Swanage Coastal Park

View prices & book 9.1 47 reviews
Pitches with views
Pitches with views
The view from the park
Views of the purbeck countryside from the camping field
The view of swanage bay
The camping field with sea views
The view of swanage bay from the park
Stunning views
Another beautiful sunset.
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The view from the park
Views of the purbeck countryside from the camping field
The view of swanage bay

  • Peaceful site a mile from Swanage: spectacular views over the bay
  • Close to the Jurassic Coast, Corfe Castle and Wareham
  • Leisure club next door with pool, gym, sauna, bar and restaurant
Swanage, you say? For a summer sojourn on a peaceful park close to the dino and fossil hunting, beaches and watersports of the mega fab Jurassic Coast? Pass the bucket, the spade, the flippers… and all the beach, seaside and holiday bits you can cram into the car… And if you’re at Swanage Coastal Park? Bolt on loads of exploring room, proximity to Dorset coast and countryside attractions, and spectacular views of the coastline and deep blue waters: this spacious green park covers 15 acres of countryside, with fab views over Swanage Bay and the Purbeck Hills below. Time for outings? Swanage town is a mile away along an easily accessible path, Corfe Castle is five miles away, and it’s about half an hour’s drive from Swanage to Monkey World or Brownsea Island ferries. Poole, Bournemouth and Dorset are all easily reached by the chain ferry: best be staying here for as long as you possibly manage. As it aims to be a quiet place, Swanage Coastal Park doesn’t have a pool, bar or noisy entertainment, so is just the serene ticket for those seeking summer sanctuary or fleeing from nightly discos. Amenities are plentiful, including showers and toilets, a launderette, a washing-up area and ice pack freezing; pitches are non-electric, on grass overlooking the bay. If between your Dorset exploring days you do fancy being a tad active, the leisure site next door offers day memberships to its health and fitness area, where there’s a pool, gym, sauna and solarium plus a bar and restaurant.

Campground type

Caravans for hire 32
Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 6
Tent sites 80
Opens 18 July

Tourist board rating

Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • 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.
  • No bachelor/bachelorette parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Bookings must not be for more than 21 consecutive nights.
  • Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.
  • The campground/park caters for families (immediate members) and couples only - bookings from all other forms of groups are not accepted.
  • Continental touring caravans (caravans built with the passenger door on the right-hand side) are not permitted.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 18 July to

Reviews

9.1

Overall rating based on 47 reviews View breakdown

Spectacular scenery

Voted 81% of visitors View breakdown

85%

would recommend this campground to a friend

85%

would stay here again

  • 70%
    10
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    8
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    7
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    6
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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Excellent site

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 8
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site (overflow, sloping)

Liked: We camped and it was great we could choose our own patch lots of space and beautiful views toilets and showers are clean.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Quiet site with fabulous views.

Overall 6/10
Location 8
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 8
Wifi No rating
Lisa H. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site (overflow, sloping)

Liked: The views were fabulous if you pitched up in the right place.

Very peaceful and could use the facilities on the site if you wanted too which was a bonus.

The showers were clean and hot.

Disliked: The toilets weren’t cleaned that often and the hand towels and toilet rolls needed re stocking.
Could maybe have had another portaloo and washing up area at the top of the field for people staying up that end as it was a mission right down the field and back up.

I had to ring a few numbers on arrival as the reception was closed and the number on the door was unavailable.
It wasn’t made clear in the email about the pitch as it stated only pitch up in your allocated area however after driving around for 10 minutes we couldn’t find it.
This wasn’t the case. The kind lady explained you can actually pitch up anywhere in the field. 🤦‍♀️

Recommend to friends Visit again

Every thing was great. The views are beautiful…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
daniel b. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site (overflow, sloping)

Liked: Every thing was great. The views are beautiful

Recommend to friends Visit again

Will be back

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
daniel b. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site (overflow, sloping)

Liked: Location with great views of swanage. The staff are really friendly and helpful.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Would recommend this place

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 8
Wifi No rating
Brian B. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site (overflow, sloping)

Liked: Campsite has beautiful view. Easily accessible by foot from Wareham train station. The shower room was alright. Not far from shops

Disliked: The shower room locked could be fixed as my daughter find it really hard to lock and unlock.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice site well worth it for that view and the staff are lovely

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 8
Wifi No rating
Christine C. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site (overflow, sloping)

Liked: I had a lovely stay, the reception were helpful and friendly. The toilet and shower facilities were ok, but probably could have been cleaned more often, It was quiet whilst I was there and so enough showers and loos for that volume. In the busier times then maybe they could do with more.

This site offers stunning views over the bay and I would stay there again.

Disliked: The listing on Pitch Up suggested that they do an iceblock swap which they didn't do. They would freeze your blocks for you, so I guess the answer is to take extra blocks so that you can have some in your cooler and some freezing.

The leisure facilities next door are just a swimming pool, with the feeling of a local leisure centre. I didn't use the pool so can't comment any further, but don't be misled to think there are any spa facilities like a sauna for example.

