Snelling Farm Campsite

98%

98 reviews

· Wareham, Dorset, England · 30 acres

Hosted by Snelling F.

70 RV/tent sites

Family-friendly

Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.

Best farmstays: 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.

Snelling is a Star Host

Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.

An amazingly green, natural feel and care-free atmosphere near the Dorset coast

The Snelling Farm owners describes the campsite as ‘off the beaten track’ but not just because it’s so secluded – follow your SatNav and you end up with your engine bubbling in the River Frome, you have been warned! No, ‘off the beaten track’ is meant in a far more metaphorical sense. The delights of Dorset’s stony beaches and charming thatched villages, are actually relatively accessible and close at hand, but it’s the atmosphere that provides the real middle-of-nowhere feel they’re referring to. Hidden, tranquil and seemingly immersed in all things green and natural, Snelling Farm is a truly tucked away camping space. Road, track, lane, footpath... however you chose to find it, once you do you'll be glad you made the effort!Enclosed by flanks of mature oaks, Snelling Farm Campsite is a vast 23-acre field, crowned in its centre with another small cluster of trees. Beyond these essentials of grass, trees and ample open space, the campsite really boasts very little. There is a shower block, with surprisingly brilliant showers – pumping out toasty hot water – and a few fresh water taps dotted around. Yet other than these (and the eco toilets) there’s little to sing and dance about – no electrical hook ups and no playground. The resulting vibe is not one of neglect but rather a sense of sheer space and freedom. Campers can pitch where they like, kids can run wild and picture perfect wisps of white smoke drift softly into the air, a sign that campfires are a care-free fact of life here.At certain times of year the site is shared with various critters. Roe Deer are regular (if rather elusive) visitors, grey squirrels to and fro from tree to tree and sheep from the farm’s 250-strong herd graze the field and river edges. Follow their lead down to the water's edge and the wide, lazy waters of the Frome are as appealing to those on two legs as four. Kids will love dabbling in the shingley silt of the riverbed down by the ford (a 10 minute walk) and the sense of nature and tranquillity the spot affords is perfect for a care-free afternoon picnic.Offsite the picturesque little town of Moreton has a tea rooms and a historic church where T.E Lawrence (of Arabia fame) was laid to rest. His name has consequently been put to the Lawrence of Arabia Trail that runs past the campsite and through the countryside – an excellent family route for both walking and cycling. It’s also possible to reach his house Clouds Hill in Bovington, which is now maintained by the National Trust. What with these, the local Tank Museum, an intriguing Ape Rescue Centre and the joys of the Jurrasic Coast just a half hours drive away, Snelling Farm Campsite certainly has a world to discover on it’s doorstep. What a shame it is only open for a few fleeting weekends each summer – we could happily stay for a whole year! Unlimited pitch size, plenty of space for gazebos and car parking. No hidden costs for extras. Pitches are not pre-allocated so please choose your own pitch! There's acres of space. Please note that single occupancy tents or tents with 1x adult and 1x child are subject to our minimum tent fee. ie. please complete separate bookings if you are booking for 2 adults and wish to bring 2 tents. Please phone if you are unsure. Car parking allowed by your tent Please ensure at least a 10m gap between you and your neighbors including parked cars etc, anyone pitching too closely will be asked to move their tent.

RV details

Pop-up campers, Class B RVs, and Cars allowed

Vehicles under 19 feet allowed

Pull-in site

Accommodates slideouts

Surface type: Grass or field

Surface levelness: Requires leveling

No Travel trailers, Fifth wheels, and Class A RVs

No electrical hookup

No water hookup

No sewage hookup

No TV hookup

Generators not allowed

What to expect

RV/tent site

Camping area selected or assigned upon arrival.

8 guests max per site

Campfires allowed

Firepit. Fires and BBQs must be off the ground. Logs available to purchase on site at £6.00 per bag

Toilet available

Composting toilet. Please bring your own loo roll

Pets allowed

On leash. Max of 2 dogs per tent

Potable water available

Tap

Showers available

Hot water . We have 3 electric warm showers and 2 solar showers powered by the sun so the water temperature is variable

Bins available

Recycling bin, trash bin

Playground available

Hay bale stack and slides

Cooking equipment absent

Picnic table absent

No wifi

Laundry absent

Hot Tub absent

Things to know

Getting there

Check in: After 12:00 PM

Check out: Before 2:00 PM

On arrival: Head straight to site

Cancellation policy: Strict

Minimum nights: 2 nights

Accepts bookings: 9 months out

Park at listing

No wheelchair access

Max 2 vehicles

2WD accessible

During your trip

Follow the

Leave it better

Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.

