Camping with kids ALONE - Brockenhurst, New Forest
For our first annual Girls’ Weekend, I took my daughters camping in Brockenhurst. It’s in the middle of the gorgeous New Forest, Hampshire, on a direct train line less than 2 hours from London. I’ve been many times so it was a known quantity. I knew it had easy walks and great pubs (and fabulous spa hotels in case of an emergency). Wild ponies wander through the forest and it’s all very magical and atmospheric regardless of the weather.
How to get there
It was a two night camping trip, leaving directly after school on a Friday. We took a cab to the Surbiton train station because a train strike threw a curve ball into the plans. We were going to arrive too late for dinner and I didn’t know what breakfast options might be. So I packed a leftover pesto pasta for the train and forgot my cheese croissants for breakfast on the kitchen counter.
When we arrived, we also took a cab from Brockenhurst to the Long Meadow campsite because the only way to carry all our gear alone was to pack it in a rolling carry-on suitcase. I made peace with cutting all corners on this trip. The important thing was to do it.
Where to stay
I like camping because being immersed in nature forces a mental reset that you bring back to real life after the trip. Camping is more of an adventure than staying in a hotel. And adventures bind you to others.
We stayed at Long Meadow campground, which I would recommend because it was gated off from the wild animals: mating deer, ponies, donkeys and it they had wardens that made it feel safe.
But if beds are more your style of adventure, there are loads of great hotels in Brockenhurst. I love a spa so would recommend Carey’s Manor. One of the Pig hotels is there with a 25 mile local menu. Rustic chic. Think Petersham Nurseries. New Park Manor is part of the Luxury Family Hotels chain, which includes childcare, family activities and they have their own pet bunnies Bertha and Florence. It’s directly around the corner from Long Meadow and they take outside dinner and breakfast reservations.
The plan. What will the kids do?
We’ve been taking our children out on walking and biking trips since they were infants. I always bring a colouring bag, frequently playing cards but rarely toys. I tell them to play with rocks.
On Friday night once the tent was up, we looked at the nearly full moon while drinking hot chocolate from our thermos. In the morning we ate our messy croissants (I re-bought at the train station) and took a morning hike through the woods and the Common full of ponies down to Brockenhurst.
I’m a fan expecting my children to make their own fun. “Only boring people get bored.” So we planned to walk and eat. That’s it. We stopped for a coffee and snack at The Terrace Cafe and played guess the word I’m thinking of. Then I laid down in a field while Tallulah and Olive collected sticks to make a house. We had giant late lunch in the garden at the Huntsman, which does three course kids meals for £8.95.
Finally, we walked in the evening light through Holland Woods back towards Long Meadow. Then I poured hot water bottles and we settled down in our tent to eat chocolate while reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Where to eat
The Terrace Cafe is standard good British cafe food. A solid English Breakfast and salmon & eggs. It has a south-facing terrace for outdoor eating on warm sunny mornings.
I would recommend the Pig if you want something interesting, rustic and elegant.
The Huntsman is a decent pub with a beer garden and a fire at night.
There’s a Tesco Express in the village for walking snacks. I like to buy croissants and swiss for breakfasts.
