Watercress Lodges Campsite

From £25 For 1 night, 6 adults 9.2 89 reviews
Amazing views
Lovely place to stay at (added by watercresslodges 18 aug 2015)
Pitches (added by watercresslodges 18 aug 2015)
Amazing views (added by manager 17 aug 2022)

  • Family-run site by the Watercress Line: see the trains from your pitch
  • A minute's walk from steam engine events of Ropley station
  • Spotless amenities and friendly vibe 20 minutes from Winchester
Do you have a Thomas the Tank Engine fan or mini trainspotter in the family? They might just go up in a puff of excited smoke at Hampshire’s Watercress Lodges Campsite, so close to the historic Watercress Line that you’ll be able to see the trains’ steam from your tent pitch. Engine-ious. No need to be out of puff when tracking other activities in the area either, as the line’s Ropley station and its railway bridge are both a minute or two’s walk from the site, and it has regular events for all ages including Thomas the Tank Engine and Wallace and Gromit days, dining evenings, real ale trains and Santa bookings. Just the ticket then for a well-conducted family hol… The site is on land the Graham family has farmed for four generations and opened as a campsite in 2014, pulling out all the stops to make this a friendly site with a family vibe. Facilities including the new shower and toilet block are spotlessly kept by Jo and her team, who are on hand if guests have any problems or questions (and to pass out 2-for-1 vouchers for the Watercress Line). Off site, once kids have let off steam at the railway, the small town of New Alresford is three miles away for supplies, shops and pubs, and the city of Winchester within a 20-minute drive.

Site type

Tent pitches 30
Rent a tent 2
Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 6
Open all year
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • No cars/motorbikes by the pitch/unit. All cars must be parked in the designated area.
  • Reception is unmanned after 6 p.m.. Please inform the site while on your way there should you expect to arrive after this time, so that the team can provide information about your unit/pitch.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the site are unlit.
  • No naked flames are allowed inside the hired accommodation units.

Languages spoken

English

Pitch types & availability

Reviews

94%

would recommend this site to a friend

93%

would stay here again

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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Good campsite, good location. Excellent toilet block with hot showers.…

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 6
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Elliott S. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Good campsite, good location. Excellent toilet block with hot showers.

Disliked: No-one available at check in, did not pick up the phone. Just assumed where I could camp and pitched. I had no contact with any site owner all weekend, which is fine if there were some instructions emailed or available on site. No working water taps and none of the washing up taps worked. I had to wash up and get water from the bathroom sinks which was not ideal. Probably great in summer but if it is open all year round then basic provision like a water tap and wash up station should be available.

Recommend to friends Visit again

No complaints… Everything was what we expected… Nice,clean flat spaces…enough parking spaces,easy to find…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Kushal G. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: No complaints… Everything was what we expected… Nice,clean flat spaces…enough parking spaces,easy to find and quiet to relax.

Disliked: Tap in washing area wasnt working.

Recommend to friends Visit again

We booked a safari tent called Annie for two nights in the…

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Lauren W. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Safari tent

Liked: We booked a safari tent called Annie for two nights in the last weekend of September and were lucky to have good weather. The tent was comfortable, well equipped and warm especially in the evenings with the wood burner burning. A couple of minor issues were quickly and politely addressed. The shower and toilet block was clean and warm (yay) and the site was attractive and well maintained. The safari tents also had allocated parking nearby. We had a great time travelling on the Watercress line steam trains, walking in and around the villages/town around the train line and meeting friends for lunch. Once back at the campsite in the early evening it was lovely to kick back, relax and read, play games, chat etc. We did not even use our phones much.

Disliked: The only reason I have four stars was the minor issues. We will definitely be visiting again.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely and well kept camp site.

Overall 8/10
Location 8
Value for money 6
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 8
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: The campsite was beautifully maintained and very picturesque. As the only people camping it was extremely quite and peaceful. Having a freezer available to referee cool blocks was a huge bonus. Easy to contact hannah if needed.

Disliked: Downfall are the toilet/shower facilities that could do with a little update. Push button shower that you have to hold in to shower otherwise clicks off after 10 to 15 seconds. The gents didn't have any hair drying facilities.

Recommend to friends Visit again

The location is amazing, pitches clean and tidy.

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Katherine H. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: The location

Recommend to friends Visit again

Camping along side the Ropley Steam engine station was a magical experience.…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Elizabeth F. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Bell tent

Liked: Camping along side the Ropley Steam engine station was a magical experience. Lots to do and a lovely playpark during the day.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great time

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
lesley p. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Very lovely site not too big or crowded

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
lesley p. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Everything

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
lesley p. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Everything

Disliked: Nothing really although water I washing up area could have been warmer.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Clean

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service No rating
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Mariana F. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Very clean showers and toilets. Quite and nice to relax. Great for camp fire. Very close to the train station. Highly recommend.

