Andark Lake

View prices & book 8.7 296 reviews
Lakeside pitches
Swimming and diving on site
The grass pitch
Entrance to site

  • Peaceful site near the River Hamble: two pubs within walking distance
  • Six miles from Southampton and 12 from Portsmouth's ferry terminal
  • Set in scuba diving and open-water swimming lake grounds
Get set to get wet… with the Solent coast a couple of miles away, the Hamble river down the road and of course the lake on site, it’s safe to say that life pretty much revolves around the water at Andark Lake, a small and quiet grassy site six miles from the centre of Southampton. The main focal point here is the purpose-built scuba diving training lake, where wetsuit-clad types can sign up for training courses (when pre-booked) or recreational dives, hire kit and fill air tanks (for certified scuba divers). Open-water swims can be had for an extra charge at the weekends, when staff are on site and the place isn't in use by divers. Outside of swim time, there’s more water-based activity (sailing, paddleboarding, kitesurfing and windsurfing) along the riverside or at Swanwick Marina. Should all this aquatic activity have worked up a bit of a hunger, trot over to the site café for snacks and light lunches, plus hot and cold drinks throughout the day. For your evening meals, three pubs are within walking distance, or you can pick up supermarket supplies two miles away for a sunset sausage sizzle. Other amenities on site include a drinking water tap and a toilet block with male and female changing rooms, lockers and showers, all open 24/7. A coldwater sink is available in the pitching field where guests can wash pots and pans, and an accessible toilet is available on request.

Site type

Motorhome pitches 7
Tent pitches 10
Open now
Opens 3 January
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • Your dog must be tattooed or microchipped.
  • Group bookings of 3 or more adults are not permitted (couples and immediate family members excepted).
  • Single-sex bookings of 3 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • The site caters for families (immediate members) and couples only - bookings from all other forms of groups are not accepted.
  • Reception is unmanned after 5 p.m.. Please inform the site while on your way there should you expect to arrive after this time, so that the team can provide information about your unit/pitch.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the site are unlit.
  • Lake open-water swimming is not included in the rate and is charged at £7 per person for a day ticket . Swimming is only available Wednesday to Sunday. No swimming while divers are in the lake. The lake must not be used after hours or when no staff are on site, as it's a deep diving training lake and can be dangerous. Dogs are not allowed in the lake at any time.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 3 Jan to

Pitch types & availability

Other pitch types

Reviews

87%

would recommend this site to a friend

84%

would stay here again

  • 62%
    10
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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Nothing…

Overall 1/10
Location No rating
Value for money 1
Accommodation 1
Facilities / Activities No rating
Customer service 5
Child friendliness 1
Cleanliness No rating
Wifi No rating
Elena C. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass and gravel motorhome pitch

Liked: Nothing

Disliked: The pit h we are promised was actually a parking spot with nowhere to set up the camper van with the awning(advertised 5mx7m and it was hardly 3m x4 m). When arrived, two young people tried to assist us but they couldn’t. They said all “pitches” were booked and they couldn’t change reservations and they said if we are not happy they can give us a refund, but we just could t possibly park the camper van horizontally as our awning comes attached to the side. They said there is nothing to do although we said there was no other campsite available and we got young children…. Not ideal to camp there as pitches are tiny on the side of the road …

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great location Friendly staff Clean facilities…

Overall 9/10
Location 9
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 9
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 9
Wifi 9
James U. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Great location
Friendly staff
Clean facilities

Recommend to friends Visit again

We really liked our stay. Clean, green, nice cafe with lovely, friendly…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 9
Cleanliness 9
Wifi 10
Joanna K. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: We really liked our stay. Clean, green, nice cafe with lovely, friendly staff, nice toilets and showers, wi fi access.
We enjoy watching swimmers every morning.
Pleasant experience overall :)

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent stay ! Totally recommend

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Debs F. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass and gravel motorhome pitch

Liked: The campsite , facilities and location

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very quiet and close to cross channel ferries. Clean facilities.…

Overall 9/10
Location 9
Value for money 9
Accommodation 9
Facilities / Activities 9
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 9
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass and gravel motorhome pitch

Liked: Very quiet and close to cross channel ferries. Clean facilities.

Disliked: Sign from main road not very distinct. Needs signs to indicate the rough track up to the site.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site, lovely stay

Overall 10/10
Location 8
Value for money 8
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Emma H. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass and gravel motorhome pitch

Liked: Good facilities, peaceful location, warm showers, clean toilets, good size pitches. WiFi was a bonus!

