Camping in Dorset

Dorset Campsites

Dorset is a place of startling contrasts. The World Heritage-listed Jurassic Coast sweeps along the south-west edge of England, full of fossils and dramatic clifftop vistas. Wonders of all kinds crowd its shores, from Iron Age forts and chalk figures to castles straight out of a fairytale, built by wealthy dreamers drawn to Dorset’s charm. This is the country of Enid Blyton’s books, where British seaside sunshine is paired with smugglers’ caves, atmospheric moors and mysterious ruins. You never know what’s going to be around the corner.

Camping and glamping in Dorset are excellent ways to get to the heart of the region’s many sites, whether your taste draws you to elegant port cities, crumbling mansions, smooth-pebbled beaches or winding walks along some of England’s most famous coastline. Kids will love the place’s spooky, ancient history and jaw-dropping natural wonders, while adults can push themselves to explore new sporting challenges in the spectacular landscape, or simply relax and pretend to be lords and ladies in Dorset’s ornately decorated manors. Whether you’re going for a restful getaway or seeking fresh experiences, Dorset is a place for discovery.

Reasons to visit Dorset

Whatever your age and interests, you'll find plenty to occupy you when camping in Dorset. From walking and cycling to ghost hunting and fossil finding, this is a county with lots on offer.

Spooky history

Dorset is the place to go if you like your history with a shiver. Haunted Knowlton Church is renowned as a place for ghost spotting, and the spooky Clavell Tower overlooks the white-capped ocean at a famously atmospheric site. Nothe Fort in Weymouth has been voted one of the most haunted places in Britain, while Corfe Castle is meant to have a woman in white stalking the battlements at night. The Dorset atmosphere is excellent for kids and adults with a taste for the creepy.

If toothsome ancient reptiles are more your style, some of Britain’s most famous dinosaurs have revealed themselves along the crumbling Jurassic Coast. The Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester has plenty for a dino-friendly day out, including hands-on experiences with bones and skeletons, while the Jurassic Coast Trust has several special coastal walks designed to showcase the beauty of the Dorset landscape — and let you do your own fossil-hunting.

The great outdoors

Climbers love the cliffs of the Isle of Portland off the Dorset coast for their huge range of routes and climbs, particularly because it’s not just for experts. If you’ve never tried before, Portland is a great place to put on a harness and enjoy novice lessons for all the family.

If heights aren’t your thing, kayaking around the gorgeous Jurassic Coast is enduringly popular, for good reason. The cliffs are protected by World Heritage status, and pulling ashore onto a pebbled beach like Lulworth Cove may mean you discover a small fossilised shell to take home. But there’s plenty to see from the water too, including the world-famous Durdle Door, the hollowed-out arch suspended off the Dorset coast that looks too perfect to be real. Cyclists of all abilities will also adore Dorset’s many safe, family-oriented cycling paths, particularly Route 26, which takes in much of the stunning coast towards Weymouth.

Four-legged friends

Animal lovers of all stripes will find something to excite them in Dorset. Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre is an ape sanctuary that’s now home to many species of rare and endangered primate, while Abbotsbury Swannery, open from early spring to late autumn, is one of the only places in the world where kids can walk through tame crowds of swans and watch tiny cygnets learn to swim.

The Dorset landscape also offers amazing wildlife encounters. Brownsea Island is one of Britain’s biggest red squirrel habitats, which means there’s a high likelihood of spotting their rusty tails among the foliage. Durlston Nature Reserve, meanwhile, is an amazing place for wildlife-spotters; depending on the time of year, inquisitive kids might see seals, guillemots or fields of butterflies, and the site’s Durlston Castle has a full schedule of children’s events and guided trails to help you make the most of it.

Why choose Experience Freedom?

Whatever aspect of Dorset’s brilliant vistas and famous coast you’d like to explore, Experience Freedom camping sites offer the best positions and locations for access to Dorset attractions. Glamping with Experience Freedom can give your holiday a touch of luxury, while our camping spots provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience of the region’s famous natural landscape. Select a region to learn more about the sites available in that location, or use the Search and Book function to make a booking for a specific date at a particular site.