- Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB
Campsites with swimming in Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB
93% (674)
Top-rated campgrounds
93% (674)
Top-rated campgrounds
Camper favorites in and near Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB
Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.
Stories from the community
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April
October 2025
Tent
Lovely short walk to the lighthouses and great flat ground for camping. The team were super friendly and helpful when are car battery died!
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Angela
October 2025
4 m Class B
With pets
I have always loved Sweet Hill Farm. It’s a lovely relaxed campsite with sea views and amazing walks nearby. Also, being able to have a camp fire is fantastic. The showers are brilliant too.
The only disappointment for me this year is that the compost loos have been replaced with horrible portaloos! Please bring back compost loos, they are so much nicer!
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Mark
September 2025
Tent
This was my first time camping here and I will definitely return again.
Whilst SatNav got me most of the way, the directions on Hipcamp made the last little bit of the journey much easier.
I was welcomed warmly at the well-stocked little cafe, and given a map to show my how to get to the field I pitched in. The tracks on-site are full of large potholes - so definitely something to be mindful of, especially if you have extremely low-suspension on your car! However, take it slow and easy and all is well here.
I had the most amazing view, from where I pitched up, over to Portland Bill lighthouse. Both sunset and sunrise were stunning.
Facilities here are extremely basic - but it’s enough for those that simply need to get away from life for a while and sleep under the stars without all the creature comforts of home. Of course, there is a place for being able to have all the mod-cons available, but this is camping the way it should be done!
I wasn’t here long enough to speak to any of the other campers, but everyone seemed relaxed and there was no loud music or anything played into the night, meaning I could drift to sleep easily enough at the end of the day.
Thank you all.
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Dominic
September 2025
Tent
What a great experience! The staff were very friendly and accommodating with an amazing ray of amenities.
The showers are basic but really clean and hot, lovely!
Such good value for money I would highly recommend this campsite!
Thanks guys!
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David
September 2025
Tent
This was my first time ever camping and I had a great time at this site, it's the perfect mix of rural, real camping with local amenities near enough especially for someone doing camping for the first time. Located right near the coast, it's a beautiful view, excellent facilities including showers and cafe. The only downside is that when I did arrive in the evening there was no one to greet us, even though the cafe should've been open at that time but other than that no complaints, wonderful hosts and would definitely go again.
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sophie
September 2025
Tent
Beautiful campsite surrounded by nature. Peaceful and quiet it felt wild but with some nice comforts like a hot shower. Will definitely be back!
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Dave
September 2025
Tent
Loved staying here for 5 nights. The views are amazing, the limited pitches mean that everyone has private space and you don’t feel on top of each other. The bathrooms and washing facilities are great and the sun heated water was always perfect temperature.
Something to make it feel even more private would be to really encourage meadow flowers or longer grass between the pitches to allow the private paths to each tent to feel extra special and allow for the space to feel even more private and hidden from the other tents.
A hidden gem!
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andrew
August 2025
Tent
With kids
A very spacious campsite with well-maintained composting facilities. The scenic drive down to the site is beautiful, and the clear night skies make it perfect for stargazing. Martins and owls were active both day and night, adding to the atmosphere. On some alternate nights, music played nearby from around 10 pm to 4 am. While noticeable, it was at a consistent and tolerable volume, and importantly, it wasn’t accompanied by disruptive behaviour.
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Felix
August 2025
Tent
Lovely small campsite with a very generous flat pitch for our tent. We had a wonderful stay with lovely walks along the stour and close to Sherborne and Shaftesbury which are picturesque little towns. Amenities were good with hot showers and washing up area. We did not take advantage of the organic food available to buy, but a very nice touch. Would definitely return for another stay.
