Watercress Lodges Campsite
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/-1.100306510925293,51.08875251925927,12,0,0/376x277@2x)
- 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
Campground type
30
2
6
Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.- Reception is unmanned after 6 p.m.. Please inform the campground while on your way there should you expect to arrive after this time so that the team can provide information about your unit/site.
- At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
Languages spoken
English
Site types & availability
9.3/10
Reviews
96% would recommend this campground to a friend
95% would stay here again
What customers say
Great facilities, clean loos, and level spots at this well-kept site. Super handy for the Watercress Line. Mostly peaceful, though a few heard rowdy campers – management sorted it. Hot water and dated bits were minor quibbles, mostly fixed.
Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews
We booked Watercress as a family…
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Bell tent
Liked We booked Watercress as a family sibling stay. Decided we would brave it with the rent storms. Hannah was quick to respond and actually upgraded us to the safari tents due to a mishap with the bell tent. All was put right quickly and we had an amazing stay.
Disliked Didn’t like that the toilets are open to the public too, but they were nearby so not far to go.
Recommend to friends Visit again
I like the location next the…
Unpowered grass tent site
Liked I like the location next the train station. The facilities are good.
Disliked Generally things like the toilet block and steps to camping pitches could to with a refurbishing.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Everything. Great location (especially if you…
Unpowered grass tent site
Liked Everything. Great location (especially if you like steam trains and heritage railways), lovely rural setting, peaceful (in September, when not too busy), good facilities. Simple level tent pitches are perfect for tent camping.
Disliked Nothing (except the hot water went out on Saturday, but it was fixed on Sunday).
Recommend to friends Visit again
Well equipped site - variety of camping options
Bell tent
Liked Lovely site, easy to access and find our pitch which was clean and spacious
A variety of different pitch types suitable for all budgets
Beautiful countryside location
Car parking available right in front - very useful
Bathroom and shower facilities are new and kept clean - useful kitchen area provided for washing
Recommend to friends Visit again
We love it here
Unpowered grass tent site
Liked We love staying here. The quiet zone is lovely for us. The showers and toilets are a great provision.
Recommend to friends Visit again
We'd definitely come back again!
Unpowered grass tent site
Liked Compact and personal campsite, not too big. The ground was level which was a nice surprise for camping. The facilities were mostly clean. The other campers were really friendly. It was nice having the old steam train line so close. There were walks and cycle routes close by.
Disliked Nothing at all :)
Recommend to friends Visit again
Was a great stay!
Unpowered grass tent site
Liked The facilities available and the quiet camp was great for us away from the families as we did not have children with us.
Disliked Would be good to be able to pick this option when booking
Recommend to friends Visit again
Wonderful stay, will definitely visit again!
Bell tent
Liked The bell tent was a great size, we comfortably stayed as 2 adults with 4 children and there was still plenty of room.
The sink and freezer block also had mains electricity plugs and the lights were on a sensor so you had no issues even if you visited in the dark.
The proximity to Ropley station meant you were able to watch trains come and go frequently. Also, a great little park for kids.
The peacefulness of the location (with the exception of the station!); lots of lovely countryside surrounding the campsite.
The option to have open flames as bricks were provided all over the site for fires or bbqs.
The toilet and shower facilities were large and very clean (even saw the cleaners twice during a 24 hour stay) with plenty of loo rolls provided.
Disliked Although very little through traffic as the road was only for access to the lodges, we did have to be mindful of passing cars with children as the pitch area for the bell and personal tents isn't massive.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Good thanks. Nice next to steam…
Unpowered grass tent site
Liked Good thanks. Nice next to steam railway.
Recommend to friends Visit again
We would definitely return but not when Boom Town is on
Unpowered grass tent site
Liked I liked that we were free to choose where we pitch and that there were no vehicles on the camping fields. It was nice to be right next to Ropley station and the watercress line with its heritage steam and diesel locomotives and rolling stock. The site itself is nicely kept and we found both the wash up, the wc’s and showers to be perfectly adequate. There are plenty of water standpipes as well as bins for recycling and waste. There are also some brick built barbecue’s but we didn’t try these as we had our own off the ground BBQ.
Disliked The nearby BoomTown Festival was on the weekend we visited and we were kept awake by rave music till about 4 am on the Friday night, we didn’t hear it on the Saturday night but that may be due to the copious amount of snore juice consumed in an attempt to force some sleep 💤
Recommend to friends Visit again
Features
No dogs allowed
Campfires allowed
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 WatersportsAmenities on site
Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area WifiGroups welcome
D. of E. welcome Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcomeRules
Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed No dogs allowed No pets allowedThemes
Budget/backpacker Peaceful Spectacular sceneryUtilities
Charging facilities Communal freezer Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energyNearby amenities
Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transport nearbyType
Medium (26-50 sites)Nearby leisure
Fishing nearby Golf nearby Indoor pool nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Restaurant nearbyLocation
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
Nearest transport
Coach
Rail
Ferry
AirportPlease 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
Water quality at nearby bathing waters
| Name | Distance | Type | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillhead | 31.8 km | Sea | N/A | Good | Good | Good |
| Lee-On-Solent | 32.8 km | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Eastney | 34 km | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Southsea East | 34.5 km | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Calshot | 34.6 km | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
Data source: European Environment Agency
Must see
Mid-Hants Railway 'Watercress Line' 4.3 km
Jane Austen's House 9.2 km
INTECH Science Centre & Planetarium 11.9 km
Winchester Cathedral 15.2 km
Birdworld 20.9 km
National Trust
Hinton Ampner 6.2 km
Winchester City Mill 14.8 km
Uppark House and Garden 21 km
The Vyne 24 km
Hindhead Commons and The Devil's Punch Bowl Caf� 25.8 km
Cycle routes
Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.
Other
OLD ALRESFORD HOUSE 4.1 km
Battle of Cheriton, 1644 4.6 km
BRAMDEAN HOUSE 4.8 km
Abbotstone Down - Abbotstone - Old Alresford - Abbotstone Down 5.8 km
Cheriton and the Civil War Battlefields 6.7 km
Local events
- Farnborough International Airshow (Monday 20 July 2026 – Monday 20 July 2026)
Farnborough, England 30.9 km
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?
- The New Forest Area Guide
- Hampshire's Top 9 Best Beaches To Visit
- 5 Of The Best Scenic Walks In Hampshire
- 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
- Where to camp on the South Downs Way – Pitchup
- The Ultimate South East England Camping Guide
- Where To Camp On The North Downs Way
- South East England Area Guide
- Essential camping checklist
- Pitchup camping guide
Frequently asked questions
- 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?
Read moreCamping and caravan Arrive: noon – 6 p.m. Depart by: noon On-site accommodation Arrive: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Depart by: 10 a.m. - How much does it cost to stay at Watercress Lodges Campsite? From $52.99 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.