Riverside glamping 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.

93% (171)

Top-rated campgrounds

Nordic Glamping at Botswicky

3. Nordic Glamping at Botswicky

100%
(8)
6 units · Glamping · England
Handcrafted, eco-conscious stays in harmony with nature. Tucked away in a secluded pocket of countryside, Nordic Glamping offers an off-grid retreat designed for those who seek peace, privacy and a gentler pace of life. Our four beautifully handcrafted yurts sit within five acres of unspoilt organic hay meadow—surrounded by ancient woodland, thick hedgerows, a bubbling stream, a weather-led newt pond and charming little bridges. There is a lot to explore! This untouched, undulating landscape is home to thoughtfully designed, eco-friendly facilities: soft composting toilets, hot showers, fresh running water, and a covered kitchen and dining area. Shaded spaces for gathering or unwinding allow you to connect with nature in comfort. Each yurt is carefully dressed with organic cotton or linen bedding atop handcrafted wooden beds—combining rustic charm with deep rest and relaxation. Everything here is off-grid and in rhythm with the land… although a reliable 4G signal is on hand for those absolutely necessary connections ;-) Nordic Glamping shares Botswicky Copse with award-winning organic farmer Helen Browning. Together, we’re committed to working with the land—not against it—ensuring its vitality for generations to come. We’re proud members of the Greener Camping Club, which helps support more sustainable, low-impact camping in the UK. To stay with us, we kindly ask that one person per booking is, or becomes, a member. A seasonal membership is just £12 and supports our shared vision of responsible travel and eco-conscious living. (*Existing members do not need to pay again.)
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
£110
 / night
Wild About Campers

10. Wild About Campers

100%
(2)
5 units · Glamping · Stockland, Devon, South West England
Wild About Campers is a peaceful retreat amid spectacular hiking country in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and 25 minutes’ drive from cliff-top treks along the South West Coast Path. The Jurassic Coast at Lyme Regis is within 25 minutes’ drive, and if you feel a major shopping expedition coming on, the historic cathedral city of Exeter (35 minutes) will see you right. Both Exmoor and Dartmoor national parks are less than an hour’s drive away, while the pretty neighbouring town of Honiton (10 minutes) offers pubs and tearooms as well as antique shops to browse. But if it’s a rural retreat you’re after, well, this is the place. The camping paddock is surrounded by peaceful farmland and borders the River Otter (look out for the resident beavers, otters and kingfishers, which occasionally appear), so you can fall asleep lulled by the burble of the river along with the distant hoot of barn owls – and wake up fresh in the morning to the sound of birdsong. A popular family-run pub is five minutes’ stroll from the campsite, and you can pick up emergency supplies from a well-stocked village shop run by volunteers (five minutes’ drive).
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
£89
 / night

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.

93% (171)

Top-rated campgrounds

Nordic Glamping at Botswicky

3. Nordic Glamping at Botswicky

100%
(8)
6 units · Glamping · England
Handcrafted, eco-conscious stays in harmony with nature. Tucked away in a secluded pocket of countryside, Nordic Glamping offers an off-grid retreat designed for those who seek peace, privacy and a gentler pace of life. Our four beautifully handcrafted yurts sit within five acres of unspoilt organic hay meadow—surrounded by ancient woodland, thick hedgerows, a bubbling stream, a weather-led newt pond and charming little bridges. There is a lot to explore! This untouched, undulating landscape is home to thoughtfully designed, eco-friendly facilities: soft composting toilets, hot showers, fresh running water, and a covered kitchen and dining area. Shaded spaces for gathering or unwinding allow you to connect with nature in comfort. Each yurt is carefully dressed with organic cotton or linen bedding atop handcrafted wooden beds—combining rustic charm with deep rest and relaxation. Everything here is off-grid and in rhythm with the land… although a reliable 4G signal is on hand for those absolutely necessary connections ;-) Nordic Glamping shares Botswicky Copse with award-winning organic farmer Helen Browning. Together, we’re committed to working with the land—not against it—ensuring its vitality for generations to come. We’re proud members of the Greener Camping Club, which helps support more sustainable, low-impact camping in the UK. To stay with us, we kindly ask that one person per booking is, or becomes, a member. A seasonal membership is just £12 and supports our shared vision of responsible travel and eco-conscious living. (*Existing members do not need to pay again.)
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
£110
 / night
Wild About Campers

10. Wild About Campers

100%
(2)
5 units · Glamping · Stockland, Devon, South West England
Wild About Campers is a peaceful retreat amid spectacular hiking country in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and 25 minutes’ drive from cliff-top treks along the South West Coast Path. The Jurassic Coast at Lyme Regis is within 25 minutes’ drive, and if you feel a major shopping expedition coming on, the historic cathedral city of Exeter (35 minutes) will see you right. Both Exmoor and Dartmoor national parks are less than an hour’s drive away, while the pretty neighbouring town of Honiton (10 minutes) offers pubs and tearooms as well as antique shops to browse. But if it’s a rural retreat you’re after, well, this is the place. The camping paddock is surrounded by peaceful farmland and borders the River Otter (look out for the resident beavers, otters and kingfishers, which occasionally appear), so you can fall asleep lulled by the burble of the river along with the distant hoot of barn owls – and wake up fresh in the morning to the sound of birdsong. A popular family-run pub is five minutes’ stroll from the campsite, and you can pick up emergency supplies from a well-stocked village shop run by volunteers (five minutes’ drive).
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
£89
 / night

Camper favorites in and near Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

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Riverside glamping in Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB 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.

Popular Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB glamping styles