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Harry's Meadow

96%
·
· Fordingbridge, Hampshire, England
40 acres hosted by Jesse S.
10 glamping pitches · 99 motorhome/tent pitches
Jesse is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
Back-to-basics camping with campfires in a spacious wildflower meadow, set on a beautiful New Forest estate

Everything about the New Forest seems spacious and unhindered: the way that deer and ponies roam freely for miles, the way that country lanes seem to dissolve into the verges, the way that bushes and heathland thrive. So it's only right that a campsite like Harry's Meadow feels so open and vast. The space on offer here is immense. There's plenty of room to find your private area, set down and enjoy some peace, yet at the same time feel somehow sociable, too, as you occupy a campsite with ample space for up to a hundred other campers.

Set on a historic New Forest estate, ribboned by trees that cross the land in neat avenues, Harry’s Meadow, is the sister site to the smaller Harry’s Field further south. The main manor house and central part of the estate is closed to campers, but there’s a real sense of privilege to being allowed to camp here. And, with enough space to pitch even the largest of 10-man tunnel tents, you can build your very own country mansion instead.

Given the vast amount of room on offer – think swathes of wildflower-pimpled grass and a handful of huge hundred-year old oak trees – affable manager Jesse has a laid-back attitude about where you pitch. Find a quiet space at the far end of the field, further from the facilities, or pitch near the entrance to be five-minutes from a wild swimming spot on the River Avon and closer to the public footpath, which leads across fields to Woodgreen. This village, though tiny, is home to all you really need: an award-winning community shop and probably the best pub in the west of the New Forest. Campfires are allowed in off-ground fire pits which are available to hire from reception on arrival and dogs are welcome too.

The back-to-basics nature of Harry’s Meadow make this an almost wild camping experience (albeit one with the option of pre-pitched bell tents if you really want to take it easy). It’s fitting given the wild surrounds of the New Forest. Those in the know bring bikes to make the most of the area – the New Forest has miles of car-free trails and it’s a great way to see the ubiquitous wildlife. Even the village green in nearby Hale is a conservation area and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). On rainy days it’s a 15-minute drive to Salisbury and around 20 to family favourite, Paultons Park, while, on sunny ones, it's only half an hour to Bournemouth beach.

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96%
70 Ratings · 118 reviews
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Rebecca H.recommends
June 3, 2023
Grass Pitch
This is a huge meadow with masses of space for everyone and space in between! Friendly staff, well-tended facilities, even though temporary. No wait for showers and sinks etc. Also, there's a bar on site and food and beverages available in the morning and evening.
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Charlotte S.
August 29, 2022
Grass Pitch
A few hiccups this year
We had a great weekend but a few things grated: (1) The music coming from the bar area in the evening - violating the campsite’s own noise policy (2) A silent disco was advertised, but turned out to be a private party (3) We were told that groups had to pitch in the left-hand field, which is on a slope, shaded until midday and further from the showers. We did as we were told, but larger groups, arriving later, were then able to pitch in the better field (4) very long queues for showers
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Kelly G.recommends
August 23, 2022
Grass Pitch
Fantastic set up and beautiful views. We will definitely be back next year!
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Deborah G.recommends
August 22, 2022
Grass Pitch
My kinda camping 🌸🌿✨
Lovely peaceful camp site Good facilities Great cider The stretch tent has a lovely friendly vibe and we enjoyed sundowner Aperol Spritzes 🍹☀️ The walk to the river was pleasant and our wild river swim very welcome in the heat of the weekend. I will definitely visit again My kinda camping 🏕 🌸🌿🍹🥂
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David M.recommends
August 11, 2022
Grass Pitch
Large open field with good showers.
Huge field which appears to be sublet in August to a pop up camping enterprise. Relatively expensive but there’s easy access to showers and water along with the various food and drink vending vans. Friendly staff. Hip sort of festival vibe. Our trip was marred by an annoying family whose teenagers played shouty football all over us. So perhaps they could organise large groups together or designate a quiet area which we’ve found works well elsewhere.
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Molly C.
January 24, 2022
I loved staying at Harry's Meadow, it was such a beautiful place to relax and enjoy the summer with friends and family. The facilities are clean, well-kept and to a good standard (showers are really good!) and the beer tent was a welcome addition. The staff are very approachable, and keen to help (Matt was more than willing to come and help inflate our airbed!) We also had some icepacks that needed to be kept in the freezer and those were brought back and forth for us. Will definitely be back again later this summer.
Location
Fordingbridge, Hampshire, England, United KingdomTraditional, ancestral territory of various First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Jesse S.Joined in July 2020
From the host
Harry’s Meadow is an exquisite camping and glamping sites occupying a pristine 40-acre wildflower meadow interrupted by ancient oaks and towering birches, you’ll experience the ethos of it's sister site Harry’s Field— a campsite developed by campers, for campers—in a beautiful new setting. Like Harry’s Field, ease and practicality is front and centre. The Meadow is easily accessible from the M27, and a mere one mile stroll along a quaint footpath leading out of the meadow, you will find one of best pubs in The New Forest (The Horse Groom in Woodgreen) and an award winning village shop next door (Woodgreen Village Shop). In terms of facilities, The Meadow offers best-in-class pressured hot showers, compostable eco loos, portaloos, sinks and hot water for washing up, fire pits to hire along with an impressive range of onsite food options including morning coffee and pastries, pizza oven, cocktail truck and beer tent. The team invites you to lay in the meadow, breath in the scent of British summer time, and enjoy a flawless camping holiday curated by experts—in the field.
Nearby attractions

It’s three miles to Langley Wood National Nature Reserve but you needn’t travel that far to enjoy the woods and the quiet surrounds of the New Forest. From the campsite there are plenty of accessible footpaths and cycling routes – bring bikes to make the most of the area – and Jesse is happy to offer advice on the best local spots. If you’re a fan of the campsite’s setting there are other country estates to explore; set in its own gorgeous parkland, two miles from Harry’s Meadow, the grandeur and elegance of Breamore House (01725 512858) has changed little over the past 400 years. The Elizabethan Manor House and Countryside Museum are open for tourists from April until the end of October and there’s a great maze outside for kids. Little ones most love Paulton’s Park (023 8081 4442; 12 miles) however, which has an array of rides and attractions, including a rollercoaster, a log flume, a water park, adventure golf and a 4D cinema. Hugely popular Peppa Pig World is also located there. On particularly hot days, take a drive to the south coast – it's a half-hour drive to the beaches of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Mudeford.

Food and drink

It’s about a mile from the campsite into the village of Woodgreen, where there’s an excellent community shop selling locally sourced food and all your everyday essentials. The Horse and Groom (01725 510739), also in the village, is known as one of the best pubs in the New Forest, with a wide selection of ales on tap and a lovely garden.

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