Recommend to friends Visit again

I love it here - I’m a regular cold water swimmer in…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 8
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Gill H. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass and gravel motorhome pitch

Liked: I love it here - I’m a regular cold water swimmer in the pond and decided to stay over on a Sunday night. I had the field to myself! If you’re used to a top spec campsite you’ll find the facilities basic but they’re fine. Nice veggie roll for breakfast. Great staff. Dog friendly pub and good walks nearby, plus one straight from the field into the woods. Birdsong by night and by day.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Can’t wait to go and stay again

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Small quiet site with nice facilities plus a lovely lake which offers many water sports to try

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Quietness and solitude.…

Overall 7/10
Location 8
Value for money 10
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 3
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Quietness and solitude.

Disliked: Facilities not as clean as on previous visits. However, We will be back.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Quiet site, nice to sit by the lakes, the toilets are down…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 8
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 8
Tanya B. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass and gravel motorhome pitch

Liked: Quiet site, nice to sit by the lakes, the toilets are down a bit of a steep walk but were always clean and didn't need to wait. Washing up basic but fine and we did have good weather. Pitches for campers just by the side of the road up to the campsite, we were in a VW van so we could fit easily into pitch 4. Good instructions to find the place/pitch sent in advance.

Recommend to friends Visit again


Features

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site cafe On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports Wild swimming

Amenities on site

Bath available Car parking by pitch/unit 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 telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby Shop nearby

Type

Small (11-25 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Cycling nearby Outdoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Andark Lake

Oslands Lane

Lower Swanwick

Southampton

Hampshire

England

SO31 7EG

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

50.88013°N
-1.29099°W

Route directions

The site is at the top of Oslands Lane, an unmade track. The access road is opposite the Old Ship pub (Bridge Road). The road runs between Andark Shop and the Carsa Car dealership.

Nearest transport

Coach
8.2 km Telephone House
8.2 km Telephone House
8.2 km Terminal 1
Rail
1.1 km Bursledon Rail Station
1.8 km Swanwick Rail Station
2.9 km Hamble Rail Station
Ferry
2.9 km Hamble-le-Rice Ferry Landing
3 km Warsash Ferry Landing
7.7 km Hythe (Hants) Ferry Terminal
Airport
9.2 km Southampton Airport
39.8 km Bournemouth International 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

Wetsuits at the ready – if you’re into your watersports you’ll have plenty to pick from around here. Swanwick Marina is 10 minutes’ walk away for sailing training, and there’s paddleboarding, windsurfing and kayaking on the Hamble 15 minutes’ drive away. Kitesurf kit hire and lessons are 40 minutes away on the other side of the river. Take a break from the big blue for a wander around Holly Hill Woodland Park, five minutes away by car, or a sea-view stroll through Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 20 minutes away. SeaCity Museum, Solent Sky Museum and the Tudor House and Garden in Southampton are worth a visit too, and there are shops, restaurants and a cinema at the city’s West Quay. Cross the River Hamble to hit the New Forest National Park, 25 minutes’ drive away, for a walk, bike ride or horse ride or a trip to meet the furry and feathered residents of the New Forest Wildlife Park. It’s also worth trundling along to the classic car collection at Beaulieu’s National Motor Museum (35 minutes away).

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Calshot 8.1 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Hillhead 8.7 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Lee-On-Solent 10.7 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Lepe 11.6 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Cowes 12.5 km Sea N/AGoodGoodExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Southampton Maritime Museum 8.2 km

Beaulieu National Motor Museum 13.1 km

Portchester Castle 13.3 km

Osborne House 14.3 km

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard 15.7 km

National Trust

Newtown Old Town Hall 20.1 km

Winchester City Mill 20.1 km

Hinton Ampner 20.6 km

Mottisfont 24.8 km

Bembridge Windmill 25.6 km

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Grace Dieu 1.4 km

ROYAL VICTORIA COUNTRY PARK, FORMERLY ROYAL VICTORIA MILITARY HOSPITAL 3.6 km

TOWNHILL PARK 7.6 km

CENTRAL PARKS, SOUTHAMPTON 8.2 km

SOUTHAMPTON CEMETERY 9.6 km

Local events

  • Isle of Wight Festival (Thursday 19 June 2025 – Thursday 19 June 2025)

    Newport, England 19.6 km

  • CarFest (Friday 22 August 2025 – Friday 22 August 2025)

    Basingstoke, England 37.7 km

  • Goodwood Festival of Speed (Thursday 10 July 2025 – Thursday 10 July 2025)

    Chichester, England 38.7 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.

Offers

Conditions apply - see pitch type section for details

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in Hampshire?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Andark Lake have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Andark Lake dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Andark Lake? Wetsuits at the ready – if you’re into your watersports you’ll have plenty to pick from around here. Swanwick Marina is 10 minutes’ walk away for sailing training, and there’s paddleboarding, windsurfing … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Andark Lake?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  9 p.m.
    Depart by:  noon
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Andark Lake? From €23.81 (for 1 night, 5 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.