After a busy few weeks, I packed up the VW T6, filled pretty much every spare inch, and headed to Roundhill Campsite in the New Forest for a sunny family weekend. The drive was busy and the van was rammed, but the weather was good and it felt great to try somewhere new. By the time we arrived, everyone was itching to get out, stretch their legs and get set up.
Setting Up Camp
Roundhill is a brilliant place to pitch: loads of open ground, plenty of trees and that proper New Forest feel. Awning on the T6, pop-top up, and we were settled. Everything worked perfectly all weekend. The awning gave us loads of extra space, and the fan was a lifesaver in the hottest part of the day, in the van and under the awning. Once we were set up, the chairs came out and we relaxed.
Walks Through the Woods
Roundhill makes it easy to head straight into the forest. We spent hours on the woodland paths, letting the boys lead the way, climbing fallen trees and following the little tracks between the trees. We found a shallow stream too, perfect for cooling off. In that heat, shoes came off fast and everyone was paddling.
Games in the Fields
There was loads of room for games. The boys ran around the open fields and loved having so much space around the van. We brought some games and spent most of the time outside: no screens, no rushing, no complicated plans. Just lots of time outdoors, which is exactly what we want from these trips.
Cooking Outside
Food is one of my favourite parts of camping. We cooked outside whenever we could: BBQs, simple lunches and plenty of meals in the sunshine. Breakfast was a winner too, pancakes with strawberries and raspberries outside the van. Everything tastes better when you’re camping.
Ponies Wandering Through
No New Forest trip is complete without the ponies. They wandered close to the campsite and grazed in the open areas nearby. Watching them amble through the forest and around the site made it feel different from a normal campsite. The boys loved spotting them whenever we went out walking.
A Great Weekend for Everyone
Roundhill was exactly what we wanted. Great campsite, brilliant weather, and the van setup worked perfectly. Woodland walks, games in the fields, BBQs outside, paddling in the stream and ponies wandering past. No big itinerary, nothing to rush. A really good family weekend, and exactly why we have the campervan. We’d happily go back to Roundhill.