The best vintage caravan rentals 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.

97% (59)

Top-rated campgrounds

A charming Dorset campsite overlooking the beautiful Stour valley and a short walk from both the river and the market town of Wimborne Minster.

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.

97% (59)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Farrs Meadow

96%

(141)

31 units · Tents, Glamping · Dorset, South West England

A charming Dorset campsite overlooking the Stour Valley and a short walk from both the river and the market town of Wimborne Minster

2. 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).

3. Fernwood Glamping (New Forest)

100%

(21)

2 units · Glamping · New Forest, England

Secluded, peaceful glamping on the edge of the New Forest

4. Brue Field, Gladwill Farm

1 unit · Glamping · Bruton, England

Reconnect with nature in a peaceful escape away from the hecticness of life. Exclusive to a family group or friends sharing a well equipped field kitchen & dining area in an organic meadow by the River Brue. Wildlife teems in the meadow and the surrounding Stourhead woodlands offering adventures in nature. There are 5 unique living pods with proper beds and creative interiors. A booking includes 2 days use of a natural swimming pond. This is a journey into simple living - not a party venue.

5. Travellers Rest

4 units · Glamping · Wales

3 original 18th c gypsy and showman’s wagons located in an area of outstanding natural beauty and an international dark skies reserve along side our two heavy horses.

Stories from the community

With a low level heater, table lamp and double plug socket, fairy lights and tea lights, it’s very cosy.

M

Madeleine

July 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Fernwood Glamping (New Forest)

Beautiful experience! My 3 year old daughter and I loved it. Such a tranquil location. Rachel was super helpful and gave some great recommendations. The caravan was idyllic. Will be recommending to anyone wanting a good base to explore the New Forest.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best vintage caravans 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.