Lake camping in Dorset AONB

A UNESCO-protected coastline and mist-wrapped heathlands draw outdoors lovers to Dorset.

99% (67 reviews)
99% (67 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Dorset AONB

Under £50

Available this weekend

12 top lakeside campsites in Dorset AONB

100%
(5)

The Blue Pool

8 units · Glamping300 acres · Wareham, England
Treehouses on the edge of Dorset’s Blue Pool
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£150
 / night
100%
(1)

Mangerton Lake

4 units · Glamping17 acres · Bridport, England
Offering amazing views over the valley and lake it’s the perfect place to relax and unwind. Fall asleep to the sound of the spring bubbling and wake up to beautiful views in one of Dorsets areas of outstanding natural beauty. If you are an angler our lake is well stocked with Carp, Roach and Tench, fishing is included with your stay. We are 3 miles from the nearest beaches or you can walk straight onto the footpaths and explore the countryside. We are about 1.5 miles from the historic market town of Bridport which is well know for its antiques and vintage markets. We are also close to some fabulous restaurants, cafes and pubs.
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£80
 / night
89%
(240)

Radcot Leisure on Thames

46 units · Glamping, Tents1 acre · Oxfordshire, South East England
A Thames’ island campsite in the Oxfordshire countryside – with a lovely pub just over the bridge
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£30
 / night
95%
(30)

Hobby Farm

16 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Whitchurch Canonicorum, England
A peaceful, adult-only campsite 10 minutes' from the Jurassic Coast
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£20
 / night

Crooked Willows Farm

12 units · Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Wimborne. Dorset, England
Crooked Willows Farm offers an ideal country break with a range of desirable features. Situated on a 40-acre farm on the outskirts of Holt Heath National Nature Reserve, it provides ample space and proximity to a nature reserve for rural walks. Additionally, there is a local pub within easy strolling distance. The farm takes measures to preserve the land and ensure good grazing for the resident cattle and horses by moving guest areas periodically. The guest areas are equipped with drinking water supply and compost toilets. While campfires are not permitted for safety reasons, portable firepits can be hired, and wood can be purchased on-site. The owners of Crooked Willows Farm are known for their friendly and helpful nature, as mentioned by previous travelers. The surrounding area offers numerous walking opportunities, including a leisurely stroll to the nearby Cross Keys inn. Wimborne Minster, a 10-minute drive away, provides additional options for pubs, restaurants, and a supermarket. Moreover, the site is conveniently located within a half-hour drive of Bournemouth's sandy beach and the exciting activities of the New Forest National Park.
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£15
 / night
100%
(2)

Oakhill Ponds, spring-fed spa

6 units · Glamping25 acres · Somerset, South West England
A uniquely peaceful Somerset glamping site set around two ponds in its own beautiful wildlife garden.
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£120
 / night
100%
(44)

Woodfrys Farm

7 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents6 acres · Dorset, South West England
A sustainable, family-run smallholding in rural Dorset with a small lakeside campsite
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£12.50
 / night
95%
(54)

The View Camping

53 units · Tents14 acres · Poole, Dorset, South West England
Welcoming family camping with campfires and far-reaching views over Poole Harbour and the Purbeck Hills
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£10
 / night
Booked 1 time

Secret garden & spring-fed swim

2 units · Glamping25 acres · Shepton Mallet, England
Unique & enchanting a lush walled garden on the edge of a quiet village provides the perfect place to relax & recharge. Unwind in a wood-fired hot tub or around the fire in the spacious & comfortable yurt. Cook up a feast in the well-equipped outdoor kitchen. Explore the adjoining historic land; meadows, waterfalls & swimming ponds. Book the off-grid spa with horse-box sauna & Swedish hot-tub. Take a dip or paddle-board & enjoy spotting deer. Enjoy great food at the local pub just a short walk away Then explore Somerset. Enjoy staying in a beautiful organic 21 ft yurt nestled in a magical walled garden exclusively for your use. Your stay includes: A beautiful garden with pizza oven, bbq, hand-made swing, reclining chairs, fire pit A wood- fired ‘dip-tank hot-tub for two (or 2 adults and a child) A fully equipped outdoor kitchen A further indoor kitchenette with fridge-freezer, toaster & oven A monsoon shower & 2 flushing toilets A further garden room with double-bed and electricity A 21 ft Yurt with king-sized bed, sofa, dining table, vinyl collection with turntable & blu-tooth. A wood-burning fire with a complementary basket of logs Quality linen, towels, and toiletries, Eye-masks & dressing gowns Sleeping arrangements are flexible for four people as there is an extra double bedroom in the garden room on the terrace or extra beds can be put in the yurt. The walled garden sits away from but has access to The Brew Somerset with 25 acres of private land. The Brew Somerset is a glamping and retreat site arranged around the spring-fed ponds. These ponds once served the Oakhill Brewery. Stout was first brewed in the village of Oakhill in 1767, using water which comes down from the Mendip Hills. In the 18th century Oakhill Stout was thought to have ‘magical‘ healing properties. Now you can take a dip in these waters. The beady-eyed can spot kingfisher, heron, buzzard, kite, cormorant & much more in the way of wildlife. Walled garden guests have access to this larger site in the afternoons, between 1pm and 5pm. The retreat site is not suitable for young children. Coming soon: Don't miss the uniqueness of the pop-up off-grid spa with horse-trailer sauna, wood-fired hot tub and treatment tent. Enjoy a sauna or hot-tub whilst watching deer browse.....seriously! Booking essential. All of this is just a leisurely stroll away from an excellent pub. Relax, unwind, enjoy - a breathing space.
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£220
 / night
100%
(5)

At Goathill Farm

1 unit · Glamping1 acre · Dorset, South West England
A lovely lakeside shepherd’s hut on a working farm in Dorset
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£95
 / night
89%
(14)

Wild Swim2Sauna Safari Tipis

35 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents6 acres · Devon, South West England
Wild swimming and off-grid living in tipis and tents on the banks of Devon's River Avon
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£32.50
 / night
88%
(8)

Camping at Brandiers Farm

2 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents30 acres · Wiltshire, South West England
Bucolic rural glamping in a beautiful natural beauty spot on the borders of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
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£120
 / night

Star Hosts in Dorset AONB

Dog-friendly getaways

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Lake camping in Dorset AONB guide

Overview

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).

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.

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