Appearances can be deceiving
After traversing a very bumpy and rutted track* to access the CL, we found just one other unit - late July, on what was a very well kept site. Alarms bells should have started ringing at this point. The site is well kept - with HUGE pitches; the owner, who was very pleasant and welcoming, said we could pitch anywhere in the spacious grounds that our hook up cable allowed. We choose a hard-standing pitch, given the weather wasnt great. While water wasn't far away, the CDP was a hell of a trek as it turned out. The furthest ive ever known if im honest. This 'niggle' aside, as a camp site, it (The single loo/shower was also here, but of no importance as we use our own facilities). The 'alarm bells' - while mentioned in other reviews - was the noise. While the site is on a 'country lane', this lane is the main link between the towns and villages of the New Forest, and nearby Lymington on the coast. Hence the traffic is constant. Throw in that there is some kind of skip-hire place bang over the road resulting in wagons entering and leaving - clanking as they go, maybe 20 times a day, and you realise why this otherwise excellent CL in a popular location, has barely any customers in July. This road noise starts around 6.30 am weekdays. Some say the noise doesnt bother them. If you are deaf, or out all day, as the people from the adjacent unit were, its probably not an issue. To compound this noise the owners have no control over; given the very neat expansive hedges do not cut themselves (that appear to be done almost fortnightly, such is their precision - grass as well), the owner chose/had to? started trimming them on the first sunny day after our arrival. So we had the hedgecutter to contend with on the noise front as well! It really is a shame, as visually and for space, you cannot top this site. But if peace and quiet is your thing, you should look elsewhere, or buy ear-plugs prior to arriving at this CL.
* just why the access track is akin to a stoney river bed is beyond me, given the pristine grounds it leads to?! It has to belong to the site, as past the site the track is maintained.
If you do brave the noise, dont eat at the New Wheel Pub just down the road! Some of the food is poor. So its a lottery as to what you may get!
