) with thatched cottages, a Norman church, riverside mill and a lovely pub overlooking the cricket green.
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Gallery
Details
Facilities
Portable-style toilets and basic shower facilities. Compost loo and outdoors showers to be launched in 2020. Communal washing-up facilities (hot and cold running water) with communal fridge. A large barn is on hand for bad weather. 1 electric hook-up available. BBQs permitted and communal campfire lit in the evenings. Bushcraft courses available. Farm-grown veg boxes available in 2020 (payment by honesty box).Suitable For
Tents, campervans, dogs – yes. No loud music please, this is a family-friendly site.Nearby
There’s plenty to enjoy in the New Forest. Pack a map, pick up a trail and explore the national park’s myriad woodland walks. Keep an eye out for iconic New Forest wild ponies and Goshawks circling overhead. Cranborne Chase AONB isn’t far and the campsite lies within the Martin Down Nature Reserve an almost 1000-acre chalk grassland filled with wildflowers and all manner of downland flora and fauna. Christchurch and the sandy beaches of Mudeford and Bournemouth are just 25 mins away, while the Jurassic Coast wonders of Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and the Isle of Purbeck lie less than an hour away a little further along the coast. For a history-filled excursion, the cathedral city of Salisbury, Iron Age hill fort Old Sarum, and Stonehenge are all less than half an hour’s drive away.Food & Drink
The nearest pub is The Compasses Inn (01725 518231) in Damerham – a stylish country inn with an equally refined menu of locally-sourced dishes. Its sprawling beer garden makes an ideal setting to while away the day when not at camp. Check their events calendar for live music. The Inn at Cranborne (01725 551249) lies 4 miles from Maple Farm – this dog-friendly local serves up pub grub favourites, Hampshire ales, cocktails and and a welcoming fireside in winter. Further afield in Fordingbridge, The George (01425 652040) is a charming riverside spot that dates back to the 1700s. Booking is recommended for dining in the conservatory with views over the River Avon. There are several supermarkets places to eat in the town – ask Nick for recommendations.Opening Times
Selected dates throughout the season. Search by date to check availability.Why book with Cool Camping?
- Best Price Guarantee, with no fees
- Instant booking confirmation
- Trusted for over 10 years
- A chance to win prizes in our regular competitions
The Owner Says
You will share the beautiful field with hedge sparrows and woodpidgeons and blackcaps that will sing you into wakefulness: with long tailed tits, robins, wrens and bullfinches: with goldfinches on the thistle flowers and wagtails on the barn roof: with rooks, rabbits and Renard the fox: with goldcrests, blackbirds and mistle thrushes: tawny owls and spotted flycatchers and jet black jackdaws: with crowds of starlings that arrive like American tourists all eager for knowledge: and overhead you will hear the cry and meow of the buzzard: watch the fork tailed red kyte and marvel at the deadly approach of a sparrow hawk: hear, perhaps for the first time, the ‘woo-wooh’ of the shy little turtle dove. The hedges that surround you were planted before 1780 and are solid examples of early Enclosure Act barriers. Next to you is the giant Longbarrow up a sweet curving lane. Within your temporary Parish are 3 other major Neolithic burial sites – King’s Barrow; Knapp Barrow and Hanham’s Barrow. The Dorset ‘Cursus’ pulls up just short of Martin Down to the south: you can walk along the magnificent earth work of Bokerly Dyke. You can follow a perfect Roman Road along the north boundary of the Parish for 2 miles, lined on both sides with wild garlic probably brought here in the clefts of the soldier’s sandals. You can go home with your head ringing with pre-history.
You are going to count your blessings in murmuring song birds and satisfying full-english breakfasts looking over Martin Down from your tent door.
Pitches
Space for up to 40 tent camping pitches.
Grass pitch
Grass pitch
Sleeps 6
17 Available
Each grass pitch includes 2 adults and one car. We are within easy distance to the New Forest and 12 miles from the cathedral city of Salisbury. Our campsite is surrounded by hedges filled with an abundance of wildlife, there is an onsite kitchen with a fridge and a washing room with hot and cold running water.
