Coppet Hill

Coppet Hill Farm has been tended by Ellen’s family for 70 years and counting, established first by her grandfather back in the 1950s, the love of the land was born into each generation of the Streatfield family. Run in partnership with her parents, George and Amanda, the farm, once a dairy enterprise, has recently turned a new leaf, working with local organisations like the Dorset Wildlife Trust to prioritise the environment and biodiversity. The result is a sustainably farmed and responsibly managed campsite that's a relaxing retreat for campers and glampers and a permanent home to an ever-growing amount of wildlife.

For campers who like a little peace and quiet, the outcome of it all is heavenly. To ensure ample room for wildlife and habitats, the layout of the 10-acre camping meadow is wild and largely untouched. Pitches are spread out, with over 50 metres between each, and mown pathways lead into a small, central mown area where kids can play games. Facilities, meanwhile, include electric showers and drinking water taps, while each pitch has its own private composting loo nearby, as well as a firepit for that all-important campfire.

If you want a little luxury, Ellen has introduced a couple of glamping options, too, set in separate quiet meadows on the farm. There's a Lotus Belle Tent with a king-sized bed inside, a hot tub and its own kitchen and washing facilities, while a couple of 'Land Pods' – structures half way between a tent and a timber cabin – also have their own meadow space, with private ablutions and kitchen facilities.

While the quirky glamping options add intrigue and the wildlife-friendly camping has obvious appeal, it's really the location that makes the campsite stand out. Tucked in a fold down a narrow country road, views are of the hill that gives the farm its name, reached by following a bridleway that cuts through the land and runs up to the hilltop, a part of the long-distance Monarch's Way. Follow it another five miles and you'd ultimately end up in Bridport or change tack on the other side of the hill and you could potentially walk to Seatown or Charmouth Beach, though that, too, would take at least an hour and a half on foot. Hop in the car, though, and it's 15 minutes to either beach and 20 minutes to West Bay and Lyme Regis, where fossil hunting and ice-creams await.