Recommend to friends Visit again


Features

Leisure on site

Bar or club house

Cycle hire

Evening entertainment

Fishing

Fitness centre

Games room

Indoor swimming pool

Kids' club

On-site restaurant/cafe

Outdoor swimming pool

Play area

TV room

Take away

Tennis

Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available

Car parking by pitch/unit

Composting toilet

Disabled facilities

Dog park

Drying room

Food shop

Free wifi

Ice pack freezing

Internet access

Launderette

Parent & baby washroom

Pick-up from public transport

Portable toilet

Pub toilets

Public telephone

Shower available

Toilet block

Washing-up area

Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome

Family friendly

Motorcycle friendly

Rallies welcome

Single-sex groups welcome

Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

No dogs allowed

No pets allowed

Themes

Budget/backpacker

Peaceful

Spectacular scenery

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Communal freezer

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Nearby farmers' market

Public transport nearby

Type

Medium (26-50 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Fishing nearby

Golf nearby

Indoor pool nearby

Leisure/theme park nearby

Restaurant nearby

Location

Watercress Lodges Campsite

Dean Farm

Bighton Hill

Ropley

Alresford

Hampshire

England

SO24 9SQ

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

51.08875°N
-1.10031°W

Route directions

You can also arrive in style on a steam train which links to rail mainline services at Alton. Steam rail services do not run every day: please check train times.

Nearest transport

Coach
9.3 mi Broadway Guildhall
9.3 mi Dragon Street
9.3 mi Dragon Street
Rail
7.3 mi Alton Rail Station
9 mi Petersfield Rail Station
9.5 mi Micheldever Rail Station
Ferry
18.4 mi Hamble-le-Rice Ferry Landing
18.5 mi Warsash Ferry Landing
18.9 mi Southampton Vehicle Ferry Terminal
Airport
14.8 mi Southampton Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Puff along on the Watercress Line or walk along the River Itchen to sightsee at Georgian New Alresford, or go in the other direction along the 10-mile route to its other terminus Alton, home of historic buildings, art gallery and the Curtis Museum. The ancient market town of Petersfield is about five miles to the east of Watercress: head here for markets, museums and scenic walks/pedals into the South Downs (Petersfield is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is in the South Downs National Park and on the South Downs Way). Winchester and its museum and castle is about 10 miles away: if the kids aren’t suitably awed by the 900-year-old cathedral (tsk), take them to Marwell Wildlife at Owslebury near the city to marvel at the 1,200 or so-strong menagerie of animals from all over the world, or to the simply super INTECH Science Centre and Planetarium on Winchester’s Morn Hill.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Hillhead 19.8 mi Sea N/A Good Good Good
Lee-On-Solent 20.4 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Eastney 21.2 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Southsea East 21.4 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Calshot 21.5 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Mid-Hants Railway 'Watercress Line' 2.7 mi

Jane Austen's House 5.7 mi

INTECH Science Centre & Planetarium 7.4 mi

Winchester Cathedral 9.4 mi

Birdworld 13 mi

National Trust

Hinton Ampner 3.9 mi

Winchester City Mill 9.2 mi

Uppark House and Garden 13 mi

The Vyne 14.9 mi

Hindhead Commons and The Devil's Punch Bowl Caf� 16 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

OLD ALRESFORD HOUSE 2.5 mi

Battle of Cheriton, 1644 2.8 mi

BRAMDEAN HOUSE 3 mi

Abbotstone Down - Abbotstone - Old Alresford - Abbotstone Down 3.6 mi

Cheriton and the Civil War Battlefields 4.1 mi

Local events

  • CarFest (Friday 23 August 2024 – Friday 23 August 2024)

    Basingstoke, Hampshire 11.3 mi

  • Wickham Festival (Thursday 1 August 2024 – Thursday 1 August 2024)

    Fareham, Hampshire 13.4 mi

  • Farnborough International Airshow (Monday 22 July 2024 – Monday 22 July 2024)

    Farnborough, Hampshire 19.2 mi

  • Goodwood Festival of Speed (Thursday 11 July 2024 – Thursday 11 July 2024)

    Chichester, West Sussex 21.7 mi

  • Reading Festival (Wednesday 21 August 2024 – Wednesday 21 August 2024)

    Reading, Berkshire 26.3 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in Hampshire?

  • Does Watercress Lodges Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Watercress Lodges Campsite dog friendly? No View all features
  • What attractions are near Watercress Lodges Campsite? Puff along on the Watercress Line or walk along the River Itchen to sightsee at Georgian New Alresford, or go in the other direction along the 10-mile route to its other terminus … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Watercress Lodges Campsite?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  12 p.m. –  6 p.m.
    Depart by:  12 p.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  3 p.m. –  7 p.m.
    Depart by:  10 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Watercress Lodges Campsite? From £25 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.