dorset

The site is situated on the A3066 out of Bridport, and is far enough from the road to be untroubled by traffic noise.
If you approach Bridport on the A35, you’ll need to look out for Bradpole, sign posted on the first round-a-bout (approached from the east) the A3066.

Go through Bradpole (you’ll pass the Coop supermarket, handy for provisions and the Kings Head, handy for home cooked meals & a pint). As you start to leave Bradpole you’ll come to a round-a-bout, go straight across. You will be out in the countryside now. The entrance to the site is on the left hand side about a mile from the last round-a-bout.

Binghams has 60 pitches over 5 acres. Most of these are caravan pitches and all have electric hook-up.
There are very few level pitches. Even the hard standings slope, so you’ll need the blocks here. We were on a corner grass pitch and had decided to place the caravan ’side on’ with the awning facing out. With the ’van in this position it was necessary to block up one wheel by 4/5". There is ample room for caravan, awning and car on most pitches.
There is extensive use of trees, bushes and shrubs to mark out many of the pitches, and clever use of trees help to hide things like the waste containers.
There is an area just for tents, and I was pleased to note that this were within easy reach of the tiolet/shower block.

Dogs are welcomed at Binghams Farm, and there are walks off the site. I quote:.....
"The Park occupies only a small area of Binghams Farm, the remainder of which is open countryside and woodlands bordered by a river. There are plenty of walks on Binghams Farm itself and also across neighbouring fields (including walks to two local pubs) following the Brit Valley Circular Walk or other popular walks in this area of outstanding natural beauty. Deer, buzzards, badgers and other wildlife are to be found in the woodlands, whilst on the Park itself our tame chickens and ducks roam freely."

The ameninites include:
Licensed bar, offering bar food during peak periods. Free heated showers. Laundry with ironing facilities and washing-up facilities with free hot water. Freezer available (free of charge) to freeze ice packs or food. Games Room with table tennis, chess and other board games. Library, telephone, tourist information and Calor & Camping gaz.

Good home cooked food is available from The Kings Head pub (01308 422520). Barry & Angela provide freshly prepared meals at reasonable prices and also do bed & breakfast. Highly recommended.

This was the first time that Lyn & I had visited this part of Dorset, we tend to go east of here.
There are coastal walks (for the fit!) out of West Bay (Habour Lights was filmed here)
Plans to return:
None as yet. We’ve seen this part of the Dorset coast and we have no great desire to return.
This is a personal view and reflects our ’Gypsy nature’ to move on to pastures new. Should we return, we would have no hesitation to use Binghams Farm again. Living where we do, close to Heathrow, we found the peace and quiet of Binghams heaven, the silence was deafening !

2001 prices: From £10 to £14 per night. Dogs are an extra £1 per night. The prices are the same for caravans, motorhomes & tents. Awnings are free.

Ian SL. CLIC. July 2001.

Top This is an old report. We would welcome an up-date if you have visited this site. Please do not use this link to contact the camp site

Flower Meadow Caravan Park
Haycrafts Lane
Harmans Cross
Swanage
Dorset
BH19 3EB

Tel: 01929 480 035

E-mail: hobbs@fmcp.freeserve.co.uk

Every year Lyn and I meet up with friends from Devon for a week on a site somewhere between Slough and Exmouth.

This year we decided that we would eventually go to Swanage in Dorset (we have wanted to caravan in this area for some time)

We chose Flower Meadow because it met with the basic needs our friends prefer, and on the face of it, the site looked good.

We arrived late on the Friday, and were faced with the first problem. We were not pitched side by side as we had requested. In fairness to the site owners, who have no control over the weather, and as we all know the weekend on the 27/28 May was wet (the Southern Softies meet suffered the same wet fate). Due to the rain, we had to pitch apart.

The site is located in a beautiful part of southern England on the Isle Of Purbeck, (Isle ?) between Corfe Castle and Swanage. It is situated about a hundred yards (opps !! 100 metres) from the main A351 which runs from Wareham down to Swanage. It’s close enough to Corfe and Swanage for both to be reached in a few minutes.
Poole is easily reached via the Swanage - Poole car ferry.

If you are a beach person then Studland beach is for you, complete with it’s nudist section. Parking for Studland is best in the National Trust car park, but it does mean a bit of a walk for the ferry end of the beach.

The Swanage to Nordon steam railway is in spitting distance from the site, and Harmons Cross station is but a short walk away (125 yards ?)

Now to the site.
It’s worth mentioning that we are used to Caravan Club sites, so therefor are most probably spoiled by this fact.

We do expect cleanliness in the toilet/shower block. We were let down badly at this site. The lack of cleaning was evident by the amount of dust, webs and all manner of things that lurked behind the toilet doors.

Fortunately, we didn’t have to rely on the showers, as we have one in the van. Our friends on the other hand had to use them, and reported that they tended to get cold towards late morning. Presumably because all the hot water got used up. Other than that, they said they were OK.

Very few pitches were level, due to the slopping nature of this site, so be prepared to use your blocks and other devises.

Over the bank holiday weekend the mix of caravans and tents seemed to be about equal. How the tenters got on sleeping on the sloping grass I don’t know. I have never tented, so I would be interested to learn how you cope with this situation.

The site isn’t huge. There are pitches for 11 touring vans, all with electric hook up. There seemed to be a good supply of tent pitches.

This site is dog friendly, but it has no disabled facilities.

The turnoff from the A351 is a little bit tight and up hill. The entrance to the site needs careful negotiating.

If you are looking for an economical site, then ’phone this first and get the ’all in’ price. We didn’t check thoroughly. As a result our friends (4 adults. Mum, Dad and 2 children) paid £93 (without electric) for the 9 night stay !

We found some good eating places while we were there.
For fish and chips, about 5 minutes down the road from the site, is ’Just the Plaice’ Swanage 423578. Good hand made chips. All the food well cooked, by a group of young men. If you’ve seen the movie Cocktail, then you’ll get the connection :o)
The Black Bear Hotel in Warham (01929 553339) is well worth a visit. Good food at resonable prices

Plans to go back. Yes, to the same area, but not to the same site.

Ian SL. CLIC. June 2000

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Greenacres
Fairmile
Blandford Forum
Dorset
DT11 0LU

Tel: 01258 452 130

Mr. B. Cooper

Open Jan-Dec

This lovely site is a Camping & Caravan Club Hideaway C.S. It’s situated one mile past "The Inside Park" It’s a 3.5 acre site, which we found difficult to get a booking for as it’s very popular for rallies. It has no facilities except E/HU’S but that is compensated for by the lovely area the site is in. We used it as a base for a day trip to Jersey from Weymouth. Excellent for exploring Dorset’s wonderful caostline. Only about 19 miles from Poole etc.

Very reasonable site fees for this part of the country. At the time of our visit I think we paid £6.50p.inc.
Just a couple of miles from the lovely town of Blandford Forum and a new Tesco’s.

Date of vist 1998

Lin & Kevin Hemmings. CLIC. October 2000

Top---Back to fishing sites This is an old report. We would welcome an up-date if you have visited this site. Please do not use this link to contact the camp site

Grove Farm Meadow Holiday Park--- Fishing site
Meadowbank Holidays
Stour Way
Christchurch
Dorset
BH23 2PQ

Tel: 01202 483 597

E-mail: Via the web site
Web site: www.meadowbank-holidays.co.uk

We have been taking our caravan to the Christchurch area for some 10 years now and prefer a site within reasonable walking distance of Christchurch/Bournemouth, however, we are finding such sites are becoming more scarce as static’s are taking over. This year we left booking a site till the last minute and decided to surf the web where we found Meadowbank Holidays.

There are two sites run by Meadowbanks in Christchurch but one, Beaulieu Gardens, is for static’s only. The Grove Farm Meadow site, where we stayed, is on the banks of the river Stour and although situated further from the centre of Christchurch than we had imagined we soon found it very convenient for walking into Christchurch and Boscombe and even Bournemouth, although the blisters are only just beginning to heal after that rather ambitious walk.

This site is probably two thirds static’s and the touring pitches are either classed as ‘luxury’ i.e. with own electric and water and shingle base for awning, or ‘large’ i.e. grass pitch with space for awning (no ground sheets allowed) or ‘standard’ i.e. room for caravan only (recommended for shortstay).
The only pitch available for us when we booked, in the middle of August, was a ‘large’ pitch situated at the end of a row of statics, but next to the river, although because of the recently built embankment by the environment agency we couldn’t actually see the river from our pitch. However we found it to be an ideal location and very peaceful.
You can walk by the river, across a golf course and either continue up to the main Christchurch Road or cross the river by footbridge to the local Tesco, 20 minutes walk (open 24 hours). A permit is required if you wish to go fishing.

There is a small shop on site selling the usual provisions including newspapers. The toilet and washing facilities are kept spotlessly clean, cloths are left beside washbasins for wiping down after use. There are also washing machines and dryers as well as a separate area with clothes lines.
There is a small children’s play area by the river.

We found the site very peaceful and well maintained with flowers blooming in baskets and tubs all over the place. We hope to return again as long as the statics don’t take over here as well.

Mick & Jenny Morris. Via CLIC. August 2001

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Harrow Wood Farm Caravan Park
Poplar Lane
Bransgore
Nr. Christchurch
Dorset
BH23 8JE

Tel: 01425 672 487

E-mail: harrowwood@caravan-sites.co.uk
Web site: www.caravan-sites.co.uk/harrow_wood_farm.htm

This is a very good site, it came recommended by another caravanner who visits regularly and store his ’van there.
The pitches are all hard standing (so no mucking around with wedges and blocks of wood) and all have electric hook up. Drinking water outlets are numerous and no more than a few steps away. The toilet/shower block is first class, the showers are hot, strong, constant and of the triple head design.
The site as a whole seemed to be well run, being at the end of the season the staff may well have had the time. Quite how it would be in the height of summer with a full park to deal with we just couldn’t say.
Having spent some time on this site, our choice of pitch would be one in the centre of the park enabling me to drive through and pitch. We had pitched close to the loos and on the edge, seeking the protection of the large conifers which line one side because it was windy.
The area attractions of Harrow Wood are the same as for Rose Cottage as they are close together.
Well worth another visit sometime.

