Ringstead Bay Camping

No availability at present on Pitchup.com 9.5 167 reviews
Bell tent overlooking the ocean
Bell tent overlooking the ocean
Campers on site
Campers on the first weekend of opening
Guests sit outside of the bell tent
Bell tent on the grass
Grassy pitches
Bell tent with sea views
The campsite is based next to the coast
1/159
New
Campers on site
Campers on the first weekend of opening
Guests sit outside of the bell tent

  • Peaceful, rural site surrounded by woodland on the Jurassic Coast Path
  • Within five minutes’ walk of Ringstead Bay, a dog-friendly beach
  • On a working dairy farm with a shared fridge and freezer; café nearby
It pays to pack your walking boots for Ringstead Bay Camping, a peaceful, family-friendly site on a working dairy farm adjacent to the Jurassic Coast Path. Break them in with a five-minute walk to dog-friendly Ringstead Bay, before tackling the longer strolls to famed Durdle Door (under two hours’ walk) and Lulworth Cove (an extra 30 minutes of walking). This rural site should tick a lot of boxes, with its two and a half acres of relatively flat grass. There’s immediate access to footpaths from the site, but if your dog needs a quick run-around, there’s also an on-site (and off-leash) dog exercise area. You're also welcome to park next to your pitch. Nearby Ringstead Bay is a sweet spot for swimming, paddleboarding, windsurfing, surfing or launching a small boat. Let the children have a rummage through the rockpools around the reefs. Down by the bay (10 minutes’ walk or a five-minute drive from the field), there’s a café and shop with a kids’ play area and food like freshly made breakfasts, baps, woodfired pizzas and scampi and fries (ask for a takeaway if needed). They also stock basic camping essentials. Prefer to make your own meals? The on-site communal building, The Armoury, has a shared fridge and freezer. It also has lockable charging points for small devices. Elsewhere on site, there are toilets, showers, washing-up sinks and drinking water. You’re welcome to set up a fire, as long as it’s raised off the ground. The sheltered field has woodland on three sides, so access is via a private road through the woodland. Look out for the sea, Weymouth Bay and the Isle of Portland through the trees on the southern side. And here’s a nice fact about the field: it once held an American military establishment, so original bunkers, outbuildings and a World War II lookout are nearby.

Campground type

Tent sites 40
Rent a tent 10
Opens
Please note
  • Your dog must be tattooed or microchipped.
  • The campground/park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) and/or any of the following: Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, any Mastiff or Tosa.
  • Single-sex bookings of 4 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.

Languages spoken

English

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Site types & availability

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Accommodation

Tent sitesCaravan sitesRV & Motorhome sitesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsCaravans for hireRent a tent
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2 adults
0 children
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Reviews

9.5

Overall rating from 167 Pitchup.com customers

  • 66%
    10
  • 22%
    9
  • 8%
    8
  • 1%
    7
  • 0%
    6
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    5
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 4
PeacefulSpectacular scenery

99% would recommend this campground to a friend

99% would stay here again

What customers say

Ringstead Bay Camping is a quiet, roomy spot with ace sea views & direct woodland access to a chill beach. Guests rave about the spotless facilities (toilets, hot showers) and the legendarily friendly staff. Handy fridges, freezers & charging points are there too. Some found the ground a bit wonky in parts, and facilities a bit of a trek from pitches. All up, it's a ripper for a relaxed, back-to-nature coastal escape.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 17
Arrival date (latest first)

Great beach side spot.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Jenny C.

Unpowered grass tent site (solo, small)

Liked Everything! Great location. Clean facilitates. Easy booking.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Clean/tidy facilities and excellent location next…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Amanda C.

Unpowered grass campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Clean/tidy facilities and excellent location next to the beach and costal path

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful site on a hill with…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Dene C.

Unpowered grass campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Beautiful site on a hill with stunning sea views. Toilets and showers are very clean and well maintained throughout the day. The team is warm and welcoming. Just a short walk through lovely woodland takes you to the beach, with a good café a few minutes further on.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Will definitely come back if they will be open next season.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Bell tent

Liked Lovely campsite, everything was clean and tidy, even when it was raining, all the facilities on site was kept clean. Loved the short walk to the beach and bell tent was lovely and spacious.

Disliked None, but hoping that changing lockers would improve a bit - would be lovely to have the usb option as well, we were lucky that site owner borrowed us the plug to charge our power bank ( we had only a cable).

Recommend to friends Visit again

Amazing site. Location was superb, nestled…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Sam T.

