Write your own Review to win £150 of Amazon Vouchers!
If you've ever visited this campsite please submit a review for your chance to win! Each month one lucky person will have their review picked at random and will win £150 of Amazon vouchers. Leave as many reviews as you can for more chances - it only takes a few minutes
Just returned from a few restful days at Setthorns,or known as Dogs Paradise in our house. The weather not brilliant, but hey it's just great to be in amongst the forest, with all the wildlife, birds, squirrels. A real away from it all break. Highly recommended, just ask our two dogs. Television and mobile phone reception not good overall, but that makes a more restful holiday break for us. Just the missus doing her knitting and me listening to the radio and the hounds chasing squirrels in their sleep. Hope to return soon.
I booked 3 nights site having briefly visited the New Forest about 10 years earlier. Seeing that I had arrived in a small campervan, the wardens checked whether I had toilet facilities on board before giving me a map and showing me the areas where I could choose a pitch. It was then a case of me trundling around and comparing pitches to see which one had the best combination of being dry and flat for my utility tent, while at the same time not being too close to the main access roads.
The other reviews have reminded me.I needed the full range of rock / plastic / ripple / normal pegs for my utility tent - the ground was a real mix of rock, soil and what appeared to be buried tree stump!
The area was heavily wooded so the amount of sunlight reaching the pitches was not great and in the night it was extremely dark - if you have to visit the water / chemical disposal points at night you will need a good, *reliable* torch. During the first night I had the 'pleasure' of an owl flying up to the tree in front of me - I'm not sure who was more startled!
There was a recycling area near the reception block, about five minutes walk away. I had one of the wardens come out and tell me off for using the wrong skip - how was I to know this without any sign? The minor access roads are more like tracks and I wonder what the place is like after a prolonged period of rain.
There are various tracks / paths for walking / cycling, although I never managed to reach Sway (or visit the tower) due to my poor navigational skills and the town being further away than I thought by foot with fading light.
Instead I spent the weekend driving around the New Forest and visiting Lyndhurst, Beaulieu motor museum (expensive but worth a visit), Lymington, Fordingbridge (dead on a Sunday) and Calshott.
The roads were busy, as everyone tried to make the most of the sunshine, which meant that my plans on finding places to eat on the spur of the moment failed because it was impossible to park. Instead I ended up cooking in the van one night, bringing back fish and chips the second, and snacking the third.
Mobile phone and TV reception around my pitch was patchy. I had a standard pitch, so no EHU, but for £7 (Friday) and £8 (weekend) a night it was OK value considering the location. There is a small discount for solo campers, but I had to book by phone to do this because on-line it was not applied. Prices for premium pitches and peak / bank holiday times are, in my opinion, very expensive.
I would not use this sort of site often due to the price and the need to set up / tear down a utility tent for my toilet / shower, but it made a nice change.
Booked this campsite as it s a forest holiday site and had been to one 2 years ago, the site itself is excellent, lots of trees with pitches spread out around the site with and without hookup,
There are no toilets or showers here but plenty of drinking water and toilet waste disposals unit dotted around the site.
The wildlife is ample with birds and ponies roaming around the campsite and the walks and views are breathtaking and cycling is a must here with the cycle path going through the campsite,
The staff was very friendly and helpful. We would stay here again, we booked 2 nights and I forgot to use my membership for C&CC (camping and caravan club). It cost us £39, it would have been £32 with my C&CC card with hookup it is a bargain.
We had 8 days here just before the school holidays for a quiet week in the forest. Having retro-read the review here I can say I'm surprised to discover there are nearly 240pitches on the site because I would have guessed at much less.
The facilities are very basic and aimed at the (almost) self sufficient visitor - water and toilet disposal and that's it! The woodland pitches are well spaced and while there are obviously other people situated around you, you still get a sense of seclusion. The forest setting has been preserved and we saw several deer very using the site's roads and pathways. The site is well serviced by footpaths and you can be lost in the forest in no time!
If you need some civilisation, Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst are a 5 and 10 minute drive away although the traffic in both towns can be dreadful. For those arriving during peak times (e.G. Saturday afternoon) I would recommend continuing sout west on the A31 and approaching the site through the village of Burley rather than risking the frustration of either of the two towns.