View of the site

04/02/96.

Ian SL. CLIC. May 1999

Added March 2001.
Open: Beginning of March to beginning of January.
Facilities: 66 10a pitches; 60 hardstanding; 6 hot showers.

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Haycraft Caravan Club Site
Haycrafts Lane
Swanage
Dorset
BH19 3EB

Tel 01929 480 572

Web site: www.caravanclub.co.uk

Haycraft Entrance--- Site view 1--- Site view 2--- Site view 3

How to find site:
From Wareham take A351 signed for Corfe Castle and Swanage. Once through Corfe continue on A351 to Harmen’s Cross. Turn right into Haycraft Lane immediately before filling station on the left. The entrance to Haycraft Lane is also signed to the Swanage Railway. Proceed along Haycraft Lane with care as it is narrow, with passing places, particularly after the railway bridge. You pass Downshay Farm of the right and the CC site is about 100 metres further ahead on the left. A printable map is available on the Caravan Club website..

Haycraft is a delightful campsite tucked away in the Dorset countryside with the ridge of the Purbeck Hills running along one side in the distance. Other than any noise created on site it is quiet and peaceful except for the occasional hoot from the steam train as it passes nearby. There is a distant view of the coast from the higher section of the site.

Pitches on the site are a mixture of hardstanding and grass. When we arrived on site only the hardstandings were being used. After a few days into our visit some of the grass pitches were starting to be used as they dried out sufficiently. You actually drive past one section of pitches, all grass, as you enter the site and before you get to the site Reception. The rest of the pitches are on two levels, about 75% of these are hardstanding. Some hardstandings will accept a caravan and awning within the width but this means the car has to be parked across the front of the pitch. Some of the newer hardstandings are wider so that car, caravan and awning can be put alongside each other. The Caravan Club have recently obtained planning permission to convert a further ten grass pitches to hardstandings, although this may not happen this season.

There is one toilet block which is of the usual high standards associated with the Caravan Club.
Reception sells some essentials but not newspapers which apparently can be obtained from a garage on the main Swanage road.
Television reception via the on site free connection proved to be excellent but you do need your own cable. I also found mobile reception to be fine but this may vary depending on Network.

One of the advantages of this site is, that despite its apparent remoteness, there is not much need to use the car. Keen walkers will appreciate the many way marked walks in the area. The Swanage Railway is only a short distance from the campsite and the train will take you to either Corfe Castle or to Swanage. For food shopping your best bet locally is either the Co-Op or Somerfield, both in the town centre at Swanage.

David Klyne. April 2006
For images of this site, and other reports, go to Caravantravels

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Highlands End Farm Touring Park
Eype
Bridport
Dorset
DT6 6AR

Tel: 01308 422 139
Fax: 01308 425 672

E-mail: holidays@wdlh.co.uk
Web site: www.wdlh.co.uk/Parks/Highlands-End.aspx

Site Visited August 2002

This site is fantastic.
It caters for statics, tourers and tents and unlike some parks the statics were not given preferantial treatment. We spent a week here in August and loved every minute.

The site is well maintained, clean, tidy with lovely washrooms and shower blocks. There is also a laundry room which was clean and tidy. One of the best features of this site was the childrens play area. It was a good size with lots of great equipment. The children spent many happy hours playing in this park.

There is a shop on site with a good stock. An information room with leaflets of nearby attractions. There is also a club which has evening entertainment in peak season and it has a park at the club as well. Food is also served, although I didn’t eat here so couldn’t comment on what it was like. A gym, sunbeds and swimming pool is also available to use. We used the pool and it was lovely. A novel feature of this site is the fire engine museum. Just how they got that engine in I will never know.

The surrounding area is beautiful. Lots of lovely places to visit for great days out. Lyme Regis is a pretty little seaside resort or if you want a big seaside, with all your amusements and holiday shops, then Weymouth is the place to go. The beach is gorgeous. Well worth a visit.

The only negative thing to say about this site is the entry road. It is very narrow and not ideal for caravans. We were unfortunate enough to meet a lorry coming out of the turning as we were trying to get round the sharp apex leading up to the site. Lets just say there was lots of clutch burning! However a few days after arriving at this site we noticed an alternative road up to the main entrance. It went through a field and was far more suitable for caravans.

Overall if you are visiting this area I would highly recommend Highlands End. You will love it.

Emily Granger. CLIC. April 2003

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Hunters Moon CC Site
Cold Harbour
Wareham
Dorset
BH20 7PA

Tel: 01929 556 605

This is a ‘members-only’ site in the midst of Wareham Forest in Dorset. There’s the usual CC amenity blocks (always clean and tidy) and one half of the site consists of hardstandings which are reasonably generously spaced. The other half of the site consists of large grassy pitches.

For kids, there’s the usual swings etc for the young ones and an adventure playground/obstacle course for the older ones with a huge field to one side of the site set aside for games, football etc. (No kite flying because of overhead power lines.)

For the adults, there’s a pub (The Silent Woman.now there’s an oxymoron) a few hundred yards down the road.

For those with dogs, a gate at the back of the site takes you out into the forest where you can walk for miles.

TV reception is poor so there is a booster system available on the hook-up posts. Be sure to take a long aerial extension cable.

Nearest town is Wareham, which has a small supermarket, and Poole and Bournemouth are nearby too, but the real attraction of this site is as a base for exploring the Isle of Purbeck and the Purbeck Hills.

Nice site. Great for dogs. Open over Christmas too.

Ron Miller. CLIC. April 2004.

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Huntick Farm Caravans
Lytchett Matravers
Poole
Dorset
BN16 6BB

Tel: 01202 622 222

Site: 30 Vans/tents in 3 acres; with hook ups. Site warden in caravan on site. April/Sept

Page 582 (blue) Sites Directory & Handbook 1999/2000

I like this site as it is handy for Poole town (approx. 3miles) and for the ferries. £10 return to Cherbourg when running, well worth the trip. The Condor also runs from Poole to Jersey for £29.9 but I wasn’t impressed.

The main field (PHOTO) is reasonable flat and surrounded by trees. Adjoining is a small field taking about 6 vans. Behind this is the ladies & Gents toilets, 3 WCs and 2 showers in each. The showers are a fixed temperature and take 10p on a timer giving ample shower time. There in a small wash-up room with a free clothes spin drier and an ironing board, I believe the warden will loan an iron.

From the far side of the large field a 200m walk, no good if its wet, is the nearest pub, Rose & Crown which serves good food, about 20 min walk.
The walk takes you pass a CL. I have never been as I thought that the entrance was a bit narrow to turn from the road into the site with a large van, and has no hook ups that I required at the time.

It is well worth getting the "Poole Visitors Guide" if you are going this way, it also gives caravan sites and places to see.
Call Tourist Info Centre - Tel 01202 253 253

I have been 3 times and will be going again this year.

Handy for Weymouth, Swanage, Dorchester and Bournemouth. Not forgetting the Tank Museum and Monkey World at Wool ( as seen on television just recently )

They do store vans, mostly under cover. Ring site for further details.

John Stanford. CLIC. April 1999

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The Inside Park
Blandford Forum
Dorset
DT11 9AD

Tel: 01258 453 719
Fax: 01258 459 921

E-mail: InsPark@aol.com
Web site: www.theinsidepark.co.uk/

Mr. J. Cooper

Open Apr.-Oct.

This is a very beautiful park set in 7acres, 5 acres of them woodland, with many lovely old trees. A really stunning setting. 125 pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes.
There is a small shop in reception.
The facilities here are immaculate and they are all housed in former farm buildings. Plenty of loo’s (15) and free hot showers (12), with hair-dryers.There are dishwashing and laundry facilities and a children’s play area, and a games room. They also have day kennels on site, handy if you want to do a day trip to the Isle of Wight or elsewhere. Perfect for touring from Weymouth to Bournemouth etc. Good boat trips are available to many varied destinations from Poole.

We stayed here last year and thoroughly enjoyed our time on the site. The only thing we didn’t like was that because the facilities are situated slightly away from the pitches, we found it a bit spooky going to the dishwashing facilities etc. at night. A powerful torch would be very useful, apart from that couldn’t fault the site at all. Would definitely stay there again. The site is located on the road to Winterborne Stickland, just outside of Blandford Forum. A recently built Tesco’s is just a couple of miles up the road.

However, in high season twice the price of the C.S. down the road. Greenacres

Date of visit 1999.

Lin & Kevin Hemmings. CLIC. October 2000

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South Lytchett Manor Caravan & Camping Park
Lytchett Minster
Poole
Dorset
BH16 6JB

Tel: 01202 622 577
Fax: 01202 622 620

E-mail: info@southlytchettmanor.co.uk
Web: www.southlytchettmanor.co.uk/

Site visted: August 2002

We visited this site over the August Bank holiday weekend with our son and his two children.

The site didn’t live up to the gradour of the entrance gates.
It consisted of two lines of caravan pitches along side the one road that ran through the site.
There is an area for campers, this being very close to the playground, which was very good, providing lots for kids to play on, and seemed level in the most part.

The site shop was well stocked with all the things one would expect to find and the site run burger van did a tasty bun meal, both in the evenings and even the mornings, serving egg and bacon burgers, which proved to be popular with the campers.

