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!