Location
Contact Maple Field Camping, Martin, Fordingbridge, Hampshire SP6 3LR
Getting There
From Salisbury (12 miles away), take A354 towards Blandford. After passing through Coombe Bissett, turn left down Martin Drove. After 1 mile you will see 30mph sign. Take the next left after the sign to reach the campsite. From Fordingbridge (6 miles away), follow the road out of town towards Sandleheath and then Damerham. In Damerham, take the second right signposted for Martin. Pass right through Martin heading north until you come to the Martin Club on your left. Turn immediately right into the campsite.
Reviews
Add Your ReviewRated ★★★★★ over 34 reviews
Very basic but nice site
We had one night here in September and it was a nice site but quite basic. Some touches were good, like a kitchen area with sink and kettle so you don't have to set up your stove but the toilets and showers weren't great. One shower for the whole site isn't enough and one inside toilet and two portaloos aren't ideal either. It was a good location and a lovely quiet site but the facilities need looking at tbh.
Surprising
It’s located in Martin, surrounded by beautiful cottages and fields with a fantastic road for cycling. Onsite there are a wide range of facilities from showers and toilets to table tennis and tea-making supplies. The field is very spacious and clean, with guests enjoying the peace and quiet of the countryside. The owner is very polite and friendly and will help you however he can. There are fire pits at your disposal and fire logs to purchase, which you pick up on arrival.
Amazing environment and owner!
We had a delightful weekend at Maple Field. Nick the owner is so friendly and has all the tips on local spots to visit. The fire wood delivery didn't arrive so Nick brought it himself - thank you so much! The facilities are amazing with the barn, shower room, toilets, kettle and ping pong table. We loved our weekend and would recommend to anyone, any age. There are also bush craft activities running on site with Lee, which is a wonderful addition! I'm sure we will be back. Thanks again!
Simple
As fields go it was clean and reasonably flat. Great to have fire pit facilities and the village is cute. Bit expensive for what you get but close to Salisbury
Perfect campsite
Very tidy, friendly welcome. The toilet and shower facilities were great along with a working kettle and washing up area. Being allowed a campfire makes all the difference. Very peaceful and beautiful views. Very good price for the site we would definitely stay again :)
Lovely, simple, relaxed and friendly
Really relaxed and friendly - no marked pitches or check out times etc which makes things so much easier. Simple, clean facilities with a rustic feel and a clear sense of the value of nature and the outdoors. Queuing for the toilet/shower was a bit of a pain but Nick knows this and is converting the old dairy to accommodate 3 showers so it should be sorted next year. Would definitely return.
Brilliant- stunning views and nearby walks
Had a great stay with my son and sister, very family-friendly and good facilities. Lovely views and lots of walks close to pitch. Thank you Nick for a lovely weekend!
Very relaxed!
Lovely relaxed campsite perfectly placed to access beautiful Cranborne and the surrounding downs. The owner is very friendly and knowledgeable about the area. Environmentally friendly site with basic but serviceable facilities and with firepits available for free. Could do with better signage though!
Perfect camping experience
This place ticks all the boxes for my ideal campsite... amazing views, a warm welcome, a central, safe space to play (especially important for my toddler), fire pits, and a lovely family atmosphere. The facilities were basic but all we needed; a hot shower, washing up area, fridge and freezer, and ping pong! All set within a lovely barn. Thank you Nick. We'll be back!!
Great campsite with beautiful views
We stayed at the Maple Fields campsite recently with a few friends, and had a lovely time. Kind and friendly hosts, clean toilets (mix of portaloos and indoor toilet) and a lovely shower with the bonus of hot water! You feel totally tucked away in nature and the view is beautiful. The campsite had a peaceful and relaxing feel to it and is quiet other than the tweet of birds in the morning. I loved the fact that there is an honesty shop onsite and a table tennis table.. I look forward to returning soon.