There is a Somerfield store and petrol station on the northern edge of Lymington but be warned, we found it shockingly expensive.
We stayed here for 3 nights (fri, sat & sun) over the late May bank holiday, booked late and got the last pitch. Arrived at around 6pm where we had a quick check in at friendly reception, had a number of pitches to choose from, all looked lovely.
Had a great weekend, cycled to local car boot sale in Holmesly on Sunday afternoon (1 hour each way) Perfect location for walks, cycling and doing very little. No shops or facilities in close proximity so if you don’t plan on leaving site make sure you have plenty of supplies.
My wife and I chose to spend a weekend at this site for its remoter location, and the cycling path.
As I had done a recce of the site a month before, I already had selected a suitable area to pitch.
Arrival/Check-in was quickly dealt with by the resident warden, (who also does a daily inspection of the site) and we soon were set up.
As there are no facilities on site we bought our own.
The disposal point, and drinking water tap (for us) was only 50 metres away. Clean and tidy.
We wished users would be considerate with the gate, instead most of them allowed it to crash back. Last year we went to Ashurst, where thick rubber strips solved the problem. Any takers?
Being such a basic site meant we had peaceful time. (The scoundrels who had an illegal disco party near Sway Saturday night, did disturb us a bit though)
The path (reclaimed railway line that runs through the site) is public access, therefore the fact that walkers and cyclists, not connected to site may seem to present a security risk, the chances are slim, given the fact that experienced campers look out for one another. We just found they were a noise nuisance. LOL
We both used the path several times for enjoyable daytime cycling and, evening strolls.
We do not use the car for travelling, between arrival and departure whilst tenting, so cycling to Brockenhurst for the Sunday papers was my treat.
For campers/tenters who prefer a basic low key site, where early to bed, and waking to the dawn chorus could be considered the norm, this is the site.
If not, there are sites that cater for livelier people.
We're not members of any organisation that entitled us to any discount, but do qualify for the 55 and over reduction. Therefore had to pay the £3.50 / night surcharge.
This is a very basic but pleasant and very quiet site. Was busier than I expected the weekend we went but did not really feel crowded. There were a couple of units that looked pretty permanent, judging by the green on their awnings. I often wonder what the rules on long stays are.
The disused railway line which runs through it is great for dogs and probably for walkers and cyclers, too.
Brockenhurst is the nearest town and has a selection of restaurants and takeaways, bakers, butchers and so on.
This a great base for exploring the New Forest and further afield. For bigger shops, there is a Tesco in New Milton and a Waitrose in Lymington.
No showers but hook-up is available on some pitches.
This was our third visit to the site. The site is divided into different areas and all the pitches are amongst the trees. Wildlife abounds and we have even seen deer on site. The only sound you'll hear, apart from the wildlife is from your fellow campers.
If you get a clear sky at night, the stars are wonderful. There are no shower blocks on site, so your own facilities are essential. The waste water emptying and chemical emptying are all in one and drinking water is separate. Unlike many sites these points all have a small step up to them.
The site is kept very clean, but the site roads are getting more and more potholes. Maintenance could be improved (a fence round a water point got broken in October - it was still broken in December). Standard pitches have no EHU. If you have EHU there is a maximum of 12 amps, although it may say differently on the bollard! You can walk / cycle straight into the forest from the site, equally all forest users can travel through the site.
Brockenhurst is the local town with restaurants / takeaways, bakers, butchers etc. The nearby village of Sway has a butchers which is worth a visit. The Hare and Hounds there does nice meals. The site is conveniently placed for the coast and Dorset as well as the New Forest.
If you book in advance through Forest Holidays, check the pricing very carefully. In our experience we've always been quoted the wrong price - higher than it should have been. The pricing structure is so complicated we don't think even they can work it out first time!
