Five Unusual Places To Stay In Dorset
Dorset’s pride and joy is the Jurassic Coast, with fossil cliffs dating back millions of years, bounded in the east by Old Harry Rocks.
The South West Coast Path begins at nearby South Haven Point, overlooking Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island and Bournemouth beach. At 630 miles, it’s not a short walk, but if you feel like taking it on, this is the place to start.
The lush Dorset countryside and seaside towns like Lyme Regis have inspired authors from Thomas Hardy to Jane Austen. In rural Dorset you can visit grand country houses like Kingston Lacy, or Lulworth Castle, close to the popular beach at Lulworth Cove.
Whether you’re planning to track down dinosaur footprints or simply spoil yourself with lunch at award-winning West Dorset restaurants in Sherborne and Bridport, Dorset has plenty to keep everyone busy. And if you want to really get back to nature, camping is the way to go.
So if you prefer a woodland retreat to a fancy barn conversion, and a wood-fired hot tub is your idea of heaven, here are our suggestions for unusual places to stay in Dorset, from a working farm to a pub with shepherd’s huts.
If you’re itching to pull on your hiking boots, check out our handy guide to How to walk the South West Coast Path on a budget.
Bredy Farm, Bridport
Italian food, live music and cider on tap
The big draws at this relaxed working farm are the cider shed, a cosy Italian restaurant and an on-site microbrewery. The site also hosts weekend gigs and festivals in a grassy natural amphitheatre throughout the summer, so check in advance because you may need a ticket for bigger events. The bar is open until 2am in season too, so it’s understandable that it’s a treat for adults only.
You can choose from flat, grassy pitches for tents, caravans and campervans in a riverside apple orchard or in a sprawling nearby meadow. And if you can tear yourself away from all the treats on site, there are several beaches within a 10-minute drive, including Hive and Cogden, both dog-friendly stretches where your hound can run to its heart’s content.
There’s easy access to the South West Coast Path for hikers, and the town of Bridport, home to a lively street market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, is close by too.
What are you waiting for?
Holyrood Farm Campsite
Badger watching, campfires and alpacas
Holyrood Farm marries the best aspects of wild camping with spectacular views over the Blackmore Vale and a secluded location half a mile from Shaftesbury. Stroll into town to relive the legendary 1970s Hovis advert on the steep cobbles of Gold Hill, or trace religious history at the atmospheric Shaftesbury Abbey Museum.
This working farm is home to rare-breed pigs and alpacas, and has a badger hide for nocturnal wildlife watchers. Campfires are allowed, with tasty farm produce is available on site, and simple, well-maintained facilities maintain the rustic vibe while covering all the essentials. The surrounding countryside is laced with hiking paths, so there’s no need to climb into the car, unless you fancy a quick trip to nearby Longleat Safari Park or the landscaped garden at Stourhead, both within a 30-minute drive.
The Gaggle of Geese
Shepherd’s huts, pub food and skittles
Comfort and convenience are the name of the game at this spacious pub campsite in Buckland Newton. If you’re looking for a weekend outdoors without any fuss, the site has pre-erected, furnished bell tents, as well as shepherd’s huts with kingsize beds, bathrooms and woodburning stoves.
Campfires are allowed, but you won’t have to cook unless you want to – the pub itself serves delicious food, has a wood-fired pizza oven, and hosts barbecues and hog roasts in summer. There are friendly goats and crazy golf to keep the kids busy, and a skittle alley where mum and dad can test their aim after a pint or two of local ale.
If you’re a hiker, a round trip to view the Cerne Abbas Giant will take you through rolling countryside with barely a building in sight, while the beaches and fossil cliffs of the Jurassic coast are only half an hour away by car.
Does that sound tempting?
If a touch of luxury tickles your fancy, have a look at our guide to Eight of the best shepherd's hut stays in Dorset
Pilsdon View Camping
Yurts, stargazing and wildflowers
Pilsdon View Camping is an eco-friendly, back-to-basics site in West Dorset, where the lack of light pollution makes a spot of stargazing a must. Close to the river Char, it has its own wildflower meadow, as well as easy access to local footpaths and cycle tracks if you feel like exploring. There are yurts and bell tents to rent, and the simple facilities are well maintained.
The attentive owners make sure that everyone gets plenty of space to spread out, so if you’re looking for somewhere where your children can roam safely, look no further. The campsite is dotted with play equipment, including a popular tyre swing, and if the kids come back muddy, it’s good to know the gas-powered showers never run out of hot water.
If you fancy a day at the beach, Lyme Regis and West Bay are both within a 25-minute drive, while the shops and restaurants of Bridport are only 10 minutes away.
Golden Cap Holiday Park
Spectacular views and top-notch facilities, moments from the beach
Golden Cap sits on a 2,000-acre National Trust estate right on the Jurassic Coast. It’s not all about the view here, but the park’s namesake cliff is the highest on the south coast, with memorable views out over Lyme Bay. To say it’s a short walk to the beach is an understatement – Seatown’s pretty shingle crescent is 150 metres away. If carting chairs, toys and towels is your least favourite part of the holiday, then this is the easy way out.
The whole site is set up to make life as easy as possible, with modern bathroom blocks, a launderette and a shop selling groceries and local produce. And if that’s not enough, guests can pay to use facilities at sister facility Highlands End Holiday Park, three miles away, which has tennis courts, a steam room and a heated indoor pool.
If you love a campsite close to the sea, then check out our list of the Top 10 Dorset campsites near the beach