Why we love glamping in the New Forest

Gentle roads, perfect for touring cyclists, are one of the main reasons to go glamping in the New Forest. There are lovely stretches like the two-mile breeze from the town of Beaulieu, with its famous motor museum, to the historic hamlet of Buckler’s Hard, with tranquil river views along the way and a pub waiting at the end. Brockenhurst is the largest village within the New Forest, and a great place for a spot of the local activity of pony watching. Sit quietly under the hushed trees of Beachern Wood and prepare to meet a few of the region’s 5000 wild horses.

New Forest Water Park at Fordingbridge is an awesome aqua park and man-made surfing venue which can bring a bit of adrenaline to your glamping in the New Forest with a range of family friendly activities and white knuckle water sports. There’s plenty of wet and wild fun to be had, from Wakeboarding to bouncing around on the 4,000sq ft Aqua Park. There's even more adventure available at the Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Centre, with archery, mountain biking, and abseiling, on a peaceful site surrounded by lakes at the edge of the New Forest National Park.

The Lyndhurst heath circular walk, one of the most popular of the many great New Forest walks, is a gentle 3.5-mile saunter along heathland trail through a colourful carpet of heather in season. Stop for lunch in a forest glade, before ancient tracks and peaceful lanes lead you back to Lyndhurst for dinner. Although you might not expect to get much seaside time when you're glamping in the New Forest, Keyhaven is a small coastal village from which a charming 4-mile walk along the Solent Way takes in some pretty marshland, with views across to the Isle of Wight.

The Wilverley Inclosure circuit is loved by both cyclists, walkers and anyone glamping in the New Forest, with a route of just 2.6 miles through wonderful mature woodlands on a wide gravel path - perfect for working up the appetite for a delicious Sunday roast. Beaulieu Heath, a little to the west of Beaulieu village, is a popular picnic spot loved by nature enthusiasts. Explore the broad, flat area with big skies and views across the hills to the Isle of Wight, on an easy 8-mile loop that’s ideal for a family wander, with plenty of bug and bird spotting.

Local cask ales and homely food in a traditional dark-beamed pub setting are one of the best things about glamping in the New Forest. One of the most popular New Forest pubs, The Waterloo Arms at Lyndhurst, is a 17th century eatery which welcomes both children and dogs (one of which must be kept on a lead). The Pig Restaurant at Brockenhurst has an obsessive commitment to home-grown and local produce, sourcing everything from within 25 miles and offering simple food that’s well done, with an ever-changing menu that often depends on what the forager (yes, an in-house forager) finds.

If you fancy adding some fine dining to your already indulgent glamping in the New Forest, The Jetty at Christchurch, perched on the water’s edge, showcases the efforts of Alex Aitken, one of the South’s most renowned chefs, with a menu dominated by fresh fish landed daily at Mudeford Quay. The Terrace restaurant at the Montague Arms also has superb seasonal, regional produce, sourced with passion, crafted with care, and served with flair. If you'd rather go back to nature, check out a fire cooked banquet at Ritual Feast. Produce is slow cooked over New Forest wood for a memorable dining experience, held everywhere from forest clearings to secluded beaches - it’s theatre, and food combined.

Exbury Gardens, 200 acres of gorgeous greenery, woodland trails and the flickering glitter of a dragonfly pond, is a great place to while away a day of your glamping in the New Forest. There’s even a steam railway to keep the kids entertained and activity days when you can try anything from falconry and bushcraft to bug hotel making. For a coastal alternative, Lepe Country Park is great for walking, swimming, and bird watching.

The birds and ponies aren't the only wildlife to call the New Forest home either, with wolves, otters, and bison all resident at New Forest Wildlife Park, another great destination if you're glamping in the New Forest with kids. Hurst Castle, Henry VIII’s Tudor stronghold on the Hurst Spit, now provides a remote escape by the sea and you can look out from the Tudor Keep where Charles I was kept prisoner in the 1600s, presumably enjoying the spectacular views across the Needles Passage more than he did at the time.

What is glamping?

Glamping in the New Forest is a sustainable, ethical way to enjoy one of the UK’s most unspoiled regions, getting you close to nature, while keeping you in style and having minimal impact on the environment. Our glamping accommodation offers a range of eclectic spaces, from woodland treehouses high above the ground, to vintage airstreams and shepherd’s huts that have weathered the winds for centuries. You might also find memorable experiences to compliment your stay, from a guided forage to track down your dinner, to private yoga sessions and welcome hampers packed with lush local produce.

How do we choose our places?

At Canopy & Stars, we personally vet all of our glamping accommodation with an overnight stay, allowing us to get to know our owners, and helping us choose only the most memorable spaces for our guests. Whether you want to spend some downtime in a cosy cabin with a partner, or enjoy amazing outdoor activities with a group of friends, our locations will bring you close to nature, without sacrificing those special little touches that make a break truly special.

We’ve tracked down some of the UK’s most amazing spaces, from charming treehouses to elegant converted barns, all set within some of the UK’s most breathtaking scenery, from meadow and mountain, to forest and field. Expect nothing but an eclectic and exciting array of spaces for your glamping break with Canopy & Stars.

About Canopy & Stars

We’re an independent travel company that strives to make a positive impact on the planet, treating our staff, accommodations owners, and guests with respect and fairness. Everyone who works for us has a stake in the company they’re helping to build, and we’ve also established a charitable trust that uses a portion of our profits to support global climate crisis projects. We live by our values, and make sustainable choices that take care of our planet and our people. Check out our about us page to find out more about the work we do.