Some of my fellow campers! Would you seriously sit and watch one person struggle to put down a tent in the wind and not offer to help ?! Thanks to the lovely man who did come from the other side of the camp to help.....for those that were a meter away and just watched ...that's not in the spirit of camping! This is nothing to do with the camp but I have to mention it as I am still miffed by it now!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Not peaceful or clean on our visit, but lovely views & friendly staff.

Overall 6/10
Location 8
Value for money 4
Accommodation 4
Facilities / Activities 4
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 4
Cleanliness 2
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site (overflow, sloping)

Liked: Lovely views and very pleasant and friendly staff.

Disliked: We came as it was described as a peaceful campsite. Unfortunately this wasn’t our experience - with people playing music until 1am and another large group shouting and laughing loudly until the early hours.
The toilets and showers were very unclean for the 3 days we were - either not cleaned or not cleaned properly.

Recommend to friends Visit again

The views are great…

Overall 4/10
Location 8
Value for money 4
Accommodation No rating
Facilities / Activities 4
Customer service 4
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 2
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site (overflow, sloping)

Liked: The views are great

Disliked: There are not enough shower and toilet facilities for that size of campsite and they are not cleaned often enough.
We decided to move on earlier than planned because of that.

Cyclists, be aware there's a long very steep hill to get to the campsite. Impossible to cycle with luggage.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely area for camping. Would definitely recommend.

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site (overflow, sloping)

Liked: Lovely views of Swanage bay. Lovely warm showers. Close to beach, local shops and restaurants of Swanage just a short drive out of the campsite. Walkable distance down to the bay. Close to Corfe castle.

Disliked: Slightly hilly.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Everything,from the views to the bathroom facilities,and the friendly staff at the…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Adi Varanisese L B. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site (overflow, sloping)

Liked: Everything,from the views to the bathroom facilities,and the friendly staff at the reception

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Dogs 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 Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Car parking by site/unit 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 Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise

Utilities

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

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby

Type

Medium (26-50 sites)

Nearby leisure

Fishing nearby Golf nearby Indoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Tennis nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Swanage Coastal Park

Priestway

Swanage

Dorset

England

BH19 2RS

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

50.60644°N
-1.97473°W

Nearest transport

Coach
1.1 km Bus Station
6.7 km East Street
6.7 km East Street
Rail
12.6 km Poole Rail Station
13.1 km Parkstone (Dorset) Rail Station
13.6 km Hamworthy Rail Station
Ferry
8.4 km Shell Bay Ferry Terminal
8.8 km Sandbanks Ferry Terminal
9.2 km Brownsea Island Ferry Landing
Airport
21.5 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

The park is high up above the waters of Swanage Bay, just under a mile from the shops, bars and restaurants in town. There are miles of safe and clean beaches in Swanage too, as well as an award-winning pier, amusement arcades, boat hire and access to the Jurassic Coast (Swanage is at its eastern end). To explore the coast from here, get aboard a heritage train trip on the Swanage Railway, steaming along to the riverside town of Wareham (home of Monkey World) via stops including Corfe Castle and the Isle of Purbeck’s Harman's Cross. If you’re up for hiking, explore by foot instead along a stage of the South West Coast Path, or take one of the shorter routes around the coast and the cliffs. The most strenuous hiking stretch around here is the run of 12 miles or so to Corfe Castle (fret not, you can get the train back); for a shorter or more kid-friendly amble, try the Durlston Country Park clifftop trail, around the comely coastal nature reserve. Also within easy day trip distance are Brownsea Island, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, Poole, Shell Bay, Sandbanks, Dorchester…

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Swanage Central 1.4 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Studland Knoll House 5.3 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Shell Bay North 8.2 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Poole Sandbanks Peninsular 9.5 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Poole Shore Road Beach 10.3 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Swanage Railway 1.1 km

Studland Beach and Nature Reserve 6 km

Corfe Castle 7 km

Brownsea Island 9.3 km

Dorset Cruises 14.1 km

National Trust

Studland Beach and Nature Reserve 4.6 km

Corfe Castle 6.8 km

Brownsea Island 9.1 km

White Mill 22.9 km

Kingston Lacy 23 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Herston - Worth Matravers - Corfe 0.8 km

Swanage to Corfe Circular Walk 1.8 km

Durlston Castle Historic Landscape 1.9 km

Worth Matravers - Winspit - Dancing Ledge 4.5 km

Worth Matravers - Cliffs, Caves and Chapel 4.5 km

Local events

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

    Dorchester, England 34.3 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.

Offers

Conditions apply - see site type section for details

Nearest campgrounds

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.

Want to know more about camping in Dorset?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Swanage Coastal Park have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Swanage Coastal Park dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Swanage Coastal Park? The park is high up above the waters of Swanage Bay, just under a mile from the shops, bars and restaurants in town. There are miles of safe and clean beaches in … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Swanage Coastal Park?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  noon –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Swanage Coastal Park? From $61.19 (for 1 night, 6 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.