THE phenomenon of “glamping” – or Glastonbury-style glamorous camping – along with the recession, the dry weather and air traffic problems have all contributed to a bumper holiday season in the beautiful New Forest.

Typically there are 13 million day visits a year to the National Park, and that looks likely to zoom higher this season.

However, New Forest District Council tourism chief Anthony Climpson said while hotels and B&Bs are doing well, that is not translating to the retail and visitor attraction sectors because people are still being careful about how they spent their hard-earned cash. Nevertheless, Forest Holidays says bookings at its eight New Forest sites are up by about 3,000 so far this season, an increase of 3.5 per cent.

A spokesman said it was partly due to the proximity to London, people fed up with flight problems and the growing popularity of camping generally, and of up-market glamping popularised at big music festivals like Glastonbury.

The company’s spring Bike Packing tours had sold out, with more lined up for September.

The trend is reflected at the National Motor Museum and Palace House, Beaulieu.

“We’re about 2.5 per cent up, so hopefully we will make somewhere like 355,000 [visitors], which would be nice, or up to 360,000,” said a spokesman.

At Exbury Gardens, world-famous for its rhododedrons, camellias and azaleas, there was a record July, helped by an increase in passengers on the open-top New Forest Tour buses, which include the gardens and Beaulieu on their circular routes.

Exbury’s Nigel Philpott said it was down to good weather, people holidaying at home, having extra days out and attending special events.

“We’re very pleased with the way that visitor numbers have not only held up, but increased this year,” he said.

Forestry Commission spokesman Libby Burke said: “The warm weather earlier in the year seems to have extended the summer season, with events, picnic and barbecue sites being in high demand from Easter onwards.”