Camping in Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB

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This 380-square-mile (980-square-kilometre) chalk plateau on the borders of Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Hampshire boasts undulating hillside, historic landmarks, steep valleys, and traditional villages, making it a favourite for outdoor adventurers. Bridleways, footpaths, cycle routes, and wheelchair-friendly trails cut their way across the region’s fields, reserves, and ridges, while working farms and secluded glampsites provide plenty of spots to sleep beneath the stars at any time of year.

95% (2.5K) 4,489 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB

Primrose Fields Campsite

1. Primrose Fields Campsite

97%
(204)
Wareham, England · 15 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Back-to-basics camping in a Dorset hay meadow
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Sweet Hill Farm

2. Sweet Hill Farm

94%
(308)
Isle Of Portland, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Simple, almost-wild, seaside camping on the Isle of Portland
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Crooked Willows Farm

3. Crooked Willows Farm

92%
(25)
Wimborne. Dorset, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Adults-only, back-to-basics camping on a Dorset farm
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
In Nature Camping

4. In Nature Camping

Christchurch, England · 100 units
Dog-friendly pop-up site in a spacious ten-acre field A 10-minute drive from beaches and 15 minutes from Milford on Sea Whether you’re paddleboarding on local beaches, pursuing outdoor activities in the New Forest or mooching around the nearby towns, there’s a great balance between civilisation and peaceful countryside at In Nature Camping, part of Coast & Country Camping Club in Hampshire Under a mile from the edge of the New Forest National Park and 10 minutes’ drive away from beaches, there’s lots on the agenda here: days at the beach, visits to nearby historic towns and properties as well as shopping in local villiages. There’s a microbrewery 10 minutes' walk away, which serves drinks like small-cask beer, handcrafted ales and ‘unfined’ beer. A five-minute drive away, there’s another café with pick-your-own farm produce activities. The closest beaches for strolls, snoozes, swimming and the likes are Avon beach (10 minutes), Highcliffe beach (10 minutes) Barton-on-sea beach (10 minutes). As for interesting local towns with shops and cafés, make your way to Highcliffe (five minutes), Christchurch (10 minutes), New Milton (five minutes) and Milford on Sea (15 minutes). The main road from Lyndhurst to the coast runs just a short distance from the field, making it nice and easy to access local attractions. What about the place you’ll be calling home for your Hampshire holiday? Off-grid, it’s very much a wildlife haven. Try your hand at self-sufficiency (barbecues and firepits are allowed, weather conditions permitting) or grab your meals locally. There are four hot showers, six toilets and two washing-up sinks for those of you who decide to dust off the old camp stove and try cooking under the stars.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Little Eden Riverside Campsite

5. Little Eden Riverside Campsite

98%
(66)
England · 27 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A very warm welcome to our guests at Little Eden, a restful and relaxing, riverside campsite for tents and campervans with grass pitches. We’re in a great spot if you love fishing, kayaking, gorge walking, cycling, seasides, fossil hunting, wild swimming, fell running, bird watching, archaeology or even Viking history! We are 9 miles from the mystical Glastonbury Abbey and Tor and directly on a Sustrans 33 cycle path route. The River Brue runs alongside the campsite with damsel flies fluttering by and kingfishers darting back and forth. We are on the Somerset levels so the sunsets are amazing as well as night time stargazing. We have a private, wooden jetty where you can launch your own paddle board. It’s a perfect get away for campers and nature lovers. Bring your own raised BBQs and logs or buy firewood on site. A family run campsite around 30 miles south of Bristol on the banks of the River Brue, it has a relaxed vibe and we try to keep things simple and straight forward. It’s ideal for doing some day trips nearby, then lighting the BBQ and playing Frisbee (games box you are most welcome to use). Shower and toilet, drinking water, washing-up sink in garden kitchenette. Our big sister site is just 4 miles away, and the café bar at 'Wall Eden Farm' serves fantastic coffee, cake, and family-made Somerset cider. If looking for classic countryside pub meal The Duck at Burtle and The Bird at Westhay are local favourites, be sure to book! Burnham on Sea close by has great fish and chips, a sandy beach, a pier and promenade if you like salty fingers and sandy toes. *DIRECTIONS* Little Eden Adventures is on Goole Maps Postcode takes you within 200 meters of campsite, look for white house with flagpole on stone bridge over river. What3words master.musical.titles. Our grandmother and her 5 sisters grew up milking cattle on the land. It’s steeped in history and archaeology. Bring your fishing rod as there are bream and roach in the River Brue. The site is a dream for cyclists. Electric vehicle charging at Wall Eden Farm with a Farmshop stocked with essential supplies, Moonshine and sweet treats. Sorry no pets as livestock in neighbouring fields. Big Adventures and Little Moments Warmest Wishes, Team Little Eden
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Brig's Farm

6. Brig's Farm

97%
(157)
Bridport, England · 21 units · Tents, Glamping
Family camping with campfires near Charmouth, with sea views and a couple of quirky glamping lorries
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Goren Farm

7. Goren Farm

100%
(94)
Seaton, England · 7 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Nearly wild camping in Devonshire wildflower meadows
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Abbey Home Farm

8. Abbey Home Farm

94%
(224)
Cirencester, England · 21 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Eco-camping for real. Cooking on an open fire. Unspoilt natural beauty.
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Snelling Farm Campsite

9. Snelling Farm Campsite

99%
(140)
Wareham, England · 70 units · Tents, Motorhomes
An amazingly green, natural feel and care-free atmosphere near the Dorset coast
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Charisworth Farm