The toilet/shower block was basic but good. The showers were free and hot, but the cubicles lacked shower curtains which resulted in anything that was on the floor got wet. One soon gets into the habit of placing ones shoes outside the door

As you no doubt surmise we were not overly impressed with this site, which is a bit unfair, as we used the site as a place to sleep while during the day we were out enjoying our favourite bit of south of Englandcoast.... Bournmouth, Christchurch & Poole.
In a way we were lucky to get a pitch so late in the day (we booked only a week before the bank holiday) and the site warden was most accomodating in securing a pitch for us (later updating this to a pitch which was not right next to the loo/shower block).

Some positive comments about South Lytchett:
The pitch size. There was ample room for caravan, awning & car alongside each other. The play area. The burger van.

For those who might be interested:
There is a large field to the left as you drive down to the end of the site where (I was told) the Americans buried all the vehicles that were shipped over for use by the local American forces base during WW2. It seems it was cheaper to do this than to ship them all back to the states.

Plans to return: Not at this time. It’s not an un-pleasant site, so we might change our minds :o).

Ian SL. CLIC. September 2002.

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South Admiston
Puddletown
Dorchester
Dorset
DT2 8SP

Tel: 01305 848 309

This is a working farm just outside Puddleton.

The CL field is a lawned paddock with plenty of room. The servises are central and handy. All pitches have hook ups.
If you want peace and quiet this is the ideal site for you.

The owner is very friendly and welcoming and make your stay a pleasure.
There are lovely walks through woodlands and fields which are part of the farm.

During our last stay a German film crewe were filming a TV programme involving a hot air baloon, this was being filmed in the adjacent field.

The site is central to Dorchester /Weymouth.

The only down side was that it was impossible to get a TV signal as the site is in a valley.

Colin Jackson (internet). November 2006

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Lyon’s Gate Caravan, Camping & Country Park--- Fishing site
Cerne Abbas
Nr. Dorchester
Dorset
DT2 7AZ

Tel: 01300 345 260

E-mail: info@lyons-gate.co.uk
Web site: www.lyons-gate.co.uk

90 pitches (70 with electrical hook ups), surrounded by woodands.
£14 a night (with awning)(2004 prices...still apply)
Electric. You pay for what you use on this site. What a pleasant change!

If you are a fisherman, this site is a must.
4 lakes, all within spitting distance of any of the central pitches.....I kid you not.
We were pitched close to the bottom lake. I had just 5 feet to walk to the lakes edge !
The other 3 lakes could all be seen from this point, thats how close they are.
More about the fishing lower down

The site:
The amenities are basic, but adequate.
One is here for the fishing, not for all singing and dancing mod cons.

The whole site was quiet and peaceful. This, no doubt, is because most visitors are here to fish. It could also be due to the time of year...no kids
Talking of kids.....there is no playground here, but the site owners welcome well behaved dogs..on a lead please.

Our visit was marred somewhat by a tooth abcess. I woke with one side of my face like a balloon !
Stuart, the owner, was extreamly helpfull. He made several phones calls to get me seen to...Between us we managed to get something done that same day.

Fishing:
Because of the above ailment and all the running around it caused I didn’t get to fish for 5 days, and as we were due to leave just two days later I didn’t do much :o(
I am sure that there are some large carp in the bottom lake, at least something big kept playing with the bait.
I didn’t get to fish the other three lakes, but I was assured they held some quality fish.

This is a site I will be re-visiting....if only to land one of those big carp that I fed for two days ;o)

Ian SL. CLIC. October 2006

Top---Back to fishing sites

Meadow View Caravan Park--- Second report below--- Fishing site
Wigbeth
Horton
Wimbourne
Dorset
BH21 7JH

Tel: 01258 840 040

E-mail: mail@meadowviewcaravanpark.co.uk
Web site: www.meadowviewcaravanpark.co.uk/...

Aug. 2009: Please be aware that the photos displayed below of the fishing lake were taken in 2002. This lake has become overgrown.
Site view 1-- Site view 2-- Site view 3-- Site view 4-- Site view 5-- Site view 6-- The lake 1-- The lake 2-- The lake 3-- The lake 4

Date Visited: May 2002

Cost. 2002.
Normal. Caravan/car/awning/2 people = £7.50 pn
High. (July/August) same outfit = £8.60 pn
Fishing. 24 hour permit. £3.50 per person

We visited this site during the last week in May when this area of Dorset was subjected to a lot of rain. We did manage to get set up and get the kettle on before it started.
During our first few days there the level of water rose and fell with the amount of rain that came down, but being on this slightly sloping site..Well..perhaps a bit more sloping than slightly as the hitch was nearly on the ground with the ’van facing up hill..it soon passed through the awning and on downhill.

There were some electric hook-ups, mainly towards the top of the site, but they are only 3amp. I managed to trip the cut-out 3 times by switching on the kettle while we had the heating on. I believe that the site owner has some plans in hand to up-grade the supply.

The toilet/shower blocks are serviceable. There is one main block, supplemented by a smaller unit near the entrance gate.
The main block has two cubicles in the gents, three in the ladies, each has just the one shower. It has to be said that these showers are large and as such are disabled friendly, but it’s a shame that there was a step up at the toilet entrance.
On our first morning there both Lyn and I discovered a problem with the showers..they were cold. The problem, once brought to the warden’s notice, was soon solved. From then on we enjoyed hot showers (20p, but giving ample time) with plenty of space to dress after.
The smaller block has one ladies and one gents + one shower..unisex ?

As this was a fishing holiday, I can’t give you a lot of info on the surrounding area. My friend and I, later joined by his son and then my son, all fishermen, spent most of our time on the lakes edge. The ladies went and done what you ladies do when in Bournemouth and Ringwood :o)

The fishing.
The lake is mostly shallow and is home to carp of 12lb +.(saw one landed)
The environment is reeds around the edges and lots of lily pads. A fair amount of the bank is tree lined, so you couldn’t fish from that part..but could be reached (with tackle) from the opposite bank.
The carp responded to bread and crust quite well. I held the record for our group with a 7lb carp, only to be bettered by my own son who landed an 8 pounder during our last session there...I’m not talking to him at the moment :o)
There is a good tackle shop in Ringwood. It’s an Aladdin’s cave for anglers.
Avon Angling Centre. 01425 461038. 31, West street, Ringwood. www.avonangling.co.uk

Plans to return.
Yes indeed. The site is basic and has all that we could have asked of it, bearing in mind that we went to fish. The fickle English weather did it’s best to dampen our enthusiasm, but we stuck it out and, as any fisherman will tell you, the rain and cold did wonders in bringing the fish to our nets. :o)

Ian SL. CLIC. June 2002

Site re-visited. May/June 2004.

This site is under new management. The site is now run in a more orderly manner.
It was noted that the 3 metre spacing is observed here now, giving ample room for caravan, awning and car, side by side. It was also noted that the site was tidier.
Security has been improved. There is now a new entrance gate, padlocked at all times. Every visitor is given a key on arrival.
Mains hook-ups are available from most pitches now, and there are plans to put in a grey waste emptying point for wastemaster containers.

A word of thanks should go to the new owners and the wardens.
My friend fell ill towards the end of our week here to the point where he was wondering if he would be capable of towing his caravan home.
The wardens and the owner got to hear about Rogers sickness and were soon doing all they could to help him.
My friend would like it noted just how helpful, kind and considerate the staff at Meadow View were towards him. I’d like to add that I agree with him.

Plans to return yet again.
Yes. We plan to make this a regular venue.

Ian SL. CLIC. June 2004

Site revisted. August 2008.

This site remains the same. Some might regard this as a retro step, but I’m a believer in ’..If it aint broke, don’t fix it’
It’s nice to find people on site who one gets to know over the years.
I like this site just the way it is. There are few amenities making the cost reasonable

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Meadow View Caravan Park--- Third report below--- Fishing site
Wigbeth
Horton
Wimbourne
Dorset
BH21 7JH

Tel: 01258 840 040

E-mail: mail@meadowviewcaravanpark.co.uk
Web site: www.meadowviewcaravanpark.co.uk/...

This site remains much the same.

The one downside is that the fishing lake has got worse. Lillies and reeds abound here now. What was once a well maintained and stocked lake has become part of a ’wild life area’.
There remains very few places to fish now and I suspect that most of the good size carp have gone to the larger lake in the sky.

My wife and I were doing our ’grandchildren duties’, splitting the 5 into 2 groups...first lot for a few days, then a few day on our own before taking the second lot down.
Our visit here coincided with the Bournemouth Air Show which was held for 5 days, that and the beautiful beaches here meant that amusing the kids was easy.

There are no Amenities on this site other than the Large gazebo style chalet and the toilet/shower blocks of which there are two.
The main one, in the middle of the site, has one shower in the gents and one in the ladies, both require 20p. We take 2 20ps in...just in case. Grey waste and elsan disposal points are localted in this block. The other block has just 3 separate compartments, a ladies, a gents and one shower. This is at the top of the site.
Dogs are welcome here and there is a dog walk.

I would not recommend walking anywhere from this site as the road that runs past the site is full of twists and turns and is narrow. I’d even think twice about cycling here for the same reason.

Shopping and food:
There is no shop on-site. The nearest small one is around 2 miles away in Three Legged Cross where one can get the normal stuff one would find in a mini-mart. Ringwood is the next nearest centre, but we tend to use Asda in Bournemouth, as we would normally be heading there anyway.
We can recommend the Old Barn Farm pub/restaurant (web site), on the Three Legged Cross to Ringwood road, on the right, about a mile beyond Three Legged Cross, going in the Ringwood direction.
There is also a Harvester outsite Bournemouth just off the A338 into Bournemouth ( web site). Exit at the A3060/Christchurch junction, taking the 3rd exit off the round-a-bout. The entrance is immediately left.