Idyllic campsite with friendly staff
We stayed over in for a night last weekend and I'm glad we chose this campsite. Nick is a legend and was more than happy to offer advice on the local area - we headed to the Compasses for a lovely roast on the sunday on our way out. The field itself is in a beautiful setting, with great views and feels like you're really immersed in nature. Facilities are great, with clean loos/shower and firepits aplenty! I have a feeling we will be back year after year!
Fabulous camping!
Maple Field Camping is simply the coolest campsite ever. Tucked away in a quite corner of idyllic countryside just south of Salisbury, this campsite has it all. We took our puppy and went for some lovely walks in the surrounding area. The owner Nick is delightfully friendly and helpful. He has created a haven of peace and tranquility, with a nice family feel, and with stunning views across to the chalk downs. The facilities, while basic, are clean and fit for purpose. Warm shower, kitchen facilities and honesty shop with essential provisions onsite. There is an added bonus of an indoor ping pong table. We can’t wait to visit again. Thank you so much!
Beautiful
Thank you Nick for a wonderful nights camping
Peaceful and beautiful!
This is my favourite type of campsite - laid back, beautiful views, all the facilities needed and fire pits! You can pick your own spot in the large field which has lovely views. We headed for the top of the field and there’s several water points. There’s an honesty shop, a proper shower and toilet if you want to use them but also three portaloos outside. There’s also an indoor area with a pool table which I don’t think I’ve ever had before at a campsite and was really fun. There’s a shared fridge too which was great. Nick is a brilliant host and advised us on a local walk and directed us to a nearby pub. Lovely to meet such welcoming people who want the site to be eco friendly. We were a large group of adults and it felt like a great atmosphere - there were also kids and dogs running around having a great time. The field is big so everyone has plenty of space. On our drive back we went through the New Forest and only got slightly delayed by the ponies on the roads! A brilliant weekend and we will definitely be back.
Fantastic Camping Experience!
We had a fantastic time at Maple Field Camping. The owners were so friendly and considerate. It was an amazing camping experience in an incredible area of the country. Highly recommend. We'll be back soon!
Nice campsite, let down by inadequate toilets and one shower.
If you like walking and getting away from it all this is a great campsite. Nick is helpful, accommodating, and affable. The setting is ideal if you want to do local walking and we had some picturesque walks along Martin Down. In fact, the view from the campsite is marvellous. The campsite was quiet during the night. I would give it five stars if it were not for the toilet problem. The advert says one “proper loo, supplemented by a couple of other portable varieties onsite”. However, when we arrived, there was one proper toilet, and one smelly dirty porta a loo. More porta loos arrived for our final night (just in time for his daughter’s birthday party), but in the morning, they had no toilet rolls. My wife took some toilet paper from the proper toilet and put them in the porta a loo so no one would get caught out! A potentially great campsite let down a shortage of toilets, which were poor and just one shower.
Nice campsite, let down by inadequate toilets and one shower.
If you like walking and getting away from it all this is a great campsite. Nick is helpful, accommodating, and affable. The setting is ideal if you want to do local walking and we had some picturesque walks along Martin Down. In fact, the view from the campsite is marvellous. The campsite was quiet during the night. I would give it five stars if it were not for the toilet problem. The advert says one “proper loo, supplemented by a couple of other portable varieties onsite”. However, when we arrived, there was one proper toilet, and one smelly dirty porta a loo. More porta loos arrived for our final night (just in time for his daughter’s birthday party), but in the morning, they had no toilet rolls. My wife took some toilet paper from the proper toilet and put them in the porta a loo so no one would get caught out! A potentially great campsite let down a shortage of toilets, which were poor and just one shower.
Fabulous real camping
We have recently come back from Maple field camping. It’s a huge field with fire pits available to use and the middle is left for family games. There’s a great kitchen and barn for ping pong or just relaxing. Toilet and shower. Three additional portaloos Real camping with like minded campers.!! Great for family and friends to go as a group We will definitely be back. Had a great time even in the rain. Thank you 😊
Special views and family friendly
We are so glad that we chose Maple Field for our 9 month baby's first camping trip. It had everything that we needed for an overnight stay. We could drive our car to our pitch and parked beside our tent. The center of the field remained empty as a communal space to walk through and it was lovely to see people enjoying playing games there. The porterloos were clean and well supplied with loo roll/sanitiser. The hot water for washing up in the barn was nice.
