Hampshire glamping holidays
Heading to Hampshire? Whether you’re an experienced camper looking for something a little more luxurious or you're new to outdoor breaks and keen to keep it simple, a glamping break could be just the ticket.
Whether you opt for a traditional shepherd’s hut, a family-sized bell tent, a trendy yurt or a cosy pod, there’s plenty of choice out there to suit a range of tastes and budgets for your next Hampshire holiday.
Where you should stay in Hampshire
With its mix of gorgeous coastline, two national parks, typical English farmland and buzzy towns, it’s sometimes hard to know where to get started in Hampshire.
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For many, glamping in the New Forest has to be on the bucket list – this pretty national park is a haven of biodiversity, with a mix of woodlands, heaths and gorgeous seascapes. Cyclists have access to dozens of well-maintained gravel tracks connecting the main towns and villages, while walkers and horse riders have even more routes allowing them to get out to the most peaceful parts of William the Conqueror’s prized hunting ground.
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Within an hour’s drive to the north of the New Forest lies the South Downs National Park, another top glamping destination. This landscape of chalk hills straddles Hampshire and neighbouring West Sussex, allowing you to explore two counties for the price of one. Many of Hampshire’s farm glampsites are clustered around the South Downs, making this area a great choice for thoroughly rural retreats.
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If you want to mix outdoor accommodation with city day trips, Hampshire is a great choice for that. Find glamping accommodation within striking distance of Winchester if ancient English history is your thing, or head to the area around Portsmouth to peruse the royal dockyards and impressive warships including the Tudor Mary Rose. Shopping on the agenda? Find a glamping stay near Southampton and you’ll have plenty of space to store your West Quay haul…
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Most glamping in Hampshire is family-friendly, and many sites also allow well-behaved dogs to come and join. Pet-friendly glamping in Hampshire is a great way to keep the pack together – plus you can include your four-legged friend in activities they’re sure to love, from trips to the beach to free running while you cycle through the New Forest.
What you can do in Hampshire
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Lace up your walking boots and step out along one of Hampshire’s long-distance trails before retreating back to your comfy glamping accommodation in the evening for a sound night’s sleep. Options include the Solent Way from Milford to Emsworth, the South Downs Way from Winchester to Eastbourne and the pretty Test Way – but there are also lots of circular or day walks you can explore, especially in the national parks.
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Historic days out are also easily arranged, with top highlights including grand Highclere Castle (the filming location for Downton Abbey), the Georgian interiors and gorgeous gardens of Mottisfont Abbey and Hinton Ampner House, a handsome country estate tucked away on the edge of the South Downs.
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Try out a new adventure sport, from sailing and sea kayaking to paddleboarding or indoor skydiving. Hampshire is a hub for all sorts of sports with its many activity centres, including Calshot, Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Centre and Marwell Outdoor Activity Centre.
Here’s how
Hampshire’s a fairly big county, so the first step to picking your glamping location will involve narrowing down where you want to stay. If the coast is a must, for example, settle down somewhere like Lymington to be within easy travel distance of the shoreline – otherwise, if just one or two visits to the beach is enough, you can safely choose somewhere like the New Forest or further afield.
Next, you’ll want to check out the kinds of glamping that are available. There’s quite a lot of difference between sleeping in a canvas tent and inside the solid wooden walls of a camping pod – first-timers would do well to take a look at our glamping guide to identify exactly what they’re looking for.
Finally, once you’ve narrowed down both where you want to go and what you fancy staying in, there are dozens of tick-box filters on the booking page to help you find the features and facilities that are right for you (everything from adults-only glampsites to those with a fishing lake or hot tub on site).
Keen for more glamping trips? Pitchup has a wide range of options in neighbouring West Sussex, Surrey and throughout South East England.
