Set up camp in the heart of the New Forest
Black Knowl Campsite is the perfect base to explore the UK’s second most recent National Park, the New Forest. With acres of woodland, miles of cycle trails and endless tea rooms and pubs to visit there’s plenty to keep all ages occupied.
What’s more, thanks to Skylark & Co’s link up with the Caravan and Motorhome Club, you can stay at this ‘members only’ campsite without paying for membership!
The New Forest National Park is only a few hours from Skylark & Co HQ and also happens to be where Vicky and Alistair both grew up, so it’s no surprise that they are big fans of trips back there to visit family and friends.
Black Knowl Campsite in the heart of the Forest, is a perfect base for a trip to the area and here’s why we think you’d love it too!
Entrance to Black Knowl Campsite
Location:
Centre of Brockenhurst along a private access road
Brockenhurst is the hub of the Forest with a high street offering a mix of shops for replenishing supplies and buying gifts
Wide, open forest and heathland perfect for everyone to explore
Walk or cycle straight out onto the Forest
Free-roaming New Forest ponies and pigs (in the Pannage season)
Nearby streams to play in and a perfect bridge for pooh-sticks!
Facilities onsite:
Great disabled access facilities - wide doors, low lips and pitches close to the facilities without making you feel you’re camping in the loo block
Family bathrooms (including baths for little ones)
Washing areas (laundry and washing-up)
Community herb garden
Full recycling points dotted around the site
Catering vans several nights a week
Good shop selling food and camping essentials; also has local maps and guides available
Helpful and welcoming staff
Super clean and well maintained
Mix of pitch styles and well spaced out
Activities:
Walking - the Forest has a mix of gravel fire roads and paths. As long as you respect the rules of the National Park you are permitted to wander where you like. The Ornamental Drive, Rhinefield is close to the site and has huge Californian Redwood trees and fun trails for children.
Cycling - Skylark and Kestrel both have large garages which can fit bikes, trikes and trailers but if you’d rather rent, we recommend you pop to Cycle Experience next to the train station in Brockenhurst or The Woods Cyclery in Lyndhurst. The Caravan and Motorhome Club also have their own bike hire available at this site.
Routes - we’ve added a few of our favourite Forest rides to this collection on Komoot to get you started.
Horse riding - there are a number of stables that offer riding experiences, but this one is just round the corner from the campsite.
Kestrel on her pitch at Black Knowl Campsite
Nearby:
Take the train from Brockenhurst west to Bournemouth, east to Southampton or head south to Lymington and connect with the ferry for Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.
Within the Forest itself, we recommend visiting Beaulieu, Burley and Lyndhurst. Beaulieu is home to the National Motor Museum and Burley is a picturesque village with a particularly good fudge shop!
Our favourite places to visit and/or eat:
The Snakecatcher, Brockenhurst - traditional Forest pub with great food. Right in the centre of the village it’s an easy walk from the campsite.
Bakehouse, Brockenhurst - fabulous bakery, we love their pork pies and sausage rolls and have been known to indulge in a hot bacon roll here before a bike ride.
The Filly Inn, Brockenhurst - between Brockenhurst and Lymington; great food and very dog and cyclist friendly. Their fire is wonderful in winter and they have lovely outdoor seating for warmer months.
The Oak at Bank- hidden away in the Forest, just north of Black Knowl, this is an easy cycle or walk from the campsite. Great roasts!
The Woods Cyclery - if you like bikes and/or coffee this is not to be missed! Stocking local Bad Hand Coffee it’s a great place to plan your next bike purchase or simply hire a bike and start exploring.
Noohn, Burley - with a focus on freshness and sustainability (including plenty of plant-based options), we love popping into Noohn for lunch or a mid-ride coffee stop. Noohn also provides picnics to order if you’d like something a bit special.
The White Buck, Burley - a lovely large Forest pub with great food and roaring fires in the winter. In the summer the pub garden comes into its own.
St Barbe Museum, Lymington - housed in Vicky’s old infant school, this is a lovely museum and art gallery. It has talks and activities for adults and children, visiting art exhibitions and a hands-on museum where you can learn all about Lymington and its past. The cafe is very good too.
The Malt Cinema, Lymington - another good wet weather option this tiny cinema offers a selection of films each week.
