The Railway Campsite
No availability at present on Pitchup.com 
- Eight-acre field with Swanage Railway steam trains passing by
- A 10-minute drive to Swanage Beach; 35 minutes to Durdle Door
- Off-ground barbecues and firepits allowed; dogs welcome
Site type
50
3
Twin axle vehicles are not permitted on site.- At least one of the party members must be aged 16 or over.
Languages spoken
English
Pitch types & availability
Choose your dates and we'll email when available.
See nearby bookable sites
Non-electric grass motorhome pitch
10 people maximum Ground type: Grass
Pitch size: Max 6.0m width x 6.0m depth (19.7ft width x 19.7ft depth) Calculated area: 36.0m² (387.5ft²)
Arrival days No availability on our site
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
10 people maximum Ground type: Grass
Pitch size: Max 6.0m width x 6.0m depth (19.7ft width x 19.7ft depth) Calculated area: 36.0m² (387.5ft²)
Arrival days No availability on our site
Reviews
Voted 73% of visitors View breakdown
would recommend this site to a friend
would stay here again
Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.
Brilliant campsite, good amenities lovely friendly people who run it.…
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Value for money | |
| Accommodation | |
| Facilities / Activities | |
| Customer service | |
| Child friendliness | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Wifi |
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked: Brilliant campsite, good amenities lovely friendly people who run it.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Fantastic campsite, will definitely be back!
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Value for money | |
| Accommodation | |
| Facilities / Activities | |
| Customer service | |
| Child friendliness | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Wifi |
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked: Would highly recommend, great campsite, lovely snack shack that was open from 5pm-10pm and then again at 8:30am in the morning. The train was great to watch and didn’t run through the night so didn’t affect our sleep. The showers were warm and there was so much space for the kids to play, with rope swings in the forest area. There is a village park 2 mins away from the campsite.
Disliked: Absolutely nothing, really great campsite!
Recommend to friends Visit again
Fantastic friendly and clean site
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Value for money | |
| Accommodation | |
| Facilities / Activities | |
| Customer service | |
| Child friendliness | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Wifi |
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked: Fantastic setting, facilities weee excellent and clean throughout. Owners were very helpful. We will be returning.
Disliked: Nothing
Recommend to friends Visit again
Excellent location with basic but clean facilities!!
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Value for money | |
| Accommodation | |
| Facilities / Activities | |
| Customer service | |
| Child friendliness | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Wifi |
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked: We loved how simple but great our stay was. The site is on hill, it's large and unmarked pitched that let you chose what's best for you and your stat.
Toilets are clean and all "natural" along with showers and hot water.
We loved how peaceful it was and how amazing with passing trains.
The location is 10/10 as you have playground nearby and station to board diesel and steam train.
All is very accessible and convenient!
We loved it!
We will be back !
Disliked: Nothing ! It was all amazing
Recommend to friends Visit again
Choosing my own pitch, cleanliness of the toilets and showers, the snack…
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Value for money | |
| Accommodation | |
| Facilities / Activities | |
| Customer service | |
| Child friendliness | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Wifi |
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked: Choosing my own pitch, cleanliness of the toilets and showers, the snack shack, late departure time, closeness to the railway line.
Disliked: Slight smell in the toilets but it was the end of the season. Inability of some men to read the signs about how to use the toilets.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Great site
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Value for money | |
| Accommodation | |
| Facilities / Activities | |
| Customer service | |
| Child friendliness | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Wifi |
Non-electric grass motorhome pitch
Liked: Wonderful site , amenities great location great , and the locomotive train was a beautiful touch passing through. Site manager was extremely helpful also. Would defo go again
Disliked: I suppose it was unlevel the ground but not a real major issue
Recommend to friends Visit again
Won't go there again
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Value for money | |
| Accommodation | |
| Facilities / Activities | |
| Customer service | |
| Child friendliness | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Wifi |
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked: Location
Disliked: Toilets
Showers
Dish-washing facilities
Recommend to friends Visit again
Great site, very informal and relaxed. Loved the view of the trains,…
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Value for money | |
| Accommodation | |
| Facilities / Activities | |
| Customer service | |
| Child friendliness | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Wifi |
Non-electric grass motorhome pitch
Liked: Great site, very informal and relaxed. Loved the view of the trains, countryside etc.
Yummy Caribbean food on the Thursday night...
Recommend to friends Visit again
Friendly owners, clean site...
