For a city dweller, the novelty of waking up with nothing but a bit of canvas between me and the great outdoors never wears off. Dozing in my tent under the trees with no sound but the birds in the early morning was absolutely magical.
With a teenage boy for company, there was no question of getting going early in the morning, so I could just unzip my tent and gaze at the deep green oaks and the wild ponies grazing in the clearing. The Shetland ponies had given birth to foals smaller than most dogs, and they munch their way contentedly through the greenery of the campsite.
At Hollands Wood in the heart of the New Forest, the campsite is tucked into the edge of the trees, so that when I strolled out for a walk across the clearing, I saw no other tents. Ponies and cattle roaming free reinforced the impression of being out in the wild – especially when a group of horses suddenly took off at a gallop.
It is quite surprising to find horses just wandering all over the place, but their presence tends to keep the pace of life nice and slow. Being able to cook and eat alfresco under the trees helps too. Turning sausages on our BBQ we felt a world away from our London kitchen, despite being just a couple of hours drive from it.
Making tracks
There's a mass of different activities available for campers of all ages and fitness levels. Within minutes of mentioning that we'd like to go for a cycle ride, a van from Trax bike hire was at the site, offloading a couple of bikes, with helmets, maps and the whole kit.
Cycling through the forest is great for serious pedal pushers, and just as good for those of us who don't feel the need to cover hundreds of miles. We pottered about and got a bit lost, which was a pleasure in itself. The tracks were well marked and the climbs just steep enough to give us a sense of achievement, and make us feel we'd earned our ice-cold Cokes at the pub. We stopped for lunch at the Oak Inn in the tiny village of Bank, which has a lovely garden and excellent food, with lots of fresh fish on the menu.
On the way back to camp we enjoyed a delicious paddle in the river close by the campsite, where smaller children can splash about. Later that afternoon, we drove to Beaulieu, a little village on a bend of the Beaulieu river, and ate homemade ice-creams sitting on the green. When the weather is so glorious, there really is no place finer to escape to for a few days than England's lush green spaces.
We continued to Buckler's Hard, an 18th-century shipbuilding hamlet, where Nelson's warships were built, and picked out the ones we'd like to own. Watching the last boats come in as the sun set, and tie up on their moorings, we felt part of an ancient New Forest world. How delightful to know we'd be heading back to our little spot beneath the trees in Hollands Wood, a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life back at home.
Your camping in the forest holiday
• There are 15 forest campsites in England, 10 of them in the New Forest. A family of four can camp for a week for as little as £167.
• Most campsites provide shower and toilet blocks, washers, driers and drinking water, should you want to get back to nature in luxury. Some have electric hook-up on site and others accept dogs (brilliantly, the website lists the top five sites for dogs, as voted by campers). Check the facilities when you book.
• Activities are available at most campsites, including cycle hire and guided wildlife tours. You'll find fishing, wild swimming and Go Ape within easy reach of many forest campsites.
• You will need to bring your own tent and cooking equipment (gas stoves and charcoal trays are allowed, camp fires are not). Gas canisters or charcoal are usually available at camping shops within easy reach of the site. See the Camping in the Forest website for your holiday checklist.
For full details of Camping in the Forest sites in England, visit campingintheforest.co.uk