A lovely site in need of more care
A lovely spot with all the makings of a great camp site. We loved the setting, the fire pit and the communal barn. As others have noted, the availability of toilets does not match demand and especially in Covid times this bordered on distressing. At the end of our weekend stay there was no toilet paper or sanitiser in any of the portaloos. A large pile of unattended rubbish had also built up. The site is so 'laid-back' as to be neglectful: there is no one on site checking who is there so anyone can come and pitch up whether they have booked or not, leading to overcrowding, and there are no checks if people are noisy or antisocial. This could be a great site, but at present it is a risky venture to camp here, especially at weekends.
Pleasant stay, nice owner
We recently stayed at Maple field with some friends. We were greeted by Nick who was attentive and helpful. The field was basic and large and the idea of keeping the middle free for children to roam/water access is a nice idea. Communications with Nick were easy via email. On our first day 2 new portaloos had been delivered, these were very usable, but then 32°c hit us for the day and they became extremely smelly to use. There is an on site shower and static toilet, this was great, however, would be vastly improved if a couple of additional or a separate shower/toilet would be provided. There was plenty of barn space with a ping ping table and washing up facilities, it would have been perfectly acceptable to make a bigger shower area. As (outside of Covid measures atm) 40 pitches with up to 6 people each, is a lot of people for one shower/toilet. There was a box for glass recycling on site, but was hidden away. The bin area was next to the toilets, it would have been nice to see separate areas for each recycling sections (poster on the fence said can/cardboard recycling- so was an option), maybe with a wooden bin store. This would reduce the bad smell it produced. The idea of having a fridge onsite was lovely, however, it wasn't working and not many others had checked it before putting in their food! Overall, pleasant stay and we all enjoyed our time there. Would stay again, with a couple of tweaks, it would be perfect!
Good amount of space for families and other campers friendly.
One shower for circa 150 people and disgusting portaloo toilets. Shame really as there are some nice touches otherwise. Very basic campsite.
Relaxed, down to earth campsite
Everything we needed, a beautiful quiet field, in a lovely rural location with thatched cottages, and pretty villages. In the barn there was a fridge and freezer, hot water to wash up, and and area to was your clothes. Hot shower and toilet, home grown vegetables too! Family friendly, Nick is a great host With a real eco social vision.
Lovely but basic site.
The views and the surrounding of the site were perfect, we only stayed for one month to meet some friends. The use of fire pits was a great addition. The facilities were good, honesty box in the shop was nice. However one toilet in the same room as the shower was not ideal, we had to wait for multiple families to shower before we could use the toilet. There was also no checking in service and didn't appear to be any staff. Not that that was a issue for us but if there was a issue I would have had no idea where to go. For great views and a nice place for kids to run around I would highly recommend this site.
Brilliant
I took my 5 year old boy for his first camping adventure and Maple Field was perfect. We just stayed the one night to see how he'd like it and could easily have stayed much longer. We came with another dad and his two boys so the three kids had each other to run around with and play. The whole set up is perfect for this. Facilities were quite basic but clean and more than adequate enough, and added to the sense of adventure. The views from the field were great and the whole atmosphere was wonderful. The other visitors were all very friendly and the host Nick was charming. The booking process with Cool Camping was super smooth and will definitely use again. An all round success.
Brilliant
I took my 5 year old boy for his first camping adventure and Maple Field was perfect. We went with another dad and his two boys so the three had each other to play and run around with. We just stayed the one night but would have gladly stayed much longer. Facilities were basic but clean and plenty of space between pitches to maintain social distancing. The views are great and there was a wonderful atmosphere, all the other visitors were very friendly. Nick the host was charming. The booking process with Cool Camping was super smooth and will definitely use again. A success all round.
