Glamping pods in Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB

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.

99% (69)

Top-rated campgrounds

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.

99% (69)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Hollington Park Glamping

95%

(11)

6 units · Glamping · Hampshire, South East England

Pod and bell tent glamping in woodland on the edge of the North Wessex Downs

2. Coppet Hill

100%

(88)

18 units · Tents, Glamping · Bridport, England

Wildlife-friendly camping and glamping with private loos at each pitch, 15 minutes' drive from the coast

3. Glamping Retreat & Campsite

95%

(10)

17 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Ryde, England

Retro Staycations near Ryde on the Isle of Wight

4. Liba Vineyard

3 units · Glamping · England

Liba Vineyard is a biodynamic vineyard and luxury woodland glamping site on the edge of Salisbury, just 15 minutes from Stonehenge. Our vineyard, hand planted in Spring 2024, has nearly 4,000 vines of four different varieties. We manage our vines in line with organic and biodynamic principles, working hand-in-hand with nature and avoiding the use of any herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilisers. We hope to take our first (small) harvest in 2026, by which time we will be fully certified (organic and biodynamic) and will be able to make our wine on-site. Our glamping pods, brand new for Autumn 2025 seek to give guests an eco-luxurious stay in an area of native woodland bordering the vineyard. These pods are perfect as a base for exploring Salisbury, nearby historic sites such as Stonehenge and Old Sarum, or the beautiful countryside of the New Forest National Park, Cranbourne Chase National Landscape, North Wessex Downs or the Cotswolds area of outstanding natural beauty slightly further afield.

5. Hobby Farm

96%

(45)

16 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Whitchurch Canonicorum, England

A peaceful, adult-only campsite 10 minutes' from the Jurassic Coast

6. Barley Hill Pod

100%

(2)

1 unit · Glamping · Ilminster, Somerset, South West England

Barley Hill Pod offers luxurious glamping accommodation in Chard. Nestled in an idyllic countryside setting in Somerset, we are the ultimate romantic getaway. Relax under the stars in the hot tub on a warm summer evening listening to the trickle of the near by stream and the sound of the owls. Our magnificent glamping pod is set in its own private field and surrounded by stunning oak trees and glorious barley fields. The site is a haven for a range of wild birds, from Woodpeckers to Kingfishers, making us the ideal holiday destination for nature lovers. The well-equipped pod comes with a range of excellent facilities to suit all your needs. A kitchen area comes with a range of appliances including an oven, hobs, microwave, toaster and kettle. You can relax on the comfy corner sofa and there is a solid oak bar with stools. A comfortable double bed is the perfect place to rest your head at night. The en suite bathroom has a hot shower, basin, flushing toilet and a warm towel rail. Inside the pod there is electrical lights and a flat-screen TV. Outside you can relax in the hot tub (available April - October) with a glass of wine whilst admiring the breathtaking views. A lovely terrace area also comes with seating. A BBQ is provided and a wooden fence encircles the pod to create a private and peaceful space. Opposite is an enclosed duck pond which is home to a range of ducks, as well as the occasional water-dwelling bird. Lots of superb attractions are in the local area: Perry's Cider Brewery and Museum. Forde Abbey & Gardens. South West Deer Rescue. Barrington Court. Montacute House.

Stories from the community

H

Hannah

June 2025

Weekend Trip to Barley Hill Pod

We have just come back from a wonderful 2 nights at the Barley Hill Pod a peaceful private space in the Somerset countryside. The Pod had everything you need to make it comfortable, including a double bed, proper toilet and shower, fridge with freezer box and under floor heating! The real bonus is the completely private electric hot tub overlooking the stream and fields where we saw Deer and birds and squirrels. Even has a little duck pond opposite to have a wonder round with 4 friendly ducks. You do need to walk across a grass field to get to the Pod but it’s only about 200m from where you park the car and it’s totally worth it for the privacy you get! We just used a trolley to pull our stuff over. I would 100% recommend and we will definitely go back!

D

Denise

March 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Hobby Farm

Had a beautiful stay. The hut was clean and well equipped. The shower was a bit lacking but better than nowt. I particularly loved that the hut was enclosed in its own paddock so my dog was contained and I could relax. The bed was comfortable and I slept like a log. Had a visit from a peacock as the sun went down each evening, how cool!

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Glamping pods 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.