Longbeech Caravan and Camping Site

You don’t need to travel far to start exploring the New Forest National Park – just head out on one of the waymarked trails running from the site for a walk or a bike ride. You may well spot a fair bit of wildlife along the way, but if you’d like to be sure of what you’ll see, head to Liberty’s Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre (15 minutes’ drive) or the New Forest Wildlife Park (half an hour). Day out around here aren’t all about the nature – it’s easy to mix up those outdoor activities with visits to places like Paultons Park, home of Peppa Pig World (15 minutes) or to swoon over classic engineering at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu and Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum (both half an hour). Keep travelling south and you’ll hit the coast with a drive of half an hour or so – some of the top spots to visit include the ‘living museum’ of 18th-century Buckler’s Hard and the seaside town of Lymington, which has a saltwater swimming pool and several watersports centres as well as the terminal for the Isle of Wight ferries.