Beautiful, relaxing, perfect for a little getaway
Lovely field outside of the New Forest but in an Area of Outstanding National Beauty. Really relaxed. Small outbuilding with a toilet/shower, kitchen and shop. Having a small shop with an honesty box really says a lot about a campsite. I was lucky enough to be there when there were clear skies at night. The number of stars you could see were incredible! You’d only get this at a campsite such a this - a little remote with few lights around. All of the other campers were pleasant and friendly. It seemed to be a mix of small families and groups of adults. A few couples. I was solo and loved it. There was a pizza van at the campsite on the Saturday night. Unfortunately I was heading out for dinner but would have loved to have tried it. Awesome idea! No negative comments - it was exactly what I needed. Thanks for such a lovely stay at a lovely campsite.
Relaxing, peaceful and clean
Thoroughly enjoyed our stay - having the car parked next to our tent was a bonus and the facilities were clean. Great hospitality, chill vibes and cute location
Great one night stay !
Owner was very friendly Facilities were great Will recommend to anyone!
Tranquility with great access to Hampshire and Wiltshire
Arriving on Maple field farm, I immediately felt away from the bustle and pressure of regular routine. This quiet spot offers private space, deep in Hampshire’s ancient country side. It is one of Hampshire undiscovered spots offering an escape from larger bustling sites too. We pitched and then played in the field before listening to the evening birdsong. There is plenty of drinking water available and Nick our host made us very welcome. The campsite is a stones throw from Fordingbridge and the new Forest and as such an ideal spot for those looking to enjoy access to nature. We camped and enjoyed a fire under the full moon.
Peaceful, picturesque, charming
With a quiet, tucked away feel and a beautiful vista of rolling landscape, this was a wonderful rural antidote to urban life. With a relaxed ‘pitch anywhere’ attitude this unfussy campsite also has several useful facilities in the old dairy building at bottom of the field. Evidence of the old dairy added to the charm. Nick was friendly, welcoming and armed with local knowledge. There’s plenty of wildlife to be seen and the beaches of the south coast can be easily reached within an hour. Highly recommended.
Great place to stay for a few days
We stayed at Maple Field for a couple of days at the end of May. The host (Nick?) was at the site when we arrived and showed us around. He was also very keen knowledgeable of the area and explaining the surrounding area. On site there is an inside toilet and shower. There's a barn where you can seek shelter when it rains. There's a kettle and a shared fridge with fresh milk. There are sinks for your washing up and also a dishwasher. This is a new camping site and we were one of the first people to stay there but would quite happily stay there again. They have a couple of water stands and they are hoping to install some more in the near future. There is a fire pit and they will be also be bringing some more to the site shortly. They are also going to be building up a log pile for use on the site but I'm unsure if there will be any additional charge for them. Opposite the site is a social club which is only open on Tuesday Thursday and Saturday but if there is enough demand they could possibly open more. About 5 minutes drive is a community shop run by volunteers. I'm sure Nick can give you the times that it will be open. There is a pub about a 10 minute drive which we were told serves very good food. Fordingbridge is about 15 minutes drive and that's where you'll find quite a few shops, restaurants banks etc. If you want to go to the larger shopping centre then that's about 20 minutes away. Maple Field is well worth a visit and hopefully more and more people will give it a try. The more people use it will only help in new facilities and improvements implemented. This is only my opinion of our couple of days there but we will definitely be going back.
A relaxing, enjoyable and fascinating week in a beautiful, peaceful landscape
It was quiet and peaceful in a stunningly beautiful and fascinating landscape. The hosts were charming and helpful but unobtrusive.
Beautiful site with peace and tranquility
I am looking forward to doing some COOL CAMPING here later on in the season. Nick, the owner, is a complete dictionary of the locality and has great personal knowledge of the local history, it’s workings, not to mention the all important flora and fauna. He has a full depth of recognition of gardens, landscaping and rearing the wonderful Dexter cattle. My experience is yet to come, but having visited the site, talked to the owners, I know the family are going to have a unique and fulfilling experience. Roll on the warm weather! Let’s hope it’s like last year! Happy ‘Cool Camping’ everyone!!!
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- Best Price Guarantee, with no fees
- Instant booking confirmation
- Trusted for over 10 years
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