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Setthorns Campsite, New Forest

Setthorns Campsite, New Forest
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Prices From £15.30 per night (Two Adults) BOOK NOW

Reacquaint yourself with nature at the secluded, almost secretive Setthorns campsite.

Cosy nooks and hidden pathways make up this site, which intertwines seamlessly with the surrounding woodlands.

With 235 pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, Setthorns campsite blends with the New Forest effortlessly. Trees and bushes separate pitches to create a completely private and tranquil feel, whilst its rugged edge is sure to give you a sense of adventure. Beyond the pitches, you won’t know where the campsite ends and the forest begins.


Winding paths loop through the site, branching off in various directions, adding to its character. With forest on all sides, and even running through the middle, take off on foot or by bike onto one of the many waymarked routes through the forest, and you'll soon be in the midst of your next adventure. With direct access from the campsite, the nearby disused railway line is a great place to start.

Pitching your tent at Setthorns will put you in a prime position to enjoy the abundance of New Forest wildlife, including the free roaming ponies and deer. Rare, wild birds can be seen in their natural environment, and small mammals busy themselves as they go about their daily lives in the forest’s heathland and woodland.

Sway is the nearest local village at 1.5 miles away. Slightly further afield is Brockenhurst, a picturesque village which was recently declared Britain's Most Beautiful place to live. Lyndhurst, offers a plentiful supply of shops, cafés, restaurants and pubs.

Local attractions include Paulton’s Family Theme Park, Beaulieu National Motor Museum and the New Forest Wildlife Park.

For a tranquil holiday and to experience one of England’s most stunning forests, book your next holiday at Setthorns campsite. 

Worth Noting
A chemical toilet is required when staying at this campsite.

When visiting the New Forest, please follow the New Forest Code to help us care and look after this unique place for everyone to enjoy. Find out how here.

Any barbecues used on our sites should be specifically designed and used only for the purpose of cooking food (i.e. not firepits). They should be robust, secure and able to be raised off of the forest floor, there should be no damage or marks left on the ground where they have been used. In support of the New Forest Action Plan, we are asking campers not to bring disposable barbecues for their stay. We are also reminding campers that outside of our sites, no barbecues of any kind are now allowed anywhere in the New Forest.

Please do not feed, pet or approach the animals in and around the campsite; they may look friendly but are unpredictable and can bite and kick. Please keep all food sealed and out of reach of the ponies

Facilities available at Setthorns Campsite, New Forest


Providing a more back to basics feel, facilities at Setthorns are limited, with no toilet or shower facilities, though chemical toilet disposal and drinking water taps are provided.

This means that a chemical toilet is required when staying at this campsite.

The site also has Hardstanding Select as a pitch type option. This includes a hardstanding pitch with electric hook up, offering more space than a normal hardstanding pitch

Directions to Setthorns

Due to temporary road works there is a change in directions to Setthorns campsite:

From the West


  • From the A31 Dorset come off at Burly services.
  • Turn right and follow this to the main high street. Once here turn right at the Burly Inn, follow down to the crossroads (crown pub on the corner) and turn left.
  • Follow this road all the way to the end, turn left up to the church and where the road is closed.
  • Turn right, follow to the end at the roundabout.
  • Turn left, follow this up to the cattle grid and the Rising Sun pub, turn right, then immediately left and follow down to the end.
  • Turn right, follow this up to the next turning on the right (there should be campsite signs), turn right and follow it for 750yds. Setthorns is on your right-hand side.

From the North and East

  • Follow the M27 and exit at J1 on to the A337 to Lyndhurst.
  • Once in Lyndhurst follow the one-way system round to the right, once you turn right keep in the left-hand lane on the A337 to Lymington/Brockenhurst.
  • Once at the Filly Inn on your left-hand side, turn right onto B3054 opposite the pub.
  • Follow this up to the crossroads and turn right, and Setthorns is roughly 1.5 miles along on the left-hand side.

Please bear in mind there are railway bridges with height restrictions.

Please note: Some Sat Nav systems will guide you to New Milton if you enter our postcode. If this happens and you wish to use your Sat Nav, we recommend that you enter ‘Sway’ and a member of our team can guide you to the site from there if necessary.

Public Transport around Setthorns

Trains

From Setthorns Reception it takes 35mins to walk to Sway Railway station, which is the main Weymouth to London Waterloo line.  You can also hop on to Brockenhurst in just 5 mins.


Buses

Unfortunately there are no buses that run past the site, buses do go from Sway into Brockenhurst where you can get buses to Southampton, Lymington and other routes.



There is a bookable “CANGO” bus service from Sway which travels around the immediate local area and is a hop on and hop off service. 