Ian SL. CLIC. August 2009

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Meadow View Caravan Park--- Fourth report below--- Fishing site
Wigbeth
Horton
Wimbourne
Dorset
BH21 7JH

Tel: 01258 840 040

E-mail: mail@meadowviewcaravanpark.co.uk
Web site: www.meadowviewcaravanpark.co.uk/...

We've been visiting this site for nearly 10 years. It's attraction remains the same. It's location (close to Bournemouth), It's cost and it's ambience.

The owners have been busy this year and have added a brand new toilet/shower block, which was opened during our stay.
This block contains 2 'wet room' showers, 1 cubicle, urinals and hand basins
The 20p charge no longer applies in any of the 3 toilet/shower blocks
Two more camping fields have been developed.
The fishing lake is undergoing a major makeover, Gone are the lillies and reeds from most of the fishing pegs and future work is on the drawing board.
Meadow View has a new warden. Michael is a helpful, aggreeable guy.

This year we spent 2 weeks here with our son, his kids and parner in their own outfit.
We timed our visit for the Bournemouth Air Show, and if you visited Bournemouth for the same reason, you'll know what the weather was like ! Rain, rain and more rain....not forgetting the low cloud !
Even the best of site owners can't control the weather.

Plans to return:
Yes, maybe this month (Sept.), certainly next year.

Ian SL. CLIC. September 2010.

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Meadow View Caravan Park--- Fifth report below--- Fishing site
Wigbeth
Horton
Wimbourne
Dorset
BH21 7JH

Tel: 01258 840 040

E-mail: mail@meadowviewcaravanpark.co.uk
Web site: www.meadowviewcaravanpark.co.uk/...

This site remains our favourite site

We have just returned after a few days revisiting Meadow view
This time we used this opportunity to test a new caravan and see if all the facilities were working. Also we needed to check that we could erect our awning due to health problems that both of us had suffered over the past year or so.
As it turned out, we managed quite well, not only with the awning, but with all the new features that the new 'van had.

Over the years we had used this site as a convenient location to meet up with our friends from Devon. It’s big attraction initially was the on site fishing lake, as both my friend and I are anglers.
We were pleased to see that a lot of effort had been put in to clear the banks and the lake of overgrowth and unwanted lilly and reeds. This work had not long been completeted so the lake looked bit bit murky. No doubt, in a few weeks the water would have settled.
Image 1---- Image 2---- Image 3---- Image 4---- Image 5---- Image 6---- Image 7---- Image 8----

There have been a lot of improvements over the last couple of years...The new toilet/shower block last year, the planed update on the old toilet/shower block due to start early May this year, the openning up of the camping field in addition to the lower caravan/camping field.

Ian SL. CLIC. May 2011

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Meadow View Caravan Park--- Sixth report below--- Fishing site
Wigbeth
Horton
Wimbourne
Dorset
BH21 7JH

Tel: 01258 840 040

E-mail: mail@meadowviewcaravanpark.co.uk
Web site: www.meadowviewcaravanpark.co.uk/...

In July/Augusy 2012 we returned to this site to attend a family rally.
The idea germinated in 2011, and as most family members had tents or caravans, it seem logical to utilise these.

It did take a bit of organisation to get those who showed an interest (all who were approached attended) in the same place at the same time, but we got there.
The total number of family members that attended, over the 2 weeks, was 40. Of that 40, 29 of us can seen in this photo taken on the first Saturday we were on-site. From this photo you will get an idea of this new area. Behind the family group the main area drops down toward the 'old' shower/toilet block (the new one is futher down). To the left of the group is the camping field, opened about couple of years ago.

The whole rally was a success from start to finish due to the management and staff of Meadow Veiw.
We had requested that we be located in the same area of the site which the management achieved by opening up a new part of the site. This had us all located together in a prime area over-looking the rest of the site. It's worth noting that this part of the site was also close to where the site manager lived...a wise move as he had to ask us to 'keep the noise down a little bit' on a couple of occasions ;o)

The site remains unchanged from my last report, other than this new 'rally area'

I, on behalf of my family, would like to thank Meadow Veiw for thier help in organising this rally and for going the extra mile in accommodating us
Thanks Meadow Veiw for putting up with us rowdy lot ;o)

Ian SL. CLIC. August 2012

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Meadow View Caravan Park--- Fishing site
Wigbeth
Horton
Wimbourne
Dorset
BH21 7JH

Tel: 01258 840 040

E-mail: mail@meadowviewcaravanpark.co.uk
Web site: www.meadowviewcaravanpark.co.uk/...

My wife and I stayed on this site for a week in June 2013. This was one of many visits we have made to this Dorset venue over the years. As the years have passed we have noticed a lot of improvements made to the park by the site manager Tim and warden Peter.
If you have visited this site before, but have not in the last couple of years, you will notice some fundamental changes. There is now a posh new toilet/shower block where the pagoda was (at the lower end of the main field). This increases the shower count to 3 each for the lads & Lassies. The old block has had a make-over and looks much more attractive.
There have also been changes made to the available pitches. The 'camping' field has been opened up, with electric hook-ups along the far side of the hedge at the bottom of the main field, I believe there are also hook-ups part way down the right hand side of the 'camping' field.
The field to the left of main one, which used to be used for growing turf, is now a grassed camping field.
There is now an area right at the top of the site that can be pressed into use, as my last report highlighted.

Unfortunately, the pond at the bottom of the site has become overgrown again. When we used the site last year it was clear a lot of work had been done clearing not only the pond water of lilies and such, but of the banks as well.

Ian SL. CLIC. June 2013

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Moreton Camping & Caravanning Club Site
Station Road
Moreton
Dorchester
Dorset
DT2 8BB

Tel: 01202 475 474

Map ref: 194/782891

The site has a maximum capacity of 130 units, and is surrounded by trees. ( A friend who has visited the Frampton Arms, adjacent to the site entrance, didn’t know that it is there.) The ’Holiday Site Managers’ are Paul & Kathy Sussex, assisted by Ernie & Barbara who keep the site as clean & tidy as it is. Fees can be found on the CCC web site.

There are two ’facility’ blocks. An anomaly is that each has 3 showers in the men’s, but only 2 in the ladies! I did not have to queue at all, but Jean did on 2 occasions in the 9 nights that we were there. Outside each block are the usual chemical disposal point, fresh water point, waste water disposal, rubbish bins, and a motor home service point. Also at each block is the ’men’s meeting place, aka the washing up sinks(!) with plenty of hot water. Behind reception is the laundry room (Sink, washing machine, dryer, spin dryer and iron)

As the site was full to busting point at the time (127 units the first weekend) pitches were allocated, and I noticed that tents were put on the most level areas, hook-ups being available to them. Having said this the site does not slope too much.

Food is available at the PH next door, although we did not sample it. The mobile ’chippy’ was on site on Saturday & Wednesday & can be recommended. There are other eateries within range. Local shops are at the garage about half a mile along the road (by the CC site at Crossways), and in Crossways at the Londis store. Dorchester, with it’s shops & supermarkets is 6 miles away. Forget to make the right turn & you finish up in Weymouth! If you don’t want to drive there is a station about 200 yards from the site with a train to Dorchester, and one to Weymouth, each hour. Timetable on show in the information room on site.

Local interest is Moreton Church, with clear, etched & sandblasted, windows designed by Lawrence Whistler. The graveyard is where Lawrence of Arabia is buried. A small local nursery has an interesting Cider Museum, & sells cider, although imported from Devon since the owner had a hip replacement.
Nearby is Bovington Camp & tank museum. In the area there are other attractions such as Monkey World, & further away (25 miles) Corfe Castle & the Swanage Railway. (Try the ’Park & Ride’)

For the energetic Moreton village is on the Jubilee Trail (a 90 mile path), and there are many footpaths in Dorset.

We visited the site at the end of June 2001, this being our fourth visit to Dorset, but the first to this site. We may well be back again, depending on the walks programme of the Dorset Area of the Rambler’s (44 miles walked this time)

John Haseltine. CLIC. July 2001.

Top This is an old report. We would welcome an up-date if you have visited this site. Please do not use this link to contact the camp site

Mount Pleasant Touring Park
Matchams Lane
Hurn
Christchurch
Dorset
BH23 6AW

Tel: 01202 475 474
Fax: 08704 601 701

E-mail: enq@mount-pleasant-cc.co.uk
Web: http://www.mount-pleasant-cc.co.uk

We have just enjoyed a weekend at this site, with two of our grandchildren.
It is located in Hurn, Nr. Christchurch.

First and foremost for us, the site was clean, tidy and well run. Walking around the site, I didn’t see one bit of litter. I also noted that all but a few of the pitches were level.

The site is sectioned into areas, divided by bushes growing between the different parts. At this time the bushes are young and only serve to divide, not to screen. Presumably, in time they will thrive and form a barrier.
This seemed to be a popular site for campers as well as caravanners. There were a lot of tents and VW campers over the weekend.

There are a large number of mature conifers on this site, so watch where you park the ’van. Nothing worse than a windy night and cones on the roof of the ’van!). Judging by the number of cones laying on the ground, this time of year is ripe for this.

The toilet/shower blocks were very good, boasting 3 showers in each of the two blocks. I think there were 4 ’sitdowns’ in the men’s part, along with a whole line of hand basins. The layout in the ladies is very similar. Both had hot air hand dryers & shaver points.
There is a disabled loo here in the main central block.
There are baby changing rooms as well as a launderette and covered washing up areas.

One novel thing that is available in ’mid’ to ’high’ season is a small ’burger bar’ situated just inside the entrance barrier to the park, where the odd hotdog and coffee can be purchased. There is seating around this stand, so you can enjoy your burger while watching who is coming and going :o)

I can’t comment on what the food was like, as we didn’t use it, but judging by the number of people who congregated there, it can’t have been that bad.

This site is dog friendly. There is a dog walk that goes off site somewhere (no dog, so don’t know where to ?).

