Glamping pods in Dorset AONB

In Dorset, campers can enjoy some of the most spectacularly scenic camping in England thanks to the 95-mile, World Heritage-listed Jurassic Coast (which spills over into Devon). Here, golden beaches sit between rock-formed arches and chalk-white cliffs—and tents and caravans are perfect for soaking up the divine coastal views. In addition, over half of Dorset is protected by the 1,000-square-mile Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), where endlessly varied countryscapes await inland. Open-air adventures swing from kayaking to horse riding to coasteering and more, though the best way to explore is to strap on some walking boots and hit the trails (including the long-distance South West Coast Path).

100% (56)

Top-rated campgrounds

In Dorset, campers can enjoy some of the most spectacularly scenic camping in England thanks to the 95-mile, World Heritage-listed Jurassic Coast (which spills over into Devon). Here, golden beaches sit between rock-formed arches and chalk-white cliffs—and tents and caravans are perfect for soaking up the divine coastal views. In addition, over half of Dorset is protected by the 1,000-square-mile Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), where endlessly varied countryscapes await inland. Open-air adventures swing from kayaking to horse riding to coasteering and more, though the best way to explore is to strap on some walking boots and hit the trails (including the long-distance South West Coast Path).

100% (56)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. 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

2. Hobby Farm

96%

(45)

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

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

3. 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.

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.

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 Dorset AONB guide

Where to go

Jurassic Coast

From Lyme Regis near the Devon border, Dorset’s fantastical Jurassic Coast sweeps east along the 18-mile-long Chesil Beach, around the Isle of Portland, and on to Lulworth, Swanage, and Studland. Whether kayaking between bays, hiking along the jagged shoreline or hunting for hidden fossils, there are countless opportunities for outdoor fun, with campsites perched beside cliffs, tucked into peaceful valleys, and scattered around seaside towns.

West Dorset

Inland from the western half of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, the Dorset AONB sprawls across miles of heathlands, bluebell-filled woodlands, and wide-open country views, especially around landmark Colmers Hill near Bridport. Go cycling, hiking, and horseback riding, then explore Thomas Hardy’s Dorchester before bedding down on a local farm campsite or in the comfort of a garden glamping pod.

Bournemouth, Poole, and East Dorset

Nowhere epitomises seaside-holiday Dorset quite like its southeast corner, where sunny Bournemouth has been drawing visitors to its sprawling sandy beach since Victorian times. Neighbouring Poole Harbour is a watersports hub, while the wild, trail-threaded New Forest National Park sits just over the border in Hampshire, and campsites and caravan spots dot the surrounding countryside.

North Dorset

Up on the border with Wiltshire and Somerset, blissfully rural and often-overlooked northern Dorset feels worlds away from the coastal buzz, opening up enormous potential for tranquil escapes under the stars, whether you’re camping on a family farm or kicking back in a hillside glamping hut. Green fields and hills give way to lavish country estates, prehistoric hill forts, and Sherborne town, known for its 8th-century abbey.