Dorset Farm Camping @ Dewflock Farm

Considering how close it is to the country town of Dorchester, Dewflock Farm has a wonderfully rural feel. Just two miles from the charming old town centre, this glamping site offers a true townie’s alternative – a working farm and views across the rolling Dorset downs.

Home to a scattering of bell tents and a handful of shepherd's huts, campers can bring their own kit and dive into an unfurnished bell or opt for the more luxurious option: a tent or hut with everything, including double and single beds, linens, towels, rugs and furniture. Somewhere in between is the 'part-furnished' option, which has a double bed but none of the other frills. Every tent and hut, however, comes with a good-sized fire pit fitted with a barbecue griddle and there's a superb field kitchen for all to share, equipped with all barbecue tools as well as crockery, cutlery, fridges and freezers and a washing up area with hot running water.

Dewflock Farm is a particular hit with families who are most at home in the bell tents. The meadows, in which the tents are pitched, provide plenty of space for children to fly kites and kick a ball around, while, in the mornings, littl'uns are most often found feeding lambs or the farm's goats. There's an on-site cafe in the old pig shed (breakfast daily and wood-fired pizza nights on Wednesday and Sundays), which doubles as a useful family space with a lounge area, television and WiFi. The most popular past time comes after breakfast, when hosts Tom and Verity roll out the Dewflock Mini Land Rovers for young campers to drive outside (or on a course in the barn if it's raining).

The real benefit of the place, though, for families and couples alike, is its position between town and seaside. For those who don’t mind a good stroll, Dorchester is within walking distance and has enough to occupy you for a day or more, while, just to the east of the campsite, the vast Maiden Castle is one of Europe’s best-preserved Iron Age hill forts and well worth a visit. South, meanwhile, a short drive leads you to the famous Jurassic Coast and it’s popular combination of beaches, cliffs and coves.