Easter has always felt like the true beginning of the caravanning season for us. While we often squeeze in a few winter trips, there is something special about that first long weekend in April. The daffodils are out, the days are longer, and a full summer of trips feels close. For Easter 2025, we headed to Winchester and stayed at the Winchester Morn Hill Club Campsite, better known here as the morn hill club site.
This trip mixed English heritage, spring gardens, and a big change in our towing setup. It was the last time we hit the road with our old tow car pulling the caravan. While it had served its purpose for a while, we knew that pairing had reached the end by the time we arrived. Honestly, we haven’t looked back since.
Settling into the Morn Hill Club Site
If you have stayed at a Caravan and Motorhome Club site before, you know what to expect when you roll through the gates. There is real comfort in that predictability. The morn hill club site is a great example of why people stick with the club. It’s clean, organised, and everything just works.
Located just a few miles outside the city centre, the site sits on a gentle slope with plenty of mature trees and well-spaced pitches.
We arrived on Good Friday, and despite the site being understandably full for the holiday, the atmosphere was incredibly peaceful. One of the highlights of this particular site is the facility block. It’s modern and, most importantly for an April trip where the Hampshire breeze can still have a bit of a bite, it has underfloor heating in the showers. There is nothing quite like stepping onto a warm floor after a morning shower to set you up for a day of exploring.
The pitches are a mix of grass and hardstanding. We opted for a level hardstanding pitch which made the setup quick and easy: essential when you want to get the kettle on, sort the caravan security, and start your holiday as soon as possible. The site wardens were as welcoming as ever, keeping everything ticking over with that characteristic efficiency, much like we found at Lincoln Farm Park.
The Final Tow After Staying at the Morn Hill Club Site
Before we get into Winchester, we have to talk about the car. This Easter trip was the swan song for our old tow car. On paper, it looked like a solid option for towing a caravan, but after several trips, we had reached our limit.
Towing is as much about confidence as engine power. While it could technically pull the weight, it never felt fully in charge of the caravan. On the journey down to Winchester, especially on exposed A-road stretches, we felt every gust of wind and every passing HGV. It was a nervous tow, and it left us drained.
We had plenty of chats over dinner in the caravan about what we needed next. By the time we reached the morn hill club site, the decision was made. This would be the last trip with that car. We don’t miss it one bit. It worked for short daily runs, but it was not right for touring with a full-sized caravan. Looks only get you so far in the rolling hills of Hampshire, especially once you have finished setting up the caravan.
Stepping Back in Time
One of the best things about the morn hill club site is how close it is to Winchester. You can catch a bus right outside the entrance, which is a godsend if you don’t want to deal with the city’s tight parking in a large car.
Winchester Cathedral was our first stop. It is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe and walking through those massive doors is always a humbling experience. At Easter, the cathedral felt particularly alive. The light streaming through the stained glass and the scent of spring flowers everywhere created a wonderful atmosphere.
We spent a good few hours wandering through the nave and exploring the crypt. For those who enjoy a bit of literary history, the cathedral is the final resting place of Jane Austen. Her modest gravestone is a sharp contrast to the grand monuments surrounding it, but it’s a spot that always draws a crowd. We also took the time to see the Winchester Bible, a 12th-century masterpiece that is breathtaking in its detail.
After the cathedral, we spent some time simply walking the historic streets of the city. Winchester has a way of making you feel like you’ve stepped back a few centuries, with its timber-framed buildings and the imposing Great Hall where the legendary Round Table of King Arthur hangs.
A Day of Spring Splendour
Easter and the National Trust go hand-in-hand, and we were spoilt for choice in this part of the world. Our first garden visit was to Hinton Ampner. This is a house that was essentially rebuilt in the 20th century after a devastating fire, but the gardens are the real star of the show.
Even in early April, the structure of the garden was magnificent. The topiary and the long vistas looking out over the South Downs are legendary. We were a little early for the full explosion of summer colour, but the spring bulbs were putting on a fantastic display. Thousands of daffodils and tulips lined the paths, and the orchard was just beginning to show its blossom.
What makes Hinton Ampner so pleasant is the layout. It’s designed as a series of “rooms,” each with its own character. We spent a long time in the Dell, a sunken garden that felt like a little hidden sanctuary. It’s the kind of place where you can sit on a bench and completely forget that the rest of the world exists: a perfect escape during a busy bank holiday weekend.
The Riverside Charm of Mottisfont from the Morn Hill Club Site
Our final major excursion of the trip was to Mottisfont. Located near Romsey, this is another National Trust gem that we never tire of visiting. Mottisfont is perhaps most famous for its world-class rose gardens, but since we were there in April, we knew we wouldn’t see the roses in their full glory.
However, Mottisfont has so much more to offer than just roses. The River Test flows right through the grounds, and the water is incredibly clear. Watching the trout hover in the current is strangely hypnotic. The grounds are expansive, and we took a long walk along the riverbanks, enjoying the fresh air and the sight of the ancient trees coming back to life.
Inside the house, there is a fascinating mix of history, from its origins as a medieval priory to its later life as a country home. The Whistler Room, with its stunning trompe l’oeil murals by Rex Whistler, is always a highlight. It’s a bit of an artistic surprise tucked away in the Hampshire countryside.
Easter at Mottisfont usually involves a flurry of activity for families, and there was a great buzz around the place, but because the grounds are so large, it never felt overcrowded. It was the perfect way to round off our sightseeing for the weekend.
Reflections on the Morn Hill Club Site
Coming back to the caravan at Morn Hill after a day of exploring felt like coming home. There is a specific kind of tiredness that comes from historic cathedrals and big gardens, and the caravan gave us the perfect place to put our feet up.
As we packed up on Easter Monday, there was a real sense of finality. We knew that when we parked that car back on the driveway, its towing days with us were over. It’s funny how a car can define a period of your travels. For us, it represented a learning curve. It showed us exactly what we didn’t want in a tow car.
The trip itself, however, was a total success. The morn hill club site proved once again why it’s a top choice for visiting the area. Between the clean facilities, the friendly atmosphere, and the history of Winchester and the nearby National Trust places, it was an Easter break to remember. If you want a Hampshire base with easy sightseeing, the morn hill club site is hard to beat.
We left Hampshire with a few souvenirs, a lot of photos, and a firm plan for a more capable tow car for future trips. If you want to see more from this break, have a look through our Gallery for extra trip photos.
Suggest a Campsite for Review
Have you stayed at a campsite that deserves more attention?
We’re always looking for new campsites to feature on Caravan Adventuring. Whether it’s a hidden gem, a family favourite, or a site with outstanding facilities, we’d love to hear about it.