Have stayed at several forestry sites and this is probably the best we have used so far, if its peace and tranquillity you want then its for you. You actually pitch in the woods, and as the previous reviewer has said, to walk around the site at night in the pitch black is amazing, no noise whatsoever. No facilities or amenities so you need your own. Lovely walks along the old railway line, or cycle, your choice, we did both, nothing close by but you can walk into Sway, or Brockenhurst, Brockenhurst being the busier with a tesco express and several good pubs. No negatives about this site for us, but we love the peace and quiet, will be back soon.
The walk into sway was longer than we thought, and when we got there, nothing was open! The pub had closed down and the hotel seemed a little 'dressy' for us being in camping gear!
The only dissapointment we had was our new 'neighbours' who arrived during our stay while we were out one day. It was a small 4 berth caravan apparently towed by a pick up truck, the driver erected the awning and left. The another car arrived with a mother and 4 children, a dog and a baby! The older children insisted on playing tennis in front of our caravan, the erected some kind of net across the communal roadway in the cul-de-sac (if you have been you know what I mean). I had to ask them to move on several occasions. We were talking to some of the other people on our section who commented on the number of people in the caravan, when another transit van arrived with 2 men in! They didn't stay luckily, and neither did we! When they went out one day, we decided to leave a day earlier than planned (much to the kids disappointment), they returned as we were driving off and began shouting 'bye bye' and 'missing you'.
If this kind of activity is allowed by the staff (who did visit the caravan) then its not the place for us. And we were not the only people to comment on the entire affair.
Was nice walking around at night with a gas lantern in pitch darkness with my Son, the site was ideal until the other caravan arrived!
Previous
76 Reviews in total, now showing 51 to 60Next
Write a Review of this Site to Win £150 Amazon Vouchers
Write a review of this campsite and you could win £150 of Amazon vouchers. Each month one lucky person will have their review picked at random and will win! Leave as many as you can for more chances - submit your review here
Common Questions
Is Setthorns Camping In The New Forest child friendly? YES, it accepts children View all facilities
Where is the nearest shop to Setthorns Camping In The New Forest? There is a shop within 5 miles View all facilities
Is Setthorns Camping In The New Forest dog friendly? YES View all facilities
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
All reviews and comments are the personal opinion of the review author only , and as such do not represent the view of the UK Camp Site.co.uk.
The facilities shown on this website are a guide only, and you should check with the campsite direct before making any booking. The UKCampsite.co.uk will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions
Tent Pitches 
Caravan Pitches 
Motorhome Pitches 
Small Campervans 
No Glamping Units 
No Statics for Hire 
No Statics for Sale 
Seasonal Pitches 
Electric Hookups 
Hardstanding Pitches 
No Fully Serviced Pitches 
Families Welcome 
Not Members Only 
No Rallies 
Not Naturist Site 
Dogs Welcome 
No Dogs Allowed 
Groups Welcome 
No Toilets 
No Showers 
No Washing Up Area 
No Bathroom 
No Baby Changing 
No Laundry 
Drinking Water 
Disabled Friendly 
Chemical Disposal 
No Battery Charging 
No Gas Exchange 
Recycling Facilities 
No Kitchen Facilities 
No Freezer / Fridge 
No Motorhome Point 
No Wifi Access 
Shop <5 miles 
Bar <1 mile 
Restaurant or Cafe or Takeaway <1 mile 
No Playground 
No TV Room 
No Games Room 
No Evening Ents 
Fishing <5 miles 
No Wild Swimming 
No Indoor Pool 
No Outdoor Pool 
Horse Riding <5 miles 
No Cycle Hire 
No Golf 
No Tennis 
Beach <10 miles 
Watersports <10 miles 
Boat Launch / Mooring <10 miles 
No Sea Views 
Not Working Farm 
No Campfires Allowed 
Open All Year 
No Waterside Pitches 
Public Transport <5 miles
Offroad Dog Walk On Site or Direct Access 
Just returned from a few restful days at Setthorns,or known as Dogs Paradise in our house. The weather not brilliant, but hey it's just great to be in amongst the forest, with all the wildlife, birds, squirrels. A real away from it all break. Highly recommended, just ask our two dogs. Television and mobile phone reception not good overall, but that makes a more restful holiday break for us. Just the missus doing her knitting and me listening to the radio and the hounds chasing squirrels in their sleep. Hope to return soon. 
