Campsite suggestions – some visited, some not, buyer beware!

(Suggestions/feedback gratefully received!)

Click on the name of the campsite to go through to websites or contact info.

Dorset

  • Ansty – Moonfleet Farm – great host and we loved the loo in the telephone box!
  • Nr The Fox at Ansty – Brewery Farm
  • 2 miles North of Cerne Abbas – Lyons Gate – a Fishery too!
  • Middlemarsh, a bit further N of Cerne Abbas Greenfields
  • Cerne Abbas – Giants Head – very helpful and used to DofE teams
  • Nr Shaftesbury – Blackmore Vale Camping – behind the garage
  • Stourton Caundle – The Trooper Inn – Camping and Caravanning Club 
  • Cranborne Chase – Church Farm – earplugs for light sleepers who get disturbed by church bells (ie the leaders)!
  • Burnbake – not far from Swanage, they usually put Exped teams in a different field to the family campers. Under new management.
  • Renscombe, Purbeck – Poole and Dorset Adventure Centre – bunks and camping
  • Wareham Forest – Carey Camp – super place and easy to access much walking. The whole site can be booked to include the use of classroom (double as bunkhouses), cabin, camping pods, undercover cooking/eating/teaching barn 
  • Dorset Scout’s Campsite – Buddens Farm, near Wareham – difficult to access directly by footpath from the South 
  • More Dorset Scout Campsites – some a little basic, but quiet.
  • Gundrys Farm which is at Three Legged Cross, Wimborne
  • Woodyhyde – near Corfe Castle
  • Norden Farm – just outside Corfe Castle
  • Acton Field – Langton Matravers
  • Steeple Leaze Farm campsite which is in Steeple, nr Kimmeridge.
  • Harmans Cross, between Corfe and Swanage
  • Thorncombe Farm, Higher Bockhampton, Dorchester
  • On the A37 nr Dorchester – Clay Pigeon – not sure if still taking campers – worth an ask
  • West Dorset – Bagwell Farm – near the sea and very friendly staff
  • Higher Moor Farm campsite, Nottington, Weymouth
  • White Horse Campsite, Osmington, Weymouth
  • Hook Farm at Lyme Regis
  • A review on more Dorset sites from The Guardian – a few to try we think! Check them out beforehand as not all will take DofE groups

New Forest. You must notify the Forestry Commission of ANY DofE expedition: criteria here

  • Camping in the Forest (includes other UK Forests). DofE groups must prebook email: groupsandmeets@campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk 
  • Hampshire Scout campsites are listed here. Book well in advance as they are usually very well used at weekends and during the holidays.
  • Braggers Wood – Scout campsite – Dave’s gr8!
  • Fernycrofts – Scout campsite – a lovely site. Ground is a bit hard to camp very near the loo block but lots of space to use and endless activities if you want to link into them. 
  • Foxlease Girl Guide Centre 
  • Tile Barn Outdoor Ed Centre – very smart, good as a start point due to positioning on the edge of Brockenhurst. 
  • Red Shoot Camping Park – behind the pub – cant always take DofE groups.

Exmoor and the Quantocks

  • Somerset Scout camps are listed here.
  • Quantocks – Moorhouse – very helpful and have a site at West Bagborough too
  • Porlock – Sparkhayes campsite – good as a base camp – but may have an issue with cards – check
  • More Accommodation here

Dartmoor

  • Farm sites on Dartmoor – very basic and sometimes a bit poohy – go with an open mind!
  • Whiteworks Bunkhouse can accommodate up to 20 people.
  • Postbridge, Dartmoor – Runnage Farm – bunkhouses very useful in the winter!
  • Powdermills and Dewerstone Bunkhouses – Spirit of Adventure – great winter training bases
  • Princetown, Dartmoor – Plume of Feathers – can be midgy in the small camping area
  • Princetown, Dartmoor – newly refurbished – Prince of Wales 
  • Harford, Dartmoor Bunkhouse
  • Langstone Manor is a great site to use as a very comfortable and accommodating base during those long Gold Finals – nr Tavi but just off the W edge of the Moor Good location for the Tavi supermarkets and take-aways. Wetherspoons is open late for food
  • Okehampton, N Dartmoor – YHA – become a YHA Member and enjoy good camping rates to include inside access to loos, showers, games room, lounge and self catering kitchen
  • Devon Scout campsites here. Cornwall here. 

Wiltshire Scout Centre is a bit further afield, but may be a consideration. Its in Potterne Wick and looks to be surrounded by a goodly number of footpaths?  

Campsite websites: Useful to trawl through if you’re really stuck!