Unpowered grass campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Amazing site. Location was superb, nestled within a woodland within a very short walk to a beach. Site was super clean.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Friendly staff, clean toilets and great location.

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 8
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Anonymous

Unpowered grass campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Lots of space, really close to beach and lovely cafe, short walk along coast path to pub with big beer garden.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Everything..location..staff..facilities…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 6
Wendy W.

Bell tent

Liked Everything..location..staff..facilities

Recommend to friends Visit again

Amazing location on the coastal path…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Steven C.

Unpowered grass campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Amazing location on the coastal path with coastal walk to Beach cafe and pub. Lots of space you can pitch where you want. Staff were really friendly and helpful. it was great that we could have a fire. Facilities were really good with clean toilets and showers. Will definitely come back next year, thanks!

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site, everything you need and nothing more.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Sorrel P.

Unpowered grass campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Everything you need. Toilets and showers kept immaculate. Location quiet and convenient for beach. Nearby cafe was brilliant.

Disliked Ground is a bit stoney but nothing that can be cured by a quick check.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site.

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Abi P.

Unpowered grass campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Great place to stay. Lovely short walk to the cafe and beach. Toilets and showers were clean and well stocked. Staff were amazing and always on site cleaning. Would highly recommend.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Pop-up campground

Dogs allowed

Campfires allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Beach access 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 Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise

Utilities

Charging facilities Communal freezer Communal fridge Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Farm Medium (26-50 sites) Pop-up campground

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Fishing nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Ringstead Bay Camping

Ringstead Bay

Ringstead Farm

Dorchester

Dorset

England

DT2 8NF

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

50.63426°N
2.36157°W

Nearest transport

Coach
7 km Marks and Spencer
9.9 km South Station
18.7 km Red Lion
Rail
6.9 km Weymouth Rail Station
7.6 km Upwey Rail Station
8.2 km Moreton (Dorset) Rail Station
Ferry
6.8 km Weymouth Ferry Terminal
27.3 km Poole Ferry Terminal
27.9 km Poole Quay Ferry Landing
Airport
40.6 km Bournemouth International Airport

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.

Local attractions

Those who pack their walking boots can have a nice time mapping out potential routes. There’s a stunning route east to White Nothe (less than an hour’s walk). Osmington Mills (15 minutes’ walk or 10 minutes’ drive) and a popular 17th-century pub are in the other direction. Walk further west to reach Bowleaze Cove and Weymouth’s sandy beach and attractions like an aquarium and miniature golf. Driving to Lulworth (25 minutes)? Pay a visit to the abandoned village of Tyneham (half an hour), which can be visited when the firing ranges are closed, or take a round-about route to The Tank Museum (20 minutes) and Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre (20 minutes). If you’re going west by car, perhaps consider touring the Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens (35 minutes), Lyme Regis (an hour) and West Bay (45 minutes), the filming location for Broadchurch.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Ringstead Bay 0.8 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Bowleaze Cove 4.3 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Weymouth Lodmoor 5.8 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Durdle Door West 6.1 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Durdle Door East 6.3 km Sea N/AExcellentN/AExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Weymouth Sea Life Park and Marine Sanctuary 6.1 km

Radipole Lake Nature Reserve 7.2 km

Lulworth Heritage Centre 8 km

The Tank Museum 10.7 km

Lulworth Castle & Park 10.8 km

National Trust

Max Gate 9.4 km

Hardy's Cottage 10.8 km

Clouds Hill 12 km

Corfe Castle 21.4 km

White Mill 28.4 km

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Ringstead - Osmington Mills - Osmington Walk 0.6 km

Osmington Mills - Ringstead - Upton 0.9 km

Ringstead Bay - Chaldon Down - Ringstead Bay 1.4 km

South Down NT Car Park - Scratchy Bottom 1.5 km

South Down Car Park - White Horse Hill - Osmington - Osmington Mill - Ringstead - South Down CP 1.5 km

Local events

  • Dorset County Show (Saturday 6 September 2025 – Saturday 6 September 2025)

    Dorchester, England 10.8 km

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.

Want to know more about camping in Dorset?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Ringstead Bay Camping have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Ringstead Bay Camping dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Ringstead Bay Camping? Those who pack their walking boots can have a nice time mapping out potential routes. There’s a stunning route east to White Nothe (less than an hour’s walk). Osmington Mills (15 minutes’ … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Ringstead Bay Camping?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  11 a.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  3 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more