There is a kids playground over to the back of the site. As it turned out it was quite close to us, and we could keep an eye on the ’little treasures’, but if you happened to be nearer the centre of the site, you wouldn’t have a clear view of what was going on. On the positive side, there is a fence all around this area with seating outside, so one could watch your ’pride and joy’ fall off the climbing frame onto the soft bark base :o).

There’s a well stocked shop in reception, where gas is available.

We used the site as a base for Bournemouth and the surrounding area. From here we were able to take our grandchildren to the sandy beach in Bournemouth, where we spent most of Saturday
Bournemouth gardens are well worth a walk through, and (if you’re into this) the night life is well known in this area as being good, you know, clubs, bars and the like.

Cost of pitches for the weekend (2 nights. 2 adults. 2 children. Awning. Electric.) was £30.00. This rises to £40.00 in high season.

How would I rate this site ? 1 to 10 it would be an 8 (nearer to Bournemouth would have gained an extra 1 point)

Ian SL. CLIC. June 2000

~~~~~~~~~

An up-date: June/July 2002

It was 2 years ago that I submitted the above report on this site.

Much has remained the same as in the previous report with exception to one or two things.
The on-site burger bar has gone, replaced by a nice little cafe. The cafe is run by the people who own the site and the food is good, freshly cooked and reasonable.
As Lyn & I were on site for longer this time, I had time to check out the dog walk. It’s off to the right as you enter the site, opposite reception. It leads to a field which is under the flight path for Bournemouth Airport and comes complete with landing lights ! It’s possible to walk across this field and away through the woods at the other side.

During this visit I became more aware of the fact that the site is very close to Hurn Airport (Bournemouth International), maybe because we spent more time on site and didn’t have to amuse the grand-children by taking them out & about. The airport has nothing like the amount of air traffic that Heathrow has, but all the same there were some sizable craft flying in and out.
Maybe, since September the 11th, I have become more aware of the dangers the surround us on a daily basis. That said, I don’t think this will prevent me returning to this site again.

We were in a different part of the site during this visit, which found us placed in ’field’ ’F’. This section seems to be for permanent and long term users of the site. We found the pitches to be just a little tight for room. I think it was because they were not all that deep the reason for this, which made parking the car across the front of the caravan and awning a little awkward.

Ian SL. CLIC. July 2002

Top This is an old report. We would welcome an up-date if you have visited this site. Please do not use this link to contact the camp site

Newhaven
Winterborne Steppleton
Weymouth
Dorset

Judo weekend in the tents

Just off the A35 at Winterborne Steppleton, easy access. April 97

This is a small and pleasant site off the main A35 road into Weymouth. The grass was closely cut and the pitches reasonably level. The toilets and shower, whilst old were clean and tidy, and consist of a key controlled unit with a separate W.C, and a shower room with wash basin, and W.C. So your own sanitation is advisable. The gate to the site is locked in the evening, but each unit is issued a key on arrival.

The only complaint was that we were charged for two pitches, for two, two man dome tents on one pitch.

Roger Barker. ICQ. May 1999

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Newlands--- Second report below--- Fishing site
Charmouth
Nr Lyme Regis
Dorset
DT6 6RB

Tel: 01297 442 138

E-mail: enq@newlandsholidays.co.uk
Web site: www.newlandsholidays.co.uk/Touring.htm

HUGE Commercial site, taking Camping cheques.

Well our 12 days in Cornwall and Devon proved to be a cracker!
The weather was glorious and the CLs we had booked were excellent.
Ed. note. Sheila had visted this site, a CL at Chipley Mill, Bickington, Newton Abbot and another CL at Goonreve Farm, St Guvias, Penryn. Reports are under newlands2, chipleymill and goodrevefarm.

On the way down we stopped at a site which would use up one of our spare camping cheques.

Newlands at Charmouth in Dorset. Well it wasn’t MY cup of tea at all. Very large, regimented, and all the facilities of a large commercial site. (Butlins).
When we arrived we were ‘taken’ by two chaps in a landrover to our designated spot and they unhooked the ’van and placed it exactly where they wanted it to stand. Five star help, but far removed from what we like.

There were endless picthes in terraces all facing the same way. The saving grace was an on-site Fish & Chip shop which we found handy for that first transient night. I know its what lots of families find ideal, and great for kids. It would have cost a great deal more if we had to pay, but camping cheque worked out at about two thirds of that.

Sheila Mountifield. CLIC. August 2002

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Newlands Holiday Park------ Fishing site
Charmouth
Dorset
DT6 6RB

Tel: 01297 560 259

E-mail: enq@newlandsholidays.co.uk
Web site: www.newlandsholidays.co.uk/

GPS N 50.73890 W 02.88994

Camping Cheques page 344 (2007) Gold Card offer 4 persons Camping Cheques offer 6 cheques 7 nights

200 touring pitches 80 statics on terrace layout.
The site is split in half by the reception/bar/pool/takeaway complex

Electric 10 amp. Free WiFi in bar

Site very close to A35 (150 yards) which can be heard during the day very quiet most of the night. Access very easy until you get to the pitches, the road to grass is not level due to the hill. Terrace pitches (grass ones) not totally level and for our outfit (Van is 6.9m) a little small. Some of the hardstanding ones have individual pylons with water tap and drain, are a little larger, though access is a little difficult on some even solo.

Views across the valley are very peaceful, and by pitching the caravan’s so their nosewheel is facing down the slope the Westward views are nice especially sunset.
Recycling - only glass, but locally, street collection bins are for plastic bottles as well as rubbish.

Shop:
Now open shorter hours and gaps on shelves but basics well stocked.

Takeaway/restaurant:
Food is cooked to order and some items are cook-chill so if busy the queue is long whilst the food is hot it is not cheap

Bar:
£2.50 a pint. Entertainment even in low season on Saturday and Wednesday but none at other times except some bingo
Outdoor pool - closed at the end September
Indoor pool still open though there is an extra charge to use (£1.50)

Amenity block just the one on our side of the campsite cleaned twice a day plenty of room now but not sure what it would be like in high season.

Beach fishing:
1km away in Charmouth. Recommended to go 100 yards to the East of the river
(Monday) 1st session:
Blanked but did see school Bass jumping and was broken off once.
(Tuesday) 2nd session:
Fished the full tide and got hand sized Pout also saw Spotted Dogfish landed
(Wednesday) 3rd and last session:
Fished until an hour after high tide again only landed Pout but added a Spotted Dogfish to my tally
ALL fish returned as well undersized

Lyme Regis from the Cobb - didn’t get chance tides at wrong times for me
Bridport from beach (Sunday):
One or two knocks but no takes. Harbour wall not producing either.

The site is close to the area called Jurassic Beach all the way to Chesil beach there are an abundance of fossils and in Lyme Regis fossil shops abound.
The beach at Bridport is composed of pea shingle whilst at Lyme Regis the gravel is larger but there is a large sandy beach too.

Graham Wilson. CLIC. October 2007
For more fishing sites go to www.madcaravanner.co.uk

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Norden Farm--- Fishing site
Norden
Corfe Castle
Wareham
Dorset
BH20 5DS

Tel: 01929 480 348

Email: info@nordenfarm.com
Web Site: www.nordenfarm.com/

Site visited 9 nights. 14th July to 22nd July 2011. Cost: £169.00 2 people/caravan/electric/awning

This was our first visit to Norden Farm.
It's very close to Corfe Castle in an area we know Reasonably well.

We were pitched in the main field which was pleasant and quiet. There were some well behaved children here.
This area looked flat, but we noticed that our 23' caravan was nose hard down to get it front to back level.
The Pond Field looked to be more level.

The Pond Field, as it's name sugests, has a small fishing lake which looked quite interesting. I was told that it contained carp up to 20lb as well as barble, tench & roach, but as I didn't have my tackle with me I can't say what it fished like.

Norden Farm is a working farm as well as having a small hotel (Norden House) on site.
For the children there's cattle, peacooks, ducks & chickens. There is a pets corner, but it is run as part of the farm rather than part of the camp site, so when it's wet it gets a little mucky.

The main tiolet/shower block is fairly new and has an abundance of loos and showers, so we found that one didn't have to wait for a shower to be free....oh, and the showers are free of charge.
There is a second tiolet/shower block in the pond field which looked as good, if not better, than the main one.

Local attractions:
The Purbeck Hills of course. Corfe Castle (Corfe castle) is just down the road from the site. Also just down the road is Norden park and ride where one can take a steam (Train) or diesel train through Corfe Castle and on to Swanage. Swanage bay)
Studland beach (The beach), Shell bay and Kimmeridge bay are within easy reach. Studland is a short drive where one can take the ferry (Ferry & Condor) over to Poole or on to Bournemouth. This route make it a bit more interesting than the drive around the mainland. I favoured the ferry route to Poole and Bournemouth, it seemed to be quicker and the £3.50 charge (one way) for a car didn't seem too bad.

The local towns are Wareham & Swanage. Our visit Coincided with Wareham Carnival. (Carnival) I was most impressed with the number of entrants (Brass band) and the amount of effort put into the floats. Well done Wareham.

Plans to return: Due to the weather we had to endure over the 10 days we were there, it had rained a lot! This coloured our view of the site. The venue might have seemed more appealing during a warm, sunny spell.
We will bare this site in mind when we want to visit this area again.

Ian SL. CLIC. July 2011

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Oak Cottage--- Second report below
Holly Lane
Walkford
Nr. Christchurch
Dorset
BH23 5QQ

Tel. 01425 272 211

Sue Craufurd-Kennedy.

The peace and tranquility of a CL --- We had the site all to ourselves

A nice , quiet site, close to Highcliffe where there are a fair number of shops and restaurants, there is also a fish & chip eat in or take away.

Entry is a little restricted being narrow and having a hump back bridge half way down the lane.

The sea is easily reached via a woodland walk. The coastal paths are both high and low, the high path going west terminates at Highcliffe castle. The low path ends up on the beach where it is possible to walk along to the next small resort again going west.
