Hampshire
The forest's only year-round site, deliberately basic and very quiet
Setthorns lies in conifer plantation between Sway and Burley, on the south-western side of the forest. It is the only campsite in the New Forest that stays open all year, which makes it the default choice for anyone wanting a winter or early spring trip. The setting is pine and birch woodland on free-draining sandy ground, so it copes with wet weather far better than most sites and stays usable through the colder months when the clay-bottomed sites elsewhere turn soft.
Facilities are deliberately minimal and you should book knowing that. There are no toilet blocks and no showers anywhere on site — what you get is drinking water taps, chemical toilet disposal points, battery charging and a good number of pitches with electric hook-up. Campervans and caravans with their own washrooms manage easily; tent campers need to bring a portable toilet or accept a drive to facilities elsewhere. In exchange the site is very quiet, with widely spaced pitches spread through the trees and little of the bustle of the bigger forest campsites.
The surroundings are excellent for walking and cycling. Gravel forest tracks run directly from the site, and the open heath around Wilverley Plain is a short ride away, as is the village of Burley with its pubs and tea rooms. Sway station is a few minutes by car for trains to Brockenhurst and London. Dogs are welcome, and the site's low-key character suits people who want the forest rather than entertainment. Prices are among the cheapest in the park, starting from around £16 to £18 a night for a pitch outside peak season.