Woodland Cabins in Wareham Forest

With more than 1,500 hectares of woodlands and heathlands to explore, Wareham Forest provides plenty of opportunities to escape the crowds. Hike the 13-mile Wareham Forest Way through the heart of the forest, or choose from several short walks and circuits such as the Woodlark Trail, a favourite for families. Cyclists won’t want to miss the tree-lined Sika Trail, after which you can picnic among the trees or enjoy lunch at a country pub. The forest is well known for its wildlife, so keep a lookout for Sika deer, rare birds, and sand lizards.

92% (48)

Top-rated campgrounds

With more than 1,500 hectares of woodlands and heathlands to explore, Wareham Forest provides plenty of opportunities to escape the crowds. Hike the 13-mile Wareham Forest Way through the heart of the forest, or choose from several short walks and circuits such as the Woodlark Trail, a favourite for families. Cyclists won’t want to miss the tree-lined Sika Trail, after which you can picnic among the trees or enjoy lunch at a country pub. The forest is well known for its wildlife, so keep a lookout for Sika deer, rare birds, and sand lizards.

92% (48)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Bridgewood Camping - Woodland camps

97%

(33)

5 units · Tents, Glamping · Sherborne, England

Nearly wild woodland camping in Dorset

2. Stud Farm

100%

(4)

1 unit · Glamping · Brockenhurst, England

A shepherd’s hut on a traditional New Forest farm

3. Gold Hill Glamping

90%

(5)

3 units · Glamping · Dorset, South West England

Hello, welcome to Gold Hill Glamping, which is based at Allan’s Farm, a working dairy farm and our family home. You are likely to see the cows coming in for milking twice a day. There are our lovely shetland ponies Pixie and Trudie to stroke and and past the time with, they love attention! There are usually fresh farm eggs available to buy if you wish. Wildlife is in abundance here. Deer and hares are regular visitors and different species of owl can be heard hooting behind the glamping fields. We have a lovely bell tent, called Willow Bell which has its own eco- loo and BBQ area with Kadai fire-pit and logs / chairs to sit around the fire. We are excited to be welcoming a spacious Lotus Belle tent to our glamping portfolio from Spring 2021. The Lotus Belle offers all the comfort and spaciousness of a yurt but with the simplicity and ease of a bell tent. Hazel, our Lotus Belle tent, will be situated in a separate, and peaceful location on the farm with its own eco – loo and simple glamping kitchen facilities. Thereby, allowing for visitors to glamp completely separately, but also offering the option for friends and family to stay here together. The tents have a very comfortable double bed, which will be fully furnished for your stay, plus two single futon-style beds (please bring your own bedding for the futons). All crockery, BBQ tools, bedding, a fire pit, seating area and a couple of finishing touches are provided for your stay. Both bell tents also have access to a hot shower, and flushing toilet a short walk away in a converted building in the farmyard. We are also planning a small honesty shop, to buy local sausages, eggs and Barber's cheese which is made from our milk.

4. Acacia Bay Woodlands

2 units · Glamping · England

A beautifully designed and curated set of cosy cabins located in a magical ancient woodland setting. Completely renovated for 2024, an ideal retreat for a group looking for a magical holiday surrounded by nature. Each cabin has private parking, secure gardens and private entrance. The cabins are not isolated as just off from the main road. This allows you to feel cocooned in The Woodlands yet have easy access to a Tescos superstore 5 minutes up the road.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Woodland cabins in Wareham Forest guide

Notable campgrounds

Best for a 5-star camping experience: Wareham Forest Tourist Park has grass pitching for tents and powered hard-standing sites for caravans and motorhomes. There’s also a heated swimming pool and children’s playground on-site and a country pub within walking distance.
Best for caravans and motorhomes: Birchwood Touring Park has a choice of grass, hard-standing, and gravel pitches, all with direct access to the forest trails. Electric hook-ups and TV aerials are available too.
Best for peace and quiet: Wooders Campsite has spacious grass pitches, bell tents for hire, and fire-pits, set on a rural working farm.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Holiday parks and caravan sites can book up quickly, especially in July and August, and during school holidays. Book at least three months in advance if you plan to visit at this time.
You will need to pay a deposit to secure your campsite reservation; some sites ask for the full payment prior to arrival.
Be sure to check seasonal opening and closing dates, which vary by campsite. Some campsites open from Easter through October, while others stay open year-round.

When to go

Summer is peak season in Wareham Forest, and parking can fill up quickly—make an early start to snag a spot. Outdoor activities are possible year-round, but the woodlands are particularly photogenic in the autumn months, with their ever-changing canopy of fall foliage. Wildlife watching is often most rewarding in the early morning and early evening.

Know before you go

Wareham Forest is located in central Dorset, about a 20-minute drive west of Poole. Trains run from Poole to Wareham (a 10-minute journey), from where it’s a half-mile walk to the forest.
There is free parking at Sika Trail, Woolsbarrow, Stroud Bridge, and Sugar Hill, all with direct access to Wareham Forest.
Many trails at Wareham Forest are accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.