I not at all sure about the path/s going east as Lyn and I haven’t gone that way.

As with all CLs the amenities are basic, a tap and a manhole cover, so there is a need to be self sufficient.

The animal kingdom is well represented by 2 dogs, 3 geese, 2 chickens and a handful of doves. There is a 3rd dog that appears from time to time but I’m never quite sure where it comes from. There is, of course, the ever present robins who will, at the slightest hint of an invitation, be in the ’van looking for tit-bits.

This used to be our weekend CL, close enough for us to reach on a Friday night and handy for the coast.

04/02/96

Ian SL. CLIC. May 1999

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Oak Cottage
Holly Lane
Walkford
Nr. Christchurch
Dorset
BH23 5QQ

Tel: 01425 272 211

Sue Craufurd-Kennedy

We had a wonderful fortmight at this site with our 2 whippets. We came back around about 10 days ago and the memory is still very clear and warm.

Mrs. Crauford kennedy was a most helpful lady and nothing was too much trouble for her! We will definitely be going there again. My husband and I thought it was ’a little piece of heaven’.

We have been to Caravan Club main sites and we absolutely loved the peace of this little site. We met some lovely people whilst we were there.

We send our thanks to Sue for giving us fond memories of her little site and telling us where everything was locally such as the local pub which was so warm and welcoming. We had a wonderful meal for 2 at The Walkford as they offer this rate at the beginning of the week before a certain time for 2 people for only £8, I don’t know if this constitutes advertising but we were certainly grateful for the information about it Sue!

We will going back here in the not too distant future and hope we get the lovely weather we had too.

If you want a site with basic good manners from the owner and somewhere as a bolthole from this mad world of ours then this is the place for you!!

Barbara and David Anderton. Internet. July 2005

Top This is an old report. We would welcome an up-date if you have visited this site. Please do not use this link to contact the camp site

Peartree Touring Park
Organford Road
Holton Heath
Poole
Dorset
BH16 6LA

Tel. 01202 622 434

E-mail: info@visitpeartree.co.uk
Webb site: www.peartreepark.co.uk/

Owner: Calum Allison.

February 2006
Peartree is under new management.
Fresh information can be obtained from the web site, but I have been informed that the 20p charge for the shower had been dropped and a new block had replaced the old one in 2004...Hopefully a new report will follow..

125 pitches in 10 (?) sections. 120 of which had electric hook-up, and 43 of these where ’service pitches’

The report.

What a delightful site. Quiet, spacious and clean. You are sure of a warm welcome here

We liked the way the sections of the park where thought out. You don’t get the ’sea of caravans’ feeling here.
The largest section had 29/30 pitches only. The part we were in had 16 pitches, some had a smaller amount.
All parts of the site were divided by trees or hedges, so you don’t get to see the vans in the part next door, even though you do hear your neighbours (if they shout and scream :o ). There seemed to be a ’quiet code’ when we were there, nobody made any unnecessary noise. Perhaps it was because we stayed there outside of the school holidays, and most of the ’residents’ were of our age group.
Some pitches are slopping, but most were flat. Those on slopping pitches seemed to get on OK.

Quite a few of the people near us stored their ’vans at the site, some had them pitched long term, so all they had to do was turn up
Those we spoke to were happy with the site and the owners, and seemed settled in their choice of site, for the foreseeable future anyway.

There is a super play area for kids. Swings, slides, sand pit, climbing things and an area for balls games, the like of which I have not seen other than at the Burford site in Oxfordshire I reported on recently. It is situated at the top of the site, where the owner tended to put the families.

The shop had all the things we caravaners need.. milk, eggs, bread, and all the other things needed for breakfast :o)
Both Calor and camping gas were available. There is also a ice-pack freezing service.

Security was high. The gates are locked at 9.00 in the evening. Entry after that was obtained by key (available on arrival for a returnable deposit) The same key gained entry to the loos, which were locked at all times. There were security cameras in operation at the entrance and, I think, around the site.

The toilet/shower block was good. It wasn’t new, but it was clean and bright. The showers were good and heat adjustable, and operated by 20ps. I always took two with me, but never needed to use the second one all through the week. My standard gripe about somewhere to dress in the dry was to a great extent solved here by walls in the showers, you could safely put your shoes behind the wall where they remained dry. This wall went a long way to keeping the splashing to a minium, and the top of the coin meter was an ideal place for my glasses :o)
The gents offered 5 showers, 8 wash basins, 8 ’sitdowns’ & 4 ’standups’.
The ladies was of a similar layout to the gents, but had 10 wash basins (no ’standups’ of course)

Alan & Margaret Broome was most helpful.
When we received the booking form, one of the questions asked was ’pitch no.’ Not knowing this, I put ’a sunny one’. Alan put us on 80, but due to the slope on this pitch and the resulting problems we would have had with our awning, he kindly moved us onto 81, well sort of 81. It was somewhere in between 80 & 81. It was where we said was best as far as ground evenness was concerned, and he was happy for us to stay there. You must remember that we were on the site during a quiet period. I think that if it had been busy, we wouldn’t have got away with straddling two pitches :o)
He is a happy chappy at all times, even first thing in the morning !! Both he and Margaret were always ready to stop and chat.

The area.
Lyn and I have been to this area several times before, so know it well.
Poole, Bournemouth, Swanage & Wareham are all within easy reach, as is The New Forest and the Purbeck Hills.
For beaches you could try Sandbanks, just along from Poole, but our favourite is Studland. It is so long, it never gets crowded. When the weather is nice the sea in Studland Bay gets so warm. A word of caution though.. You have to be careful, as half way along Studland beach is a nudist area !! Did we see some sights :o)
Poole has a large Tesco (out of the town) and has a good shopping centre (all pedestrian)
We found a good nearby restaurant Woods Edge (01929 556 959) on the road to Wareham. Good food at reasonable prices.
There is another pub/restaurant on the way to Poole (just off one of the round-a-bouts) but we found that at busy times to wait was too long.

If you get problems. A recommended place is Weymouth Caravan Centre. (01258 880 829) And should you need a caravan engineer..Paul Bridle of P. B. Caravan Services is your man (01305 852 650)

Ian SL. CLIC. July 1999

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Poole Harbour Overnight facility

We have just returned from three weeks in France with the Camping & Caravan Club on their rally at L’Etang des Haizes, La Haye de Puy, Normandy. Wonderful experience, we’ve been there several times. Anyone wondering about going to France should try this site - 45 minutes from the ferry - simple to find - and very good for the kids.

On the return leg we came in to Poole for the first time - ferry left Cherbourg at 8.0 p.m. their time - arrived 11.00 p.m. our time.

The overnight facility is reached by following signs as you pass through the passport check on your way out, turn right at sign ’overnight parking’ and left again to the side of the large blue & white building where you will see the sign for parking near the toilets and cafe. The toilets are excellent, washrooms and showers, disabled facilities, fresh water, and Elsan disposal point. The toilets are locked at about 1.0.a.m. re-open at 6.30 a.m. The cafe opens at 7.0 a.m. Because you are still in the environs of the Port you are secure. We got a good nights sleep and set off home refreshed after a wash, shower, a hot tea and a bacon sandwich. cost of parking £5.

Robert Atkinson. CLIC. September 2005

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Rowlands Wait Caravan Park--- Second report below
Rye Hill
Bere Regis
Dorset
BH20 7HL

Tel: 01929 472 727
Fax: 01929 472 275

E-mail: enquiries@rowlandswait.co.uk
Web: http://www.rowlandswait.co.uk

Member of the Countryside Discovery Group
www.countryside-discovery.co.uk

The entrance --- View of the site --- The toilet/shower block

Our first impressions of Rowlands Wait were good. We spent our first week there with our Friends from Devon. They have two Children, Gerald & Gemma then aged 13 & 12, we were worried that they would be bored as our friends tend to look for parks with amusements to keep the kids occupied and give them a bit of a break. There was no need for the concern as G & G seemed to enjoy every minute, not that the park offers any attractions other than an adventure playground aimed at 5-10 year old children.

We found the park clean, tidy and well run by Bernard and Linda Hammick (who didn’t look old enough to be running a caravan park, but did, and well) a nice couple in their second year of ownership (I think). The shower/toilet block was new, clean and warm, the showers were just right but there was a charge made to use them, only 10p but you had to take a spare 10p as it was possible to get caught out with shampoo still in your hair.

The location was good being just outside Bere Regis village, a small sleepy place. There was access to the moor land that overlooked the village which is good for walking or cycling. Close by was the tank training ground of Bovington and their tank museum which is well worth a visit, I have never seen so many tanks. Also close by is Monkey World, this is also well worth a day. Within easy reach are Poole, Weymouth and Portland, Lyme Regis and the Isle of Purbeck. Due south on the A352 is Wool. In Wool is a little restaurant who’s name I can’t remember (going from Bere Regis. When you get to Wool, you have to go across the level crossing, go left after the level crossing and the restaurant is on the right, just before a right hand bend. Apparently Lawrence Of Arabia used to take his motorbike to the repair shop, as the restaurant was then. So popular was the repair shop that the owners wife started to make sandwiches and drinks, it grew from there.

Back to the site. Lyn and I have said that we will go back to Rowlands Wait, soon.

05/06/95

Ian SL. CLIC. May 1999

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Rowlands Wait Touring Park Ltd--- Third report below
Rye Hill
Bere Regis
Dorset
BH20 7HL

Tel: 01929 472 727
Fax: 01929 472 275

E-mail: enquiries@rowlandswait.co.uk
Web: http://www.rowlandswait.co.uk

Member of the Countryside Discovery Group
www.countryside-discovery.co.uk