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Emma
August 2025
With kids
My 2 boys (13 and 9) and I stayed 2 nights in the Yellow Submarine and it was great fun! The controls and labels and various flashing lights were hilarious and the hatches and portholes were brilliant, all very authentic. My boys were convinced it had been a real sub once and totally loved the ‘history’ section of the welcome pack. The beds and sofa bed had comfy mattresses and it was good to have a little sink, fridge and hob inside. Really well stocked with sheets and duvets, plates, cutlery and pan and there was a lovely care package including tea coffee cereal boxes and marshmallows for the fire. There was even a heater/cooler so we didn’t get cold at night. Toilets are in the nearby wash block which was kept nice and clean and the showers were great. We didn’t use the BBQ and instead grilled over the top of our fire drum (tip - bring a grill if you have one, or they sell them in the excellently stocked campsite shop). The bunk bed was a bit too small for my tall 9-year old so he slept in the big bed with me and the sofa bed was comfy but narrow for my 13 yr old so 2 nights was about right. Sleeping would’ve been tricky if there’d been another person. The site was excellent and we’d love to come back - maybe to check out the school bus! Cheddar village is in easy walking distance and the site itself has lots of room for playing and football. Loved it!
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Sarah
August 2025
Tent
With kids
We had another wonderful stay at Goren Farm, it’s beautiful and very peaceful. This place is very special!
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Carree
August 2025
5 m Class B
With kids
Fantastic campsite, heavenly amount of space, great atmosphere and brilliant facilities 😊👍
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Damian
August 2025
Tent
With kids
This was good trip. The campsite is large and open so you can pick any spot you like. There is a place for a campfire in the middle of the field with some seats. There is drinking water on site and the toilets are very decent with toilet paper and soap provided. There is a shop where u can get wood, vegies, cold drinks and other bits (soft drinks only) The staff running the site are very friendly. There is showers on site with hot water and fairly good pressure. There is lots of green fields and a few local attractions. We did the Glastonbury Tor. I recommend doing it in the evening when the sun goes down. Be careful tho, it's quite steep so wear good shoes. On the farm itself you can see rabbits, lamas and goats. If you walk up the hill a bit you might see larga large herd of bulls who turned out to be very friendly (if you feed them some grass, but be careful, it's a bull). We were also lucky to see army planes and helicopters doing a very low fly by above the camping site. Very impressive. Overall we had a good time and it was a cheap little holiday.
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Nuala
August 2025
Tent
With pets
Friendly and free tea in the morning! Very laid back atmosphere. Great for families.
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Gwyn
August 2025
4 m pop-up camper
With kids
Very helpful team and beautiful site. We stayed at Bank Holiday and it was managed so well it wasnt busy and an enjoyable cmaping experience - thank you we would definelty come again.
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lauren
August 2025
5 m Class B
Absolutely loved camping at The Old Airfield. Very friendly staff and helpful. Loads of space to park up and tent so you'll never feel 'on top' of other campers. Lovely vibe, clean showers and toilets.
Had a nice bar and pizza trailer on site too to order from every night.
Very relaxing and loads of free roaming animals near by! Definitely will be coming back!
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Dan
August 2025
Tent
With kids
This is a lovely campsite. Excellent shower and toilet facilities. Lovely touch with Tea &Coffee in the morning too. Owners really nice and approachable. Would highly recommend 👍
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Selma
August 2025
With kids
This is a place to feel connected to the land and to completely let go of all the pressures of modern living. Jan is passionate about bio diversity and I loved walking up to the yurt, brushing past lavender and sage and wild flowers full of bees and butterflies, picking an apple on the way - and having it for breakfast whilst looking over a most glorious sunrise view from Buzzard Yurt. Then a walk in the woods and chilling in the hammock reading and soaking up the birdsong and the sound of the buzzard up above. At night - lying on the deck looking up at a starry sky and sitting round the fire toasting marshmallows. A truly relaxing and healing few days. Thank you Jan.
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Hannah
August 2025
Group trip
Wow, wow, wow.
So we had a fantastic time at Kingfisher Yurt, relaxing under the Oak and Ash trees. Swimming pond was perfect.
Yurt was really comfortable and the kitchen was fab for dining and playing games, We hired the hot tub, which was also lovely.
Jan was a perfect host. We shall be back.
See moreCarree
August 2025
5 m Class B
With kids
Paddington farm is amazing, such a beautiful place with a great ethos and purpose, met some truly lovely people, facilities were brilliant, will be returning ❤️
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Campsites with swimming 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.