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Value for money | |
| Accommodation | |
| Facilities / Activities | |
| Customer service | |
| Child friendliness | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Wifi |
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked: Fantastic site. Spacious
Friendly owners and their dogs.
Eco toilets which were cleaned at least 6 times a day.
Amazing views to watch the Steam train go by, watch the sunset, sunrise and star gazing.
Listening to the wildlife night & day.
Will be booking again for next year!
Disliked: Only a little dislike...
Would have been good to have the sawdust in each cubicle and not outside so it's not obvious you've had a number 2! 😁
Recommend to friends Visit again
Great relaxing time. Will return next season.
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Value for money | |
| Accommodation | |
| Facilities / Activities | |
| Customer service | |
| Child friendliness | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Wifi |
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked: The guy running it is such a laugh. Very friendly and there morning, noon and night maintaining the site and facilities.
Great mixture of friendly campers with many having fires in the evening burning some very nice scented cherry and apple logs.
Easy access to the site and right next to the heritage railway which makes it a bit special. Up on a hill so great views of the area.
I met some really nice people camping there. This was my second visit in two weeks and I would definitely go again.
Yes its basic, but that's reflected in the price.
My camping objective was hot showers, clean toilets and a washing up area, and that's exactly what I got, so very content with the facilities and over the moon with the price.
Disliked: I have to mention it as I have nothing else to say, but it's really not a dislike as such, just an initial selfish nark.
I came back after day one to find a family had pitched up quite close to my tent.
The field is massive and they could have pitched anywhere?
Anyway the lovely grandmother asked me if I had any matches as she had forgotten them. From then on we hit it off and her daughter and two grand children were very nice and friendly. The two young boys were quite funny and entertaining to listen to and incredibly well behaved and well spoken, so it actually turned out to be a good thing, and a holiday highlight.
Only used mobile data so can't comment on wifi.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Features
Pop-up campsite
Dogs allowed
Campfires allowed
Leisure on site
Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis WatersportsAmenities on site
Bath available Car parking by pitch/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area WifiGroups welcome
D. of E. welcome Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcomeRules
Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all yearThemes
Budget/backpacker Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradiseUtilities
Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energyNearby amenities
Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby Shop nearbyType
Farm Large (51-200 pitches) Pop-up campsiteAccessibility
Accessible parking at pitch Bathrooms: Large spacious shower Disabled facilities Uneven terrain; gravel or loose mudNearby leisure
Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Tennis nearby Watersports nearbyLocation
The Railway Campsite
Sunny Glade
Haycrafts Lane
Harmans Cross
Swanage
Dorset
England
BH19 3EB
Directions Timezone
Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)
GPS
50.61958°N
-2.0239°W
Nearest transport
Coach
Rail
Ferry
AirportPlease note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.
Local attractions
Water quality at nearby bathing waters
| Name | Distance | Type | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swanage Central | 2.9 mi | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Studland Knoll House | 3.8 mi | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Kimmeridge Bay | 4.7 mi | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Shell Bay North | 5.2 mi | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Poole Sandbanks Peninsular | 6.1 mi | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
Data source: European Environment Agency
Must see
Corfe Castle 2 mi
Swanage Railway 2.9 mi
Studland Beach and Nature Reserve 3.8 mi
Brownsea Island 5.6 mi
Lulworth Castle & Park 8.2 mi
National Trust
Corfe Castle 1.9 mi
Studland Beach and Nature Reserve 3.6 mi
Brownsea Island 5.6 mi
Clouds Hill 12.1 mi
White Mill 12.9 mi
Cycle routes
Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.
Other
Worth Matravers - Cliffs, Caves and Chapel 1.6 mi
Worth Matravers - Winspit - Dancing Ledge 1.6 mi
Corfe - Nine Barrows Down - Swanage 2 mi
Herston - Worth Matravers - Corfe 2 mi
The Purbecks - Castle and Coastal 2.2 mi
Local events
- Dorset County Show (Saturday 6 September 2025 – Saturday 6 September 2025)
Dorchester, Dorset 19 mi
Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.
Offers
Conditions apply - see pitch type section for details
Nearest sites
Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.
Want to know more about camping in Dorset?
Frequently asked questions
- Does The Railway Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
- Is The Railway Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
- What attractions are near The Railway Campsite? Famed for its ever-changing shades of blue and green, the Blue Pool (15 minutes’ drive) is surrounded by acres of heath- and woodland laced with trails. Take the easy path skirting the … Read more
- When can I check in and check out of The Railway Campsite?
Read moreCamping and touring Arrive: Anytime – Anytime Depart by: 4 p.m.