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Southover Woods and Camping

93%
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· Dorchester, Dorset, England
60 acres hosted by Chloe S.
1 glamping pitch · 14 tent pitches
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Off-lead friendly
Pets can be off-lead at some pitches.
Nearly wild camping in a vast Dorset woodland

All the joy of wild camping is offered at Southover Woods in rural Dorset – with one or two of the rough edges taken away. For one thing, this is a bonafide campsite so there’s no worries over being asked to move on and, for another, there’s the important business of access to a loo. Nonetheless, these small concessions to campsite life can't take away from the back-to-nature experience of camping here in rustic woodland surroundings. You can't drive to your pitch, pop into a clubhouse or pick up supplies from the campsite shop but you can truly immerse yourself in nature. You can sling a hammock between trees, you can have acres of wood to yourself and you can enjoy the simple pleasures of going off grid: campfires, birdsong and breathing easy among the trees.

The choice of pitches at Southover Woods is more like a choice of separate campsites. Biggest of the lot is the enormous Tenders Pitch which offers a yurt, an outdoor kitchen shelter, its own facilities and space for up to 30 people to pitch tents together among the trees. At the other end of the scale are Decanter, Lordship and Villager pitches; these well-spaced clearings in the trees each sleep up to eight and share a loo and shower. And, if you prefer to be bathed in sunshine, the meadow pitches at the edge of Southover Woods will be just right for you.

The whole idea here is to offer people the chance to relax in nature and if you embrace that idea, you could spend your weekend or week right here; the woods stretch to 60 acres after all. But the paths that criss-cross the woodland are a tempting way to explore too. The long-distance Hardy Way and Jubilee Trail offer alluring routes to follow to nearby rivers and villages. Beyond that, if you’re happy to get back in the car, there’s all of Dorset to explore including its Jurassic Coast, just half an hour’s drive away.

Activities
Biking
Boating
Fishing
Hiking
Natural features
Forest
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93%
63 Ratings · 30 reviews
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Megan D.recommends
September 11, 2023
Craftsman Pitch - Large Groups
Camping with friends
We stayed at the Craftsman’s pitch and it was absolutely wonderful. You are in the middle of nature and it was just so peaceful. The road to get in is quite a long and bumpy dirt road so just be prepared for that. We will definitely be back to a Hipcamp
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Tim L.
September 11, 2023
Meadow Camping 1
Do a bit of homework
The advertisement for this campsite has tick boxes indicating it has showers and a shop. This is stretching the truth. You can fill a bucket of water (from a tap which isn't near the shower and not easy to find) and suspend it on a rope over your head. The shop is a tent with an honesty box that has fire wood and a few biscuits. Its a nice peaceful location but be warned is located at the end of a really bumpy farm track. All fine if you know what your getting into.
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Sophie M.recommends
September 3, 2023
Willow Tree - Hazel Wood
Perfect Weekend
We had a great time staying at Southover Woods. Perfect peaceful, back-to-nature experience. Pitches are well-spaced, with a nice welcome pack and fire pit. Hosts were very friendly and happy to help when we needed more firewood. Would definitely return 😊 thank you for a lovely stay.
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Fraser L.recommends
August 27, 2023
Villager Pitch
Lovely, quiet, spacious
We really enjoyed the location and Chloe was super helpful. Even offering to pick up supplies when we got a flat tire. At SouthOver Woods time goes so much slower, and although we only had four night it felt like six. There were other campers on location, but we hardly saw them. It was so lovely to cook over an open fire every night. Popcorn, S’mores, Dampers, and Damper donuts all cooked over the embers. Only two things to be wary about - take insect repellent, we got eaten. Second is the access track, it’s narrow in places and the brambles were over grown. I put some major scratches in the paint work.
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Silvia A.recommends
August 8, 2023
Meadow Camping 2
At first was a bit hard to find but once we found the coordinates on the page it was easy to follow from there. The place is absolutely stunning . Chloe was very helpful and easy to reach. We absolutely loved our stay at the camping. This is our new most favourite place
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Natalie E.recommends
July 24, 2023
Tenders Pitch
A great stay!
A great stay! So secluded and really stunning. Facilities were just as described on the website and it was pretty easy to find. Will be booking again next year!!
Location
Dorchester, Dorset, England, United KingdomTraditional, ancestral territory of various First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Chloe S.Joined in March 2022
From the host
Welcome to Southover Woods and Camping, our Family ran, Wild Woodland Campsite. Nestled within the heart of Dorset's embrace, Southover Woods invites you to an extraordinary location spanning over acres of private woodland. A sanctuary for those seeking solace in the wild, our campsite boasts a unique blend of seclusion and communal spirit. Each campsite, carefully dispersed amidst the Trees, centres around a mesmerising fire pit embraced by rustic seating, offering campers both warmth and connection. Our accommodations cater to a diverse preference of camper, from the adventurous charm of hammocks in Hazel Wood to the serene escape of our Bohemian style Yurt pitch.
Nearby attractions

There are footpaths and bridleways through the trees and beyond. Well-signposted, long-distance routes that pass through the woods include the Hardy Way and the Jubilee Trail. Max Events (0117 950 8080) operate group activities including paintballing, quad biking and archery nearby. Wessex Fly Fishing (01305 848460) is just outside the woods and the Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum (01305 848 237) and the National Trust’s Cloud Hill (01929 405616), once a rural hideaway for T.E Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) are attractions within five miles of site. Monkey World (01929 462537) and Bovington Tank Museum (01929 405096) are not much further. Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is about 15 miles south of Southover Woods with seaside Weymouth, pretty Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and fossil-strewn Kimmeridge Bay all about a half-hour drive away.

Food and drink

Cooking on the campfire is all part of the experience at Southover Woods so that is heartily encouraged but if you need supplies, the closest shop is a small convenience store in Puddletown, about three miles away. The nearest pub is also in the village, called The Blue Vinny.

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