10. Charisworth Farm

98%
(100)
Blandford, England · 12 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
A spacious campsite in a traditional parkland setting, with campfires allowed and farm animals to meet
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Bredy Farm

11. Bredy Farm

87%
(65)
Bridport, England · 31 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Back-to-basics camping on a Dorset farm with a party vibe at weekends
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Spring Hill Wild Camping

12. Spring Hill Wild Camping

96%
(92)
Andover, England · 15 units
Spring Hill Wild Camping is a camping site set in the beautiful Hampshire village of St Mary Bourne. Within easy walking distance of the two local pubs, the well stocked village shop and a pick-your-own fruit farm with cafe and play areas. The campsite aims to be a low impact, environmentally friendly site, providing only the basic necessities for camping; well maintained toilets and clean water. If you are looking for hot showers and a pool, this is not the campsite for you. If you are looking for beautiful views, countryside walks and open fires Spring Hill Wild Camping is the campsite for you.
Campfires
Potable water
Stowford Manor Farm Campsite

13. Stowford Manor Farm Campsite

88%
(44)
Trowbridge, England · 51 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
We are a family run farm situated in the beautiful Frome valley. The farm has a range of interests from the traditional Jersey milking cows to a community of workshops used by local craftsmen. The cafe serves cream teas from Easter to the end of September and pizzas are sold in evenings during the summer months. Ours is a small family run camp site with the River Frome on one side, next to the medieval buildings of Stowford Farm. The river is suitable for fishing, boating, swimming and paddling. Historic Bradford-on-Avon is only a 5 minute drive and the City of Bath 15 minutes. For those who enjoy more rural pleasures, 200 metres from the campsite Farleigh Hungerford boasts the only river swimming club in the country, and you can become an instant member for a very small fee.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Stockbridge View Campsite

14. Stockbridge View Campsite

94%
(101)
Stockbridge, England · 62 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A simple campsite in the Test Valley, just a 15-minute walk from Stockbridge
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Cider Farm Orchard Campsite

15. Cider Farm Orchard Campsite

98%
(121)
Waytown, England · 14 units
Adult-only camping amid the apple blossom of an award-winning cider orchard
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Camping in Nature at Vallis Veg

16. Camping in Nature at Vallis Veg

99%
(148)
Frome, England · 14 units
Back-to-basics, natural camping with campfires encouraged and easy walks to the local attractions in Frome
Campfires
Potable water
Muddycreek Farm (New Forest)

17. Muddycreek Farm (New Forest)

95%
(151)
Milford On Sea, England · 40 units
A 28 day August pop-up, offering traditional Hampshire camping on a New Forest Pony farm
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Hardyes Countryside Camping

18. Hardyes Countryside Camping

98%
(45)
Weymouth, England · 35 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Camping in a Dorset field between Dorchester and the Jurassic coast.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Showers
Woodlands Camping

19. Woodlands Camping

97%
(110)
Ropley, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A back-to-basics campsite in the South Downs National Park
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Lepe Beach Campsite

20. Lepe Beach Campsite

89%
(149)
New Forest, England · 20 units
Traditional tent camping with views of the Solent and Isle of Wight. Oh and did we mention it's only 150 yards from the beach!?
Campfires
Showers
Potable water

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB camping guide

Where to go

Shaftesbury

Lined by steep, cobblestone streets and surrounded by rolling fields, this hilltop parish on the edge of Cranborne Chase is a hotspot for outdoor enthusiasts. No-frills farmland, eco retreats, and fancy glampsites provide plenty of camping options, while hiking and biking routes through the AONB and Blackmore Vale offer adventurers an intimate glimpse of England’s famous West Country.

Warminster and Longleat

Home to the UK’s most famous safari park, this rural region to the north of Cranborne Chase is a great destination for Hipcampers with kids. Overnight options include campervan parks, glamping lodges, and back-to-basics campgrounds, while sights like the River Wylye, Smallbrook Meadows Nature Reserve, and Shearwater Lake are ideal for rambling, riding—and even sailing!

Salisbury

This historic city just east of Cranborne Chase is convenient for car-free Hipcampers, at just 90 minutes from London and 2 hours from Cardiff via train. Take advantage of the region’s caravan parks, traditional tent grounds, and exclusive glampsites to enjoy easy access to the cathedral city itself as well as the Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs AONB, Stonehenge, and New Forest National Park.

Fordingbridge

Nestled between Cranborne Chase and the New Forest, this riverside destination has something for every Hipcamper. Ancient archaeological sites, water parks, and archery centres provide plenty of thrilling daytrip options, while a network of riding routes and footpaths guide adventurers between the AONB and National Park. Outdoor accommodation includes pet-friendly touring parks, glamping huts, and traditional farmland campsites.

Wimborne

At the southerly tip of the Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs AONB, this market town and its scenic surrounds are home to holiday parks, back-to-basics campgrounds, and glamorous yurt sites, providing easy access to AONB attractions such as the Kingston Lacy Country Estate and iron-age Badbury Rings. Plus, the Dorset coast is just a 20-minute drive away, making it easy to tick off multiple landscapes in one visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB offers a variety of camping options including pet-friendly touring parks, glamping huts, and traditional farmland campsites. You can also explore different options for camping near Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB on Hipcamp.

Attractions near Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB include the Kingston Lacy Country Estate, iron-age Badbury Rings, the Dorset coast, and the UK’s most famous safari park. You can also explore different options for camping near Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB on Hipcamp.

Outdoor accommodation near Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB includes holiday parks, back-to-basics campgrounds, glamorous yurt sites, pet-friendly touring parks, glamping huts, and traditional farmland campsites.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

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