New Forest is a family holiday that’s a gamechanger

For cricket fans, there’s nothing better than an Ashes summer.

If you’re an England supporter, it’s difficult to beat watching the Aussies take a battering as they lose their grip on the urn.

What’s all this got to do with the New Forest, you wonder?

Well, for five days at the start of the summer holidays, we played our own version of the Ashes there. With stunning scenery stretching for 219 square miles, we were not short of venues.

So for Cardiff, Edgbaston and Trent Bridge, imagine Whitefield Moor, Longslade Bottom and Avon Heath.

And the place to rest our weary bodies at the end of each energy-sapping day? Oakdene Forest Park.

Oakdene is at St Leonards, near Ringwood, on the west edge of the forest. It is one of six parks owned by Shorefield Holidays, which has been welcoming visitors since 1958.

With four children, mountains of luggage and two bikes, it was with trepidation I pitched up at our six-berth caravan after a warm welcome at reception.

I needn’t have worried. The caravan was almost sparkling it looked so new. It was plenty big enough and had a widescreen TV to satisfy an 11-year-old son, 14-year-old daughter, 16-year-old daughter and her 17-year-old boyfriend.

But better than all that, it had complimentary wi-fi. A small thing to those of us in our 40s and beyond, but an absolute must for the Facebook, Instagram, YouTube generation.

With a crazy golf course, swimming pool and activities all on site, it was not going to be quite the challenge I feared keeping the fab four entertained.

For anyone who’s not visited the New Forest, I implore you to pack a picnic, jump in the car and explore some of the most breathtaking countryside imaginable.

There really are ponies and cows that meander across the road. But here you can cross the cattle grids, relax at 30 or 40 miles per hour and soak it all in without those stressed-out commuters driving up your backside desperate to make the next meeting or racing back from another day at the office.

Opening the caravan door to see the sun shining the next morning, it was on the bikes to explore some of the nine tracks leading from Oakdene into Hurn Forest.

I did my best to get lost in the magic of the forest with my son Austin, but each time we found a path and soon made our way back to wake the teen brigade whose day can’t begin without a lengthy lie-in.

At their age it’s difficult to muster the enthusiasm to do anything before lunch. But with the latest mind-numbing Jeremy Kyle digested, social media posts updated and food in their belly, we were ready for the Carter Ashes to start.

First to Whitefield Moor, five minutes from Brockenhurst and a favourite destination of mine since I was a child.

You’ll see heather and gorse in the forest, but at Whitefield there’s flat grass to ensure games of football, cricket or frisbee can be played out without upsetting the animals.

Ensuring our strip was free of cowpats, the action began, along with squabbles and dropped catches, before a winner emerged without anybody storming back to the car complaining they’d been outfoxed by a pea-roller which should never be allowed on even the bumpiest of tracks.

And there it was. The theme for our week was set. At Whitefield I cajoled them into a walk to the stream for a daring go on the rope swing.

• From left, Millie, 14, Austin, 11, Megan, 16, and Ryan, 17

I even persuaded them to walk 400 metres with the promise of a soft drink at a pub in Burley.

But I was dealing with an 11-year-old and three teenagers. Who wants to walk at the age?

“W-A-L-K? Are you serious?

So guess what we did the next day? Yep. Exactly the same. A cycle ride for me (I was on my own just two days in), a late lunch, then cricket. Then back to the caravan park for more of dad’s cooking.

The next day? Exactly the same, except we did mix it up with disc golf as part of the park’s GoActive timetable.

This involved designing our own courses and throwing frisbees into a target.

Other activities included archery, jet skis, fencing and body zorbs, proving caravan parks are moving with the times as staycations prove attractive.

Oakdene also boasts a gym, supermarket, spa, launderette, restaurant and show bar, so you don’t need to leave the site if you lack the inclination.

We didn’t cram masses in but did I enjoy it? Absolutely. Did the kids? Yes, against the odds. And isn’t that what a family holiday is all about?

When it was time for stumps in the final match at Avon Heath, everyone even shook hands, proving the spirit of cricket is alive and well.

Howzat for a winning five days?

GO THERE
John Carter was a guest of Shorefield Holidays, staying at Oakdene Forest Park in St Leonards, near Ringwood. His stay in a six-berth caravan in the first week of the summer holidays was priced at £609.
For where to stay, what to see and do in the New Forest, visit thenewforest.co.uk