We stopped at this site for 5 nights after we had been to Penhaven, Cornwall. It was not our first visit here, as we had been here twice before. This time we had the grandchildren with us.

There have been a few changes since our last visit. The first was the impressive, new reception/shop. Another change was the addition of a games room (table tennis/snooker/tabletop football, it kept the grandchildren (and us) amused for ages)

Bernard has some improvements lined up for this winter, one of which is a new ’Wastemaster’ grey water emptying point
Also on the cards for 2001 is an extension of the toilet/shower block to incorporate 2 family rooms which will have disabled fascilities, they will also be heated in the winter.
The washing up area is also down for improvement.

We took Kyra & Aaron to Monkey World, which they both enjoyed. We have been here a couple of time in the past, but I wasn’t keen on the changes that Monkey World had made. Maybe it’s my imagination, but the park seems to be smaller !

A good family place to eat and drink is The Bakers Arms (Dorchester Road. 01202 622900) on the outskirts of Poole. It’s not on the doorstep, but offered a good, reasonably priced meals, with a kids playground and inside adventure room.

The thing we like most about Rowlands Wait is the quiet. After our stay at Penhaven and all the hustle and bustle there, it was pleasant just to sit outside the awning with the first cup of tea of the day and listen to the birds singing. It was very much the same in the evenings.

Plans to re-visit: Yes, and soon. We plan to make this site ’our’ weekender

Ian SL. CLIC. August 2000

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Rowlands Wait Caravan Park
Rye Hill
Bere Regis
Dorset
BH20 7HL

Tel: 01929 472 727
Fax: 01929 472 275

E-mail: enquiries@rowlandswait.co.uk
Web: http://www.rowlandswait.co.uk

Member of the Countryside Discovery Group
www.countryside-discovery.co.uk

We had four nights at Rowlands wait and found it a very good site.

Fantastic for walks on the heath, with great bird watching. The site is clean and tidy with really good clean warm new shower facilities.

It is handy for Wareham. A lovely historic town with an abundance of pubs and restaurants to eat. We Recommend the Italian on the quay. It also has a great market on Saturday mornings where you can buy fresh fish ready for the evening BBQ. Along with great fresh local produce to go with it.
It is also handy for Corfe castle and village. What a gem that is, a definite must to visit. There is a really good butcher in Corfe with a license to sell game, once again great for the BBQ.

There are great beaches at Studland and fantastic scenery all round.

We normally try and stay in Caravan club sites but found this to be as good if not better than most of them.
It is beautifully located, quiet and has some great pitches. The owners where friendly and welcoming. All in all a great place to stay.

Charles and Glynis Winn. Internet. July 2005

Top This is an old report. We would welcome an up-date if you have visited this site. Please do not use this link to contact the camp site

Sandford Holiday Park
Holton Heath
Poole
Dorset
BH16 6JZ

Tel: for tents & touring. 01202 631 600
Tel: for brochure. (quote J1) 01392 477 477

E-mail. bookings@weststarholidays.co.uk
Website. www.parkdeanholidays.co.uk/dorset-holidays/sandford...

A family pitch

I have been to Sandford Park site a couple of times, although it was 10 years ago. Most of the touring sites are separated by hedges. The club and social building is very large, with a big stage and the hall is used as a dance floor and sitting area when a show is on.

Entertainment for children is mostly on site, including a DJ for kids games Good outside pool (next to adult pool) for children with a sand area, and only one gate to go in or out so quite safe. There was also outside swings, slide and play area.

There are 3 bars and a pool or snooker room in the upper area over looking the hall. A take-a-way, the restaurant I found was very slow, but might have improved. An adult heated outside pool with, when I was there under water music. There was a large Wurlitzer Organ that rose though the stage. It was possible to go on a tour, below stage, to see the works at the back while it is playing.

Quite expensive, but you do have all the facilities, and not far from Weymouth.
You need to book early.

A useful visitors guide can be found at:
http://www.poole.gov.uk
Or E-mail at: tourism@poole.gov.uk

John Stanford. CLIC. April 1999

Editors Note:
Not cheap. High season. tourer + hook-up....£16.75 per night

Added March 2001.
Open: Easter to 31st October.
Facilities: 485 16a touring pitches; 32 hot showers & 9 baths; 150 static vans

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Sandyholme Holiday Park
Owermoigne
Dorchester
Dorset
DT2 8HZ

Tel: 01308 422 139
Fax: 01308 425 672

E-mail: holidays@wdlh.co.uk
Web site: West Dorset Leisure site http://www.wdlh.co.uk/
Web site: Sites own web page www.sandyholme.co.uk/

Shot from Owermoigne village - - Evening view from the beach

Michelin map

Sandyholme Holiday Park is a medium sized camping site with reportedly 100 or so pitches. There are a fair number of static caravans on site, and space seems to emphasize these and tourers, although there is also plenty of room for those of us with tents. I gather there are plenty of pitches with electrical hook-up, but the other tent pitches are not marked out, which is useful for those of us with megatents like our Wynster Apollo 16. Our tent makes us feel like we’re erecting a duplicate of the Millenium Dome! There was a good mixture of campers on site when we visited in August 2005, with families and couples. We did not notice many larger groups of people and we did spend two weeks at Sandyholme. The one noisy couple was made short schrift of by the owners and left the day after our neighbour’s complaint. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. When our dog ruptured his cruciate ligament they pointed us in the direction of the local veterinary hospital and when our bus broke down on the penultimate day of our stay it wasn’t too much trouble for them to give us a lift to the nearest train station several miles away. (Can you tell it was an eventful camping holiday?)

Facilities: on-site and nearby
Facilities are clean and modern, however the number of toilets/shower/washing facilities meant that there was quite a rush to get in there first thing in the morning and the kids, who tend to get up early, had to queue. This didn't bother us humans, as we're not early morning people. By the time we'd surfaced the rush had subsided. Some of the facilities are listed below:

Combined shower/toilet/washroom block with small family wash room, laundry room and separate washing up sinks

A small restaurant - however we found the menu was quite limited, and with 5 kids, we prefer to fend for ourselves anyway

A kids’ play area, tennis court and playing field close to the entrance of the site

A small games room with table football etc

A small shop with the basic necessities, but only with limited stock

A local supermarket in Dorchester is some 10 minutes drive away, and it was our source of general provisions

Plenty of local shops in the towns and villages within driving distance - Weymouth and Dorchester are the nearest

A camping shop on the way to Weymouth for those camping emergency moments not covered by the site’s shop

During our two week stay, we quickly found that we could be doing a day visit to a different place every day. Obviously the places open to you depend on how far you’re prepared to travel. We don't mind travelling! We went to see the the following (in no particular order) and there were many more. We discovered that Dorset and the surrounding are is really quite beautiful.

Dorchester & Maiden Castle

Weymouth

Durdle Door

Tank Museum

Bournemouth

Dorset Heavy Horse Centre

Monkey World

Maize Maze

Lulworth Cove

Stonehenge & Woodhenge

Lyme Regis

Cerne Giant

Alison & Tim Harrison. CLIC. February 2006

April 2008. This site is now owned by West Dorset Leisure

Top This is an old report. We would welcome an up-date if you have visited this site. Please do not use this link to contact the camp site

South Lytchett Manor Caravan & Camping Park
Lytchett Minster
Poole
Dorset
BH16 6JB

Tel: 01202 622 577
Fax: 01202 622 620

E-mail: info@southlytchettmanor.co.uk
Web site: www.southlytchettmanor.co.uk/

Site visted: August 2002

We visited this site over the August Bank holiday weekend with our son and his two children.

As you no doubt surmise we were not overly impressed with this site, which is a bit unfair, as we used the site as a place to sleep while during the day we were out enjoying our favourite bit of south of England coast.... Bournmouth, Christchurch & Poole.
In a way we were lucky to get a pitch so late in the day (we booked only a week before the bank holiday) and the site warden was most accomodating in securing a pitch for us (later updating this to a pitch which was not right next to the loo/shower block).

Some positive comments about South Lytchett:
The pitch size. There was ample room for caravan, awning & car alongside each other. The play area. The burger van.

Plans to return: Not at this time. It’s not an un-pleasant site, so we might change our minds :o).

Ian SL. CLIC. September 2002.

Top This is an old report. We would welcome an up-date if you have visited this site. Please do not use this link to contact the camp site

St. Leonards Farm Caravan & Camping Park
Ringwood Road
West Moors
Ferndown
Dorset
BH22 0AQ

Tel. 01202 872 637

Lyn & I selected St. Leonards Farm not by choice, but out of necessity. We had left booking for this weekend until the week before, losing sight of the fact that the following week was Eclipse week!

The South seemed to have gone mad. We had tried many sites, in and around Bournemouth and Chrischurch, but the response from all was "fully booked".

As Bournemouth beaches was our target and West Moors isn’t that far out, we didn’t mind.

My impression of this site was that it was a working farm that had changed its direction.

All pitches were level and of a reasonable sized, plenty of room for caravan, car & awning.

The awning pegs went in very well on the pitch we were on. I guess that the same applied to the rest of the site, as the ground seemed to be well drained and firm

There are two fields on this site. One for ’pre-booked’ (where we were). The other was for tents & ’casuals’.

The toilet/shower block is in the ’casuals’ field, so this negated my standard moan about tenters being placed far from the toilets :o)

The toilets/shower block is adequate. The showers were free, but are the ’push-button’ type, with a very short ’on’ time. The gents housed 4 showers alongside 6 sit-downs. There are 8 hand basins and 1 long stand-up. Hot water was provided between 6.30 am to 12.00, then 6.00 to 8.00 pm. Outside this, you were unlucky !

We didn’t like the location of this site. As the brochure states, it’s on the main A31 in Ferndown, and you do get a fair amount of traffic noise.

