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Lymington is one of the access points to the Isle of Wight, with a regular ferry crossing to Yarmouth on the island’s northwest. The Isle of Wight is a popular holiday destination and part of the island is a designated Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB). Campers staying in Lymington can visit the island on a day trip but there are many camping options there too, from coastal campgrounds to those inland and within the AONB.
Spanning Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset, and Wiltshire, the Cranborne Chase AONB is an important area of chalk grasslands and escarpments, ancient woodlands, and archaeological sites. From the top of the highest point in Cranborne Chase, the 908-foot Win Green, visitors can see all the way to the Isle of Wight in one direction and the Quantock Hills AONB in the other. There are many places to camp throughout Cranborne Chase.
Summer is the best time to camp in and around Lymington. The temperatures are usually mild, there’s less rain, and the days are long. School holidays tend to be the busiest time to camp and the Isle of Wight is especially popular. Some campsites are closed outside of summer given tent camping in an English winter can be uncomfortable, but cabins or cottages can be booked for off-season travel instead.