New Forest Tour Bus

Once in the Forest, the tour bus is a great way to travel and runs from June to September. There are 3 routes to choose from..(Red, Green & Blue.)It is a hop on and hop off service covering most of the Forest


Coaches

The main coach station is Southampton. The nearest stop to the site is outside Brockenhurst College.

Taxis


There are a number of taxis that operate in the New Forest.

The New Forest and surrounding area offers visitors to Setthorns campsite a whole range of fun activities and family days out to enjoy. You can go horse riding and cycling in the forest or head a little further afield to one of the area’s many attractions or simply sample some of the local food and drink on offer in one of the area’s many tea rooms, pubs and restaurants.

With the forest in such close proximity, you’ll never be short of things to do. Here are a few ideas to get you started:



patio tables and chairs outside restaurantThe Huntsman Restaurant, Brokenhurst
A 13th century coaching inn full of character, charm, drink and food. A perfect countryside treat after your busy day in the forest.

Address: Brockenhurst, SO42 7RH
Tel: 01590 622 225


cyclists on the old railwayForest Leisure Cycling
Cycle hire from Forest Leisure Cycling, in Burley, the perfect base for easy access to the New Forest Trails, with rides and bikes for all ages!

Open 7 days a week.
Tel: 01425 403584


hurst-castle-panoramicHurst Castle 
Discover the fortress built by Henry VIII. Take a short ferry ride or trek along the 1.5 mile sea road to get to the magnificent castle. 
Tel: 01590 642500




family on bikesTrax Bike Hire
One of the best ways to see the New Forest is by bike. Take a look at Trax Bike Hire now for your New Forest holiday. Trax offer wide choice of bike to suit all age ranges and abilities.

Tel: 01425 618562


peppa pig worldPaultons Family Theme Park, Home of Peppa Pig World
Perfect for families, Paultons Family Theme park is a great day out. Paultons Park is host to more than 60 additional rides and attractions.

Address: Paultons Park, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 6AL
Tel: 023 8081 4442


people in canoesThe New Forest Activity Centre
Try some exciting outdoor activities such as archery, bushcraft or family combat games, or take part in a full day of adventure.

Address: New Forest Activities, Hazel Copse Farm, Beaulieu, Hampshire, SO42 7WA
Tel: 01590 612377


the three tuns buildingThe Three Tuns Inn, Bransgore
A cosy retreat in the heart of the New Forest, with a log fire for the winter and a beautiful terrace.

Address: Bransgore, BH23 8JH
Tel 01425672232


Sammy Miller Motorcycle MuseumSammy-Miller

A must for petrol heads, Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum is just ten minutes' drive (or ride!) from the Setthorns site, hosting one of the biggest collections of exotic racing bikes in the world.
 


 
sign for ringwood breweryRingwood Brewery, Ringwood
Take a tour around Ringwood Brewery and try their four locally brewed Best Bitter and Fortyniner ales.

Address: Ringwood, BH24 3AP
Tel: 01425 470303


For Rainy Days

Regent-CentreRegent Centre, Christchurch
This community centre offers a cinema, theatre, concert hall and an art gallery which provides a great escape out of miserable weather.

Address: The Regent Centre, 51 High Street, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1AS
Tel: 01202 499199


Romsey-RapidsRomsey Rapids Sports Complex
This isn’t just any old sports centre; Romsey Rapids has a huge amount of activities and is only a 30 minute drive from Setthorns.

Address: Romsey Rapids Sports Complex, Southampton Rd, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 8AF
Tel: 01794 830333


Bucklers-HardBucklers Hard, Beaulieu
Bucklers Hard played a major role in many historical events including WW2 and the battle of Trafalgar. The majority of attractions are indoors which makes this a great, educational, rainy day out for all.

Address: Bucklers Hard, Brockenhurst, Hampshire, S042
Telephone: 01590 616203

Pirates-ParadisePirates Paradise, Applemore Leisure Centre
When the rain hits Setthorns the best plan of action to fit in some active adventure is to hit Pirates Paradise, 30 minutes away from the site.

Address: Claypits Lane, Dibden, Southampton, SO45 5TN
Tel: 023 8028 5531

 

Adventure-WonderlandAdventure Wonderland Bournemouth 
Inside Adventure Wonderland, a popular theme park for kids between 3 and 10 you’ll find a spectacular indoor play centre.

Address: Merritown Lane, Hurn, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 6BA
Tel: 01202 483444


Lemur-LandingsLemur Landings, Tower Park
Lemur Landings is a huge indoor soft play area for kids of all ages. Great for rainy days, safe and secure and with all of the facilities you could possibly need.

