A ‘UNIQUE’ glamping experience in the New Forest has been recognised as an outstanding site for 2024.

Fernwood Glamping boasts a rustic shepherd’s hut and a traditional gypsy caravan in the heart of Ringwood.

Owner, Rachel Hannam, launched the business in 2016 after completing the southwest coastal path and stayed in a gypsy van in Cornwall.

(Image: Rachel Hannam)

“I just thought 'this is lovely',” said Rachel.

For four years, Rachel juggled the business with her teaching job before taking the plunge and working on the glamping full-time.

Despite being open for eight years, Rachel has kept just two units on the site to maintain its character.

“It’s wildly different to the glamping with five cabins and hot tubs in a row on the edge of a campsite.”

Instead, the site features a shepherd’s hut with an indoor wood burner and an outdoor fire pit for toasting marshmallows.

The 1930s gypsy van also features a wood burner and fire pit as well as use of a nearby summer house with decking that overlaps a large pond.

Rachel said that recent guests were able to watch the dragonflies emerge from nymphs near the pond.

With the glamping site being in Rachel’s back garden, she said it is safe for children to run around or to be tucked in bed while parents enjoy a summer evening.

She raised her own children in Ringwood and said she loves to hear where her guests visit and offer recommendations.

“Ringwood is the gateway town to the New Forest,” said Rachel.

“We’ve got lots of different eating places in the town centre and 20 to 25 minutes from the beach.”

She added: “It’s a place to escape from your normal reality and slow the pace down.”

Rachel said she was “thrilled” to be recently featured in Campsites.co.uk top 150 ‘outstanding sites’.

“It was really lovely to hear we’ve been recognised because that’s the first time it has happened for me.”

Fernwood Glamping was also featured in the 2023 Bradt guide for the New Forest which praised Rachel for “embodying the slow spirit and genuinely cares about her guests.”