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Southover Woods and Camping

95%
·
· Dorchester, Dorset, England
60 acres hosted by Chloe S.
1 glamping pitch · 8 tent pitches
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Best glamping: Finalist
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.
Best in South West England: Finalist
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.
Off-lead friendly
Pets can be off-lead at some pitches.
Creature comforts
Enjoy the comforts of home in nature at some pitches — including real toilets, showers, and kitchen.
Nearly wild camping in a vast Dorset woodland

All the joy of wild camping is offered at Southover Woods in rural Dorset – with one or two of the rough edges taken away. For one thing, this is a bonafide campsite so there’s no worries over being asked to move on and, for another, there’s the important business of access to a loo. Nonetheless, these small concessions to campsite life can't take away from the back-to-nature experience of camping here in rustic woodland surroundings. You can't drive to your pitch, pop into a clubhouse or pick up supplies from the campsite shop but you can truly immerse yourself in nature. You can sling a hammock between trees, you can have acres of wood to yourself and you can enjoy the simple pleasures of going off grid: campfires, birdsong and breathing easy among the trees.

The choice of pitches at Southover Woods is more like a choice of separate campsites. Biggest of the lot is the enormous Tenders Pitch which offers a yurt, an outdoor kitchen shelter, its own facilities and space for up to 30 people to pitch tents together among the trees. At the other end of the scale are Decanter, Lordship and Villager pitches; these well-spaced clearings in the trees each sleep up to eight and share a loo and shower. And, if you prefer to be bathed in sunshine, the meadow pitches at the edge of Southover Woods will be just right for you.

The whole idea here is to offer people the chance to relax in nature and if you embrace that idea, you could spend your weekend or week right here; the woods stretch to 60 acres after all. But the paths that criss-cross the woodland are a tempting way to explore too. The long-distance Hardy Way and Jubilee Trail offer alluring routes to follow to nearby rivers and villages. Beyond that, if you’re happy to get back in the car, there’s all of Dorset to explore including its Jurassic Coast, just half an hour’s drive away.

Activities
Biking
Boating
Fishing
Hiking
Natural features
Forest
Field
Farm
95%
83 Ratings · 42 reviews
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Ron Y.recommends
August 31, 2024
BlueBell- Hazel Wood- Mixed Pitch
Just great!
Such an incredible little hideaway. We camped in the woods. I haven't camped like that since I was in the cadets 30 years ago! Great rustic toilets / showers. Fire pit was awesome; plus heating the kettle on it too.
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Matt C.recommends
August 27, 2024
DayDreams - Large Groups
Great spot for large groups. Feels exactly like wild camping. Would recommend to anyone.
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Anthon G.recommends
July 30, 2024
Tenders Pitch
We had a great time at Tenders Pitch. Great location, perfect evening with my boys around the fire pit.
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Zuzana V.recommends
July 28, 2024
Villager Pitch
We loved camping at southover woods! We stayed at villager pitch and it was amazing 🤩 will definitely return.
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Billy B.recommends
July 28, 2024
BlueBell- Hazel Wood- Mixed Pitch
The site at Hazel Wood was outstanding! Beautiful and level with an excellent fire pit. A very peaceful two nights for my boys and I. We enjoyed the’near’ wild camping experience without the usual fear of being‘moved on’. Chloe could not have been more welcoming, friendly and helpful. Will certainly be going back to Southover!
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Andriana K.recommends
July 14, 2024
AshTree- Hazel Wood- Mixed pitch
Hazelwood Pitch - 2 night stay
Hazelwood was such a great pitch! We were up there with three other tents but it still felt peaceful and secluded. Each pitch has it's own fire pit, grill and kettle, and logs were available to purchase. Bucket showers and toilets were available nearby, and staff/rangers were on hand via phone to answer all of our queries even though we rocked up late-ish about 8pm. We would definitely stay here again, it was so nice to wake up under a canopy of trees and feel like you were camping in the wild.
Location
Dorchester, Dorset, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Chloe S.

Joined in March 2022
From the host
Welcome to Southover Woods and Camping, our Family ran, Wild Woodland Campsite. Nestled within the heart of Dorset's embrace, Southover Woods invites you to an extraordinary location spanning over acres of private woodland. A sanctuary for those seeking solace in the wild, our campsite boasts a unique blend of seclusion and communal spirit. Each campsite, carefully dispersed amidst the Trees, centres around a mesmerising fire pit embraced by rustic seating, offering campers both warmth and connection. Our accommodations cater to a diverse preference of camper, from the adventurous charm of hammocks in Hazel Wood to the serene escape of our Bohemian style Yurt pitch.
Nearby attractions

There are footpaths and bridleways through the trees and beyond. Well-signposted, long-distance routes that pass through the woods include the Hardy Way and the Jubilee Trail. Max Events (0117 950 8080) operate group activities including paintballing, quad biking and archery nearby. Wessex Fly Fishing (01305 848460) is just outside the woods and the Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum (01305 848 237) and the National Trust’s Cloud Hill (01929 405616), once a rural hideaway for T.E Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) are attractions within five miles of site. Monkey World (01929 462537) and Bovington Tank Museum (01929 405096) are not much further. Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is about 15 miles south of Southover Woods with seaside Weymouth, pretty Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and fossil-strewn Kimmeridge Bay all about a half-hour drive away.

Food and drink

Cooking on the campfire is all part of the experience at Southover Woods so that is heartily encouraged but if you need supplies, the closest shop is a small convenience store in Puddletown, about three miles away. The nearest pub is also in the village, called The Blue Vinny.

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