A slow weekend in the New Forest.

For a first escape from Reading, think about staying in one place for the weekend. The New Forest gives you woodland, villages and a stretch of coast to explore without packing a new destination into every day.

This is a suggested outline to adapt to your own pace, rather than a timed driving itinerary. Check your route, vehicle dimensions, current road conditions and campsite arrangements before setting off.

First, choose your base

Book a campsite that accepts your exact vehicle and has the facilities you need. Some sites are deliberately simple; others offer more facilities. Check toilets, showers, electric hook-up, arrival times and seasonal opening directly before booking.

Forestry England’s New Forest camping page links to campsite options and explains that wild camping is not permitted. A daytime parking space isn’t permission to stay overnight.

Friday: Reading to a slower pace

Choose a sensible route from Reading to your booked campsite, allowing time for traffic and its check-in window. Aim to arrive in daylight, get settled and keep the first evening simple. Supper, a short stroll and a cup of something warm is quite enough.

Saturday: trees, a village and no rush

Build the day around a walk that suits your group. Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst are good places to look for village stops, independent shops and somewhere to eat. Pick one area and enjoy it properly rather than spending the day moving the van.

The official New Forest visitor website has current walking ideas and information about its towns and villages. Check where a vehicle of your height and length can park before you head out.

Sunday: a little sea air

If it fits your campsite checkout and journey home, look towards Lymington for a coastal change of scene. Or stay among the trees for one last walk. Leaving an afternoon spare can be the best part of the plan.

Allow a comfortable journey back to Reading. When hiring, work backwards from the agreed return time and leave room for packing away, refuelling and the return handover.

Before you go

• Confirm a suitable pitch and the campsite’s current facilities.
• Check arrival and departure times, and your vehicle’s dimensions.
• Plan daytime parking separately from your overnight stay.
• Check local weather, route conditions and any access restrictions.
• Keep a quieter alternative in mind if your first choice is busy.

Planning links checked September 2026. Check the linked operators for current facilities, access and availability. Illustrations on this website are creative scenes, not photographs of this route.