Address: Lemur Landings, Tower Park, Yarrow Road, Poole, BH12 4NY
Tel: 01202 740500

Prices From
£15.30 per night (Two Adults) BOOK NOW

At a Glance

  • Offers available
  • Open all year
  • No toilets or showers
  • Chemical toilet required
  • 235 pitches
  • Hardstanding and electric hook up available
  • Pets welcome
  • Close to villages of Sway and Brockenhurst
  • TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
  • View our pricing guide and seasonal dates

Contact Details

Setthorns Campsite, New Forest New Milton Hampshire BH25 5WA
01590 681020

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Peace at last.
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We have enjoyed two recent stays at Setthorns and looking forward to returning again this year. The wardens are the best you could wish for. Extremely helpful Going out of their way to help us with a broken tent pole. The site is just as quite I remembered it some 30 years ago. Lots of lovely walks to be enjoyed along what we now call echo way (the old railway line).
Unit Type: Trailer Tent
Beautiful surroundings
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We received such a friendly and warm welcome from Dawn. We arrived on the hottest day ever recorded, but thanks to the trees and the shade they provided we remained cool. We had a very peaceful and relaxing stay and would definitely stay here again.
Unit Type: Motorhome
Very pleasant break
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We needed to try out a new piece of equipment, and wanted a shady site during very hot weather! The site is quiet and restful, and the shade was very welcome. In particular one of the wardens, Philip, was really great in helping us find a pitch away from the usual through routes, as it could be very dusty and my wife's asthma made this necessary for us.
Unit Type: Camper Van
A beautiful shady retreat from the sun!
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We stayed at Setthorns campsite for 2 nights in July, during the heatwave. What a good idea! The shady tree laden campsite was such a santuary from the blistering heat. All was very peaceful, serene and tranquil. An ideal spot to spend a couple of days, whilst enjoying the natural beauty of the forest. The experience is quite different from your 'normal' campsite and feels a lot quieter, for a more authentic 'back to nature' feel. Slight niggles We arrived after reception had shut so were given a map with guidance on where to pitch. This was quite confusing as we'd been allocated a space with a number on it, which was hard standing which we didn't want. However we noticed another 2 other spaces in another area had also been indicated on the map provided so ended up moving the next morning. This was a bit inconvenient, as it would have been good to go straight to the grass pitched area in the first place! On the morning we left, a HUGE area near us was cordoned off with red striped plastic tape to prevent people from camping under the dead wood in the trees above. Totally understandable that the campsite does not want campers in the area but it made this beautiful campsite look like a massive crime scene! If I had just arrived or was camping any longer, I would definitely have been very upset with having to look at that! To me, it seemed a strange approach to take given that the campsite prides itself on being so back to nature and all about natural beauty. Surely some strategically placed logs / natural looking rope would do the same job without the hideous appearance? In any case, we loved our stay and will be back in future, hopefully not to be greeted with any red tape!
Unit Type: Motorhome
Peaceful
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We stayed here for 2 nights and what an amazing place, so peaceful and quiet. Whilst sitting outside our motorhome, several deer just wandered past and we saw several more in the bushes on our walks. The pitches were well spaced out and there are plenty of fresh water and chemical toilet emptying points along with waste bins and bins for your used bbq charcoal. There are plenty of walks and cycle routes to take and the nearest village, Sway, is a 25 walk away which has a supermarket and 2 pubs ( we had a great meal at the Hare and Hounds). Would definitely recommend and we will be coming back in the future.
Unit Type: RV Motorhome
Perfect pitch
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Setthorns has to be one of my favourite of the New Forest campsites!! The staff at Setthorns are great!!.. friendly and helpful. Will definitely return soon.
Unit Type: Camper Van
Wonderful campsite
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We had a fantastic stay at Setthorns! Stayed on a select pitch which was huge and very private, surrounded by nature with deer, squirrels, rabbits and some very tame robins and blackbirds , beautifully cool and shaded from the hot sun , staff were lovely and everywhere looked lovely, can’t wait to return!
Unit Type: Caravan
Excellent
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We only stayed one night as a stop over, great place, super quiet, 10min bike ride from Sway, will definitely be heading back for a longer stay.
Unit Type: Motorhome
Possibly the quietest, peaceful pitch l have ever stayed on.
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Stayed for 10 days during a heat wave. The tree canopy sheltered us from the extreme heat. Small families of deer frequently visited us each day, sometimes less than 10 meters away. There was so little noise that when returning home we really missed the peace and quiet. The Wardens were pleasant and friendly. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Unit Type: Caravan
Back to nature
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This is a lovely quiet site with lots of different woodland walks. It’s a lovely setting with very friendly hosts
Unit Type: Camper Van