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Andrea's Farm Breaks Bell Tent

96%
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· Corfe Castle, England
1 acre hosted by Andrea P.
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A bell tent on a Dorset farm campsite with views of Corfe Castle

The top spot under canvas at Downshay Farm is undoubtedly Andrea’s Bell Tent. It’s pitched in the camping field belonging to a Dorset farm that’s been in the same family since 1956. The location on the Isle of Purbeck makes it a great base from which to explore the Jurassic Coast and the Dorset countryside. And the simply-furnished bell tent certainly makes a camping holiday here rather easy.

Andrea, who looks after the site, has put the tent up, furnished it with a proper bed and plugged in an electricity supply. She’s put a fire pit and seating outside and will even make the bed – if you pay a little extra. Toilet, shower and washing-up facilities are understably shared with your camping neighbours and kept impeccably clean. With all that taken care of, all you need do is turn up and start planning your Dorset adventures.

If you don’t already know, the Isle of Purbeck is not an isle at all but a peninsula at the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast, midway along Dorset’s southern edge. It’s a popular part of the UK with a great reputation among campers and lots of lovely campsites. Among them, this one is rather a little gem. The farm and the friendly welcome give it a homely feel and thanks to a steady stream of returning happy campers, it’s sociable too. But it’s that view that gives it the edge.

You and your camping neighbours can see all the way to the distinctive outline of Corfe Castle, about two miles away. You can watch as the steam trains of the Swanage Railway chug towards it and away. With temptation in sight and Harman’s Cross Station a very short walk away, it won’t be long before you find yourself on board. A nostalgic ride later, and you’ll be wandering around the castle ruins or headed for the sandy beach at Swanage which, by the way, is only four miles away.

Activities
Biking
Fishing
Hiking
Horseback riding
Natural features
Field
Farm
96%
13 Ratings · 11 reviews
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Thewaggies ?.
2 reviews
Recommends
· September 2024
With pets ·
Great tent, great location, great facilities. Would highly recommend.
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Rebecca B.
5 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
Wonderful Glamping trip!
We had a wonderful stay at Andrea’s bell tent, the tent was comfortable and had everything we needed for our glamping trip. The farm setting is beautiful, close to the town, and the views of Corfe castle are stunning. Andrea was so accommodating with any extras that we needed, the showers and toilets were clean. We look forward to visiting again, thank you for having us!
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Samstrutton ?.
9 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2024
With kids ·
Really lovely bell tent with everything you could need. Nice sunset views over Corfe Castle and a relaxed atmosphere. Would recommend highly. 🙂
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Vanessa B.
6 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2024
Camping delight
It was great to return to Downshay Farm and stay in Andrea's bell tent. All you needed was there - bbq, table, relaxing chairs, and all the plates etc. Even washing up liquid! And very comfy bed. It's like your own private garden with fabulous view of Corfe castle and the sunset. Would highly recommend this trip.
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Jeanne Marie S.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2024
With pets ·
Communication with Andrea was excellent. No bad surprises ! The tent was very comfortable and spacious. The view was absolutely amazing! Warm welcome and helping hands in case of need. Lovely stay. We'll do it again.
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Pim H.
1 year on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· August 2023
Great views from Andrea’s bell tent
With kids ·
Andrea’s bell tent sits on a fabulous location! The views are a amazing. All people on site, Andrea and her family, were very kind. It's a firm tent, it withstood some stormy weather. Inventory is quite complete, but a few hooks or a dry rack would be more than handy. What needs to addressed are the beds, both of them had terrible mattresses. When you sleep on the double bed e.g. you'll feel the spirals of your mattress. Beds are best suitable for shorter people, under 1,70m.
Location
Corfe Castle, 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 Andrea P.

Joined in May 2022
From the host
Andrea's Farm Breaks is Bell tent glamping accommodation run alongside a working farm campsite in the heart of Purbeck. Andrea is pleased to offer a little luxury for those who want to camp at Downshay Farm in a comfortable bed. Downshay Farm is a working farm in the heart of the Isle of Purbeck, ideally located for exploring the stunning World Heritage Site coastline. The Pike family has farmed here since 1956. The farmhouse is largely Victorian although parts of the house and some farm buildings are much older. It looks out over the lovely views of Corfe Castle and the Purbeck Hills. The seaside town of Swanage is just over 4 miles away as are the sandy beaches of Studland Bay. Local footpaths and Swanage Steam Railway also make exploring Purbeck easy, and we are a few minutes’ walk from Harmans Cross Station. Enjoy the sandy beaches of Shell Bay, Studland and Swanage or go rock pooling or fossil hunting at Kimmeridge Bay. The Coastal Path will take you along the coast to Durlston Country Park, Dancing Ledge and Winspit. The deserted village of Tyneham and its own bay is a short drive away, then follow the scenic road over the Ranges to Lulworth and Durdle Door. Local attractions include Monkey World and Bovington Tank Museum, and a walk through the RSPB bird sanctuary at Arne to Poole Harbour is recommended.
Nearby attractions

Harman’s Cross Station on the Swanage Railway is just a couple of hundred yards from the farm gate. You can ride to Corfe Castle (two miles away) to explore the village and castle ruins or to Swanage itself, a seaside resort with a sandy beach and a pier. The area is a few miles south of the start of both the Unesco World Heritage-listed Jurassic Coast and the South West Coast Path. As a result there’s plenty of good coastal walking and fossil hunting opportunities on the beaches. Head for the sandy beach at Studland Bay to see the chalk stacks known as Old Harry Rocks (six miles away) or to Kimmeridge Bay (eight miles) to see limestone ledges and look for fossils. It’s a great beach for rockpooling, swimming, snorkelling and surfing too (there is a toll road to get there). RSPB Arne is about the same distance away and overlooks Poole Harbour where you can enjoy watersports or head for another nature reserve on Brownsea Island. Bovington Tank Museum, Monkey World, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door are all within 15 miles.

Food and drink

The Swanage Dairy visits the campsite each morning providing a handy way to get hold of milk and other basics – and some not so basics like their delicious doughnuts! There’s also a small grocery shop at a petrol station a short walk away, less than half a mile. Although there’s no pub within walking distance, the train provides a handy way to get to Corfe Castle village where there’s a choice of places to eat and drink including The Greyhound Inn, The Castle Inn and The Fox Inn. Another popular pub that’s a short drive away (less than three miles) is the Square and Compass in Worth Matravers; it serves drinks and pies or pastries only (no restaurant). Swanage (four miles) has plenty of options for eating out – your hosts recommend The Salt Pig Too, Gee Whites Seafood Restaurant or The Fish Plaice. For a special meal out, perhaps book a table at The Pig on the Beach at Studland or The Priory Hotel in Wareham (both around seven miles).

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