I was reading a feature about the Test Valley in the magazine Country Walking, and that really made me feel like going there. Also, for a long time, I had wanted to go to the New Forest, so that was another week-end in the van planned. It was not too hard to decide my husband to come with me, so off we both go, with Cookie the dog.
List of the campsites and car parks
Day 1 and 2: Bransgore
We left home, in East Sussex early afternoon on the Friday, to arrive in Bransgore late afternoon. I had booked two nights on the New Forest Caravan Club Centenary Site in Bransgore. As with all the Caravan and Motorhome Campsites I stayed on, everything is really clean and well maintained. On this campsite, there is also a great play area for kids and a big fenced field where dogs can be off the lead, Cookie certainly appreciated it!
Once settled, we walked to Holmsley, where there was a RAF camp used during the second World War, and from where paths start to go in the New Forest. Having found out where we would walk from the next day, we walked to Bransgore to have a meal in the pub The Three Tuns, there, dogs are welcome and where we enjoyed a good meal, good beer and a nice atmosphere. Then back to the campsite for the night.
The next day, we were ready for our walk in the New Forest. I could not tell you the route, because my husband was
leading it, and he is able, and of that I should for ever be envious, to consider how far we want to go and how much time we have and just plan a walk and then do it, without a map, and take us back eventually to where we started from. Even if we have to do a detour because of a bog. He must have been a homing pigeon in another life. But there are many paths in the New Forest, and with a OS map, it should not be too complicated to find a route. In the evening, back at the campsite, there was a fish and chips van, and we made the most of it.
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Day 3: Stockbridge
Sunday was the day we were going back home, and the plan was to go to Stockbridge, walk in the Test Valley, and then go home, and that’s what we did.
We parked the camper van on a lay by along the A30 on the way out of Stockbridge. When we arrived, around 11 am, there was lots of spaces, but when we came back around 4 pm, all the spaces were taken. I think that it would be an idea to arrive early.
We walked through Stockbridge to the start of our walk and it is a very nice little town. There are several places where you can eat and several interesting shops, including some art and craft shops, a deli which is also a cafe and my favourite, a whisky and gin shop!
The walk was about 8 miles but easy, and I really enjoyed the part along the Test river. We had a picnic on the way, 
which was nice. Once back at the camper van, we headed back home.
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List of the campsites and car parks
New Forest Caravan Club Centenary Site
Forest Road
Bransgore
Hampshire
BH23 8EB
New Forest Caravan Club Centenary Site
Parking along the A30
A30
SO20 6JE
Stockbridge
Latitude 51.115501/ N51°6’55.8″
Longitude -1.487507/W-1°29’15.02″
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Les ballades en camping-car de Véro 