The Royal Oak
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- Spacious touring pitches behind the village pub in Ecchinswell
- Highclere Castle 10 minutes' drive; walk to Watership Down
- Pub open seven days a week, with meals, beer garden and play area
Finding a pitch at a pub is often a good idea, making it nice and easy to enjoy a few drinks of an evening without any need to worry about driving home. But that’s only part of the story at The Royal Oak, because this classic Hampshire village inn is in a wonderful location for all sorts of activities too, including walks in the neighbouring North Wessex Downs National Landscape and outings to Highclere Castle or Newbury Racecourse.
The pub here is the heart of the small and pretty village of Ecchinswell, and it’s a very welcoming spot for guests. The Ecchinswell river runs alongside the pub and the pitches are generously sized, with low-voltage electric hookups and plenty of shade from the trees. Each one has a small private area for your outdoor chairs, and you’ll have access to showers, toilets and wifi while you’re here.
And then there’s the pub itself of course – a friendly place that’s open from 11am to 11pm seven days a week and serves up a good range of tasty meals as well as drinks. For warmer days there’s a lovely beer garden with plenty of outdoor tables, a play area and a pétanque court for a little bit of gentle (or not) competition.
Site type
3Opens 13 August
Admission
Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
Dogs
- The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) and/or any of the following: Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, any Mastiff or Tosa.
Extras
- A charge of £15.00 applies for the use of the shower.
General
- Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.
- This is a quiet site: no music is allowed.
Languages spoken
French
Open from Thu 13 Aug to
5 
Wifi at the unit/pitch
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Features
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Pop-up campsite
Dogs allowed
Leisure on site
Bar or club house Covered terrace area Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area Pétanque TV room Take away Tennis WatersportsAmenities on site
Baby-changing facilities Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Picnic table Portable toilet Pub toilets Public internet workstation(s) Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area WifiGroups welcome
Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcomeRules
Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all yearThemes
Peaceful Walkers' paradiseUtilities
Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energyNearby amenities
Bar nearby Dog walk nearbyType
Pop-up campsite Pub campsite Tiny (1-10 pitches)Accessibility
Accessible parking at pitch Bathrooms: Large spacious shower Bathrooms: Large spacious toilet Bathrooms: Wide doorways (over 30 inches/75cm) Level site, no steep slopes Pitch close to accessible bathrooms Smooth, hard roads e.g. tarmac Step-free or level access Well-lit pathNearby leisure
Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Restaurant nearby Tennis nearbyTouring and motorhomes
Seasonal pitchesLocation
The Royal Oak
Hydes Platt
Ecchinswell
Basingstoke
Hampshire
England
RG20 4UH
Directions Timezone
Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)
GPS
51.33257°N
1.28485°W
Nearest transport
Coach4.9 mi Bus Station
9.7 mi Coach Stop
11.6 mi Charnham Lane
Rail4.6 mi Thatcham Rail Station
4.7 mi Newbury Racecourse Rail Station
4.8 mi Newbury Rail Station
Ferry
Airport26.6 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
The Royal Oak is a great starting point for walks, with routes leading straight out onto the North Wessex Downs – a favourite route among locals is the trail out to Watership Down, the chalk hill landscape that inspired Richard Adams’ famous novel. The 70-mile Wayfarer’s Walk also passes through the village, and there are several circular routes to try out too.
Looking just a little further afield, you may like to pay a visit to Highclere Castle (10 minutes’ drive), a grand building that’s familiar to many as the setting for Downton Abbey. Its TV fame has made it very popular and visiting slots are limited, so it’s worth booking your tickets well in advance.
For other days out, have a flutter on the horses at Newbury Racecourse (15 minutes), glide along the canal on a Kennet Horse Boat Company trip (25 minutes) or treat the kids to a day out at 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park & Family Farm (10 minutes).
Must see
Highclere Castle and Gardens 3.3 mi
Mid-Hants Railway 'Watercress Line' 17.7 mi
Winchester Cathedral 18.7 mi
Jane Austen's House 18.8 mi
INTECH Science Centre & Planetarium 18.9 mi
National Trust
Sandham Memorial Chapel 2.4 mi
The Vyne 8.7 mi
Basildon Park 13.4 mi
West Green House Garden 15.4 mi
Winchester City Mill 18.8 mi
Cycle routes
Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.
Other
Ecchinswell – Nuthanger Farm and Watership Down – Ecchinswell 0 mi
Kingsclere - Ecchinswell - Old Burghclere - Kingsclere 1.8 mi
Hannington - the Wayfarers Walk - Hannington 2.2 mi
HIGHCLERE PARK 3.1 mi
SANDLEFORD PRIORY 3.3 mi
Local events
- Reading Festival (Thursday, 27 August 2026 – Thursday, 27 August 2026)
Reading, Berkshire 15.7 mi
- Rewind South (Friday, 21 August 2026 – Friday, 21 August 2026)
Henley On Thames, Oxfordshire 22.8 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.
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Want to know more about camping in Hampshire?
- 5 Of The Best Scenic Walks In Hampshire
- Hampshire's Top 9 Best Beaches To Visit
- 5 Dog-Friendly Beaches In Hampshire To Visit
- 8 Things to Do In Hampshire This Summer
- A Guide to Cycling in the New Forest
- A Guide to Hiking in the New Forest
- The New Forest Area Guide
- The Ultimate South East England Camping Guide
- Where To Camp On The North Downs Way
- Where to camp on the South Downs Way
- South East England Area Guide
- Pitchup.com's camping guide
- Essential camping checklist
Frequently asked questions
- Does The Royal Oak have a swimming pool? No View all features
- Is The Royal Oak dog friendly? Yes View all features
- What attractions are near The Royal Oak? The Royal Oak is a great starting point for walks, with routes leading straight out onto the North Wessex Downs – a favourite route among locals is the trail out to Watership … Read more
- When can I check in and check out of The Royal Oak?
Read moreCamping and touring Arrive: Anytime – Anytime Depart by: Anytime - How much does it cost to stay at The Royal Oak? From £30 (for 1 night, 6 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.