They have a large, flat playground with adventure playthings on it. But a word of warning, a stream runs around about half the playground. It is fenced, but only with a flimsy string affair. The stream wasn’t deep, but we all know that toddlers don’t need that much water ! This, coupled with the fact that the playground is to the back of the site, with hedges between, you don’t get a clear view into the playground. It’s even worse if you’re pitched on the ’pre-booked’ part.

One final moan was the lack of drinking water signs. The main road trough the site has many standpipes. None are marked ’drinking water’ even though the are.

A small cautionary tale for those who have ’Wastemaster’ containers. I found that you can lose the end screw cap when emptying these units, and as there wasn’t a grill in the bottom of the drain...
A minor inconvenience, and only costing £3 something to replace.

Prices are from....£9.00 (low, 2 people with electric) To £12 (same)
For families....say 1 teenager and 2 toddlers...£16 with electric (high season).
Dogs are £1.00.
You might get asked for a £20 young persons ’good beaviour bond’ !!

Ian SL. CLIC. August 1999

Top This is an old report. We would welcome an up-date if you have visited this site. Please do not use this link to contact the camp site

Wareham Forest Tourist Park
North Trigon
Wareham
Dorset
BH20 7NZ

Tel/Fax: 01929 551 393

E-mail: holiday@wareham-forest.co.uk
Web Site: http://www.wareham-forest.co.uk/

We have just spent a week here (Oct 2001) and can thoroughly recommend it.

Its a commercial site which is split into different areas. One part is for long term use, another a small enclosure has 8 fully serviced pitches. We didn’t like this as it was just an open area with a fence around it, reminded us a quarantine compound.

The site has good facilities including a swimming pool and games room to keep the youngsters amused (high season only) and for those who want a relaxing time away from it all there are miles and miles of walks through the forest.

Only one part of the site is open all year (called South Field) which has some hard (gravel) standings and the rest are grass. Each pitch has an electric point and there are ample watering holes.

The toilet blocks are good and cater for the disabled. Excellent laundry facilities. (all coin operated).

Our pitch was just by the Nature trail which runs through the middle of the site and a great dingly dell with at least 20 different types of fungi. Both these areas lead you into the forest where there are many more nature trails marked out.

There is plenty to do in the area, as it’s very close to Poole harbour, Bournemouth, Corfe Castle and the Blue Pool, which is very relaxing and is nice to stroll around.

We stayed here about 20 years ago at Christmas and watched teams of husky’s pulling racing sledges (with wheels). This is done each year just behind the site in the forest. We are tempted to come here for Christmas again this year.

Harry Rogers. CLIC. October 2001

Top This is an old report. We would welcome an up-date if you have visited this site. Please do not use this link to contact the camp site

Westhayes Caravan Site
Sidmouth Road
Rousdon
Lyme Regis
Dorset
DT7 3RD

Tel: 01297 23456

A3052 4 miles W of Lyme Regis

Date of visit, 9th to 23rd June 2003

The site is small, less than 120 tourer pitches, all level but not exactly generous (Photo). Facilities are good and well kept; toilets and showers spotlessly clean at all hours. There’s a small shop, a games room and a bar that is open at the weekend in the off-season, as is the pool, although they were a bit slow to open the pool while we were there, even though the weather was gorgeous.

There’s a nice small field overlooking the valley that would make a great rally field, (Photo) with a good dog walk around the meadow behind it.

TV and mobile phone reception are excellent, and the managers seem nice, if a bit overawed.
Nearest shops are in Seaton, 3 miles away, all the usual banks and a Co-op supermarket.

Beware of Lyme Regis if you’re towing. Not only is it busy, it’s narrow and steep. I found the best route to the site was to take the A358 southward from the A35, then turn east on the A3052 for a mile and a half.

Charges in 2003 were £12 mid-season and £14 high season, including electricity but awnings are extra. For the price, I would have expected pitches big enough for ’'van, awning and car, but too many of the pitches are not this wide.

Nik Dennis. CLIC. June 2003

Top---Back to fishing sites This is an old report. We would welcome an up-date if you have visited this site. Please do not use this link to contact the camp site

Wood Farm Caravan & Camping Park (CC affiliated site)--- Fishing site
Axminster Road
Charmouth
Dorset
DT6 6BT

Tel: 01297 560 697
Fax: 01297 561 243

E-mail: holidays@woodfarm.co.uk
Web site: www.woodfarm.co.uk

Tariff for two people, caravan, awning & electric.
High: £15.00... Mid: £11.00... Low: £10.50

Site visited: September 2002

Arrived tired after a 4.1/2 hour trip that should have only have taken 2.1/2 - 3.
Rain had threatened all the way down, but held of long enough for us to get the awning up....just

Our first impressions of Wood Farm were good. To rest tired eyes soaking in the views across Marshwood Vale to the other side of the valley and the hills beyond.

Part of Wood Farm is Caravan Club, part is commercial. The CC pitches(This is the topmost tier) (116) are to the top of the site and, due to it’s location, are tier’d. Unfortunately, it’s these pitches that do suffer from some road noise as the A35 runs alongside the site.
The CC pitches are a bit tight for room. While there is room enough for a caravan and awning, with space to each side, on most it is neccersary to to park along the front of the caravan.

There’s plenty to do here. You can swim (indoor pool), play tennis, fish, (The fishing lakes) indulge in outdoor draughts or take advantage of the indoor recreation hall. All the amenities are outlined in both the CC book (page 98) and on the website

Most pitches tended to be hard standing. The tenting areas are all grass. The commercial area had 100 pitches and these tended to be lower down the valley.

The three toilet/shower blocks were all clean and of good standard. My only gripe is the lack of shower curtains. Ones shoes had to be carefully placed and there was nowhere dry to stand while drying yourself.

The fishing:
There are two good fishing lakes here (£3.30 for a days fishing), set at slightly differing levels. I was told that the higher lake contained all the big carp while the lower one was good for all types of fish. The pegs are well set out and not too close together with plenty of reeds between. There are a few lily pads.
The fishing wasn’t that good the week we were there, as it seems the previous week saw lots and lots of school kids fishing. Also...dare I say it !....the weather was so good :o)
All I managed to land was a 1.1/2lb Perch. I did miss a good size fish which took my hook....it didn’t notice my tight line ! ...But then that’s another fishing tale.

Praise is due here for the site owners/wardens. I have a friend who lives in Exmouth. He and his son visited the site to fish for the day, but he was concerned about access to the lakes as he is disabled and has to use a walking frame. He had ’phoned the site to check if it would be possible for him to get close to the lakes, and was told that ’the site’ would transport him and his tackle to the waters edge in the site’s Land Rover, then collect him when he was ready to leave.
Wood Farm. You deserve a ’well done’ and the gratitude of a greatfull fisherman and his friend.

The area:
On this site you are right on Charmouth’s doorstep, the beach is only 5 minutes drive away (car parking..£2.00 for the day). It is quite possible to walk to the town, then on down to the beach.
Charmouth is renown for it’s fossils. The beach is littered with people armed with chipping hammers, breaking rocks and finding all types of fossils. We found it was even rewarding to break apart the large rocks that lie on the beach, we made one or two good ’finds’ simply by using one large stone on the softer rock.
I did wonder about any restictions that might be in place to protect the coastline, but could see nothing prohibiting actions on the cliff face.
Lyme Regis is close too, with it’s 50’s type shops (A useful snippet of info. The COOP at the top of the High Street is open quite late) and, of course, the fossil shops (quite a good one on the left, just a little way up the hill).
The beach is quite good at the right hand end and is ’sandcastle friendly’ :o).

Plans to return to Wood Farm. Yes. Both Lyn and I enjoyed our stay, not only because of the fishing or the views or the location, but because the staff are so friendly.

Ian SL. CLIC. September 2002.

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Woodland Park
Bucknowle Farm
Corfe Castle
Dorset
BH20 5PQ

Tel: 01929 480 315

E-mail: hazelparker@btconnect.com

Site visited: 1997 and 2006

This was one of the first campsites we stayed at and one of the few places we have returned to. That doesn’t mean we have had a lot of bad experiences at other campsites because we’ve rarely visited a bad one, but it does mean that Woodland Park was definitely worth a return trip.

The campsite is set in a lovely field surrounded by trees only a shortwalk from Corfe. If you set up in the central area you can get a sunny pitch but many are set under the trees on the outskirts which is great in the middle of summer when you might want shade but not so good in spring and autumn.

There is a children’s play area tucked away behind some trees at one end of the camp site which although had seen better days was enjoyed by the boys.

When we first stayed there the wash blocks were a little, well, basic. But the location is so nice that it didn’t stop us visiting again. You’ll be pleased to know that when we visited again, they had some brand spanking new facilities which get top marks.

What hasn’t changed since we went first time is the camp site shop, which is actually a shed, but nevertheless has all the basics you might need (when it’s open).

The surrounding area is very beautiful and well worth a visit - it’s almost a shame the campsite is surrounded by trees as I’m sure they would have some fantastic views if they chopped a few down.

Corfe Castle itself is a 15 minute walk away along a choice of footpaths - bring a torch if returning after dark! Corfe has a variety of decent pubs/restaurants plus of course the ruined castle and curio shops. We had a very nice meal at the Greyhound (the most photographed pub in England apparently).

So, all in all, a great campsite.

The boys’ review:
The best thing about the whole place is the sweet shop in the town of Corfe, it contains a vast selection of different sweets (including 1p pick n mix bags).

The play area at the site has a Tarzan sort of swing rope, which you can swing off the tree. In the toilets there were tonnes of these pesky craneflies which start buzzing in your face when having a shower. Altogether the campsite was pretty cool.
Ell

Archie. Internet. November 2008
For more reports like this, with photos go to www.archieundercanvas.com/index.html

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