ExtrasAvailable at checkout

Log baggood

£6.50

Large log bag of naturally seasoned wood.Due to COVID-19 please pre-purchase as many logs as you can reasonably expect to use during your stay to help reduce customer contact.Usually enough for one evening campfire although 2 bags are recommended if you are lighting early or planning to stay up late.Logs will be delivered at the start of your stay and additional logs can be purchased whilst on site, please wave us down as we do our rounds or purchase them from the farm shop. We are sorry but there will be no log deliveries after 8pm.

Doggood

£3.00

Dogs to be kept on leads at all times on the site, please respect that not everyone likes dogs and do not allow your dog to roam. Repeat offenders may be asked to leave the site.Mess to be promptly picked up. No more than 2 dogs per pitch please.

98%

131 ratings · 98 reviews

Justin W.

2 reviews

Recommends

· September 2024

Tent · With kids

Fantastic campsite with everything you need. The site is spacious and my kids loved playing on the hay bales and tree swings. The toilets and shower facilities were clean and more than adequate, and the small kiosk had fresh milk and ice-cream to keep us going during the hot afternoons. The site is really well located, just minutes away from the Tank Museum and Monkey World. Highly recommend staying here if you are looking for a family campsite.

James W.

8 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2024

Peaceful camping as it should be

Tent · With kids

Lovely quiet site with so much room to pitch! Amazing showers and very clean loos. Plenty of fire pits which you could borrow. Nice little shop with farm meat, eggs etc.. Very enjoyable stay and perfect base for exploring local area.

Jo W.

3 reviews

Recommends

· September 2024

16 ft Class B · With kids

Lovely site, plenty of space and facilities are basic but clean and functional. Would definitely stay again.

Beck ?.

3 reviews

Recommends

· August 2024

Dream Eco-Friendly Campsite

Tent · With kids

Our third time visiting this beautiful, tranquil and kid friendly campsite. We love it more each time we visit! Great for young kids, loads of space to run around ample room for everyone’s tents! Will be coming back again soon.

Elisabeth Z.

12 reviews

Recommends

· August 2024

16 ft pop-up camper

Very well organised camp site, very relaxed atmosphere and even though there were many campers it did not feel busy at all. Toilets and showers were very clean and as described! Brilliant toilet composting system and shower water temp just depends on the weather, as stated. Would definitely visit again.

Nadia P.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2024

Lovely

16 ft Class B · With pets

Absolutely lovely site: perfect for me and my 7 year old son. Will be back x

Location

Wareham, Dorset, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Snelling F.

Joined in July 2015

From the host

We invite you to stay at our farm in the heart of Dorset on the edge of the River Frome. Snelling Farm offers a stunning location for camping which is perfect for families, friends and couples alike. The farm is off the beaten track and campers can enjoy the freedom of choosing their own pitch, sitting around a campfire and toasting marshmallows whilst looking for shooting stars in the beautiful night sky. Get back to basics with a little bit of eco-friendly luxury; toasty warm showers, washing up sinks and eco-friendly loos on site. We have a small on site reception and shop selling a small range of produce from the farm and local area. Surrounded by miles of forest walking and cycling the campsite is also in easy driving distance of local attractions such as The Tank Museum, Monkey World and the world famous beaches of the Jurassic Coast including Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door are only 20 minutes away. Snelling Farm is over a mile from the nearest road, down a long farm track, in an unspoiled location where you feel connected to the countryside and nature around you. It is for this reason that we wanted to set up a campsite to enable campers to go back to basics and enjoy the magnificent ancient oak trees and the abundance of wildlife that visits the farm. We cannot guarantee no noise from a snuffling hedgehog, a singing bird or a few campers having a laugh round a campfire but we do have a no music rule and a noise curfew of 10.30pm (week nights) and 11.30pm (weekends) as we want all our campers to enjoy to their stay. The freedom of choosing your own pitch in a large field grants all campers the space they need to enjoy their break away!

Nearby attractions

Snelling Farm sits on the Lawrence of Arabia Trail, offering direct access to over 6 miles of cycling and walking through Moreton and Bovington Forest which is suitable for families and children. Keen cyclists and walkers can head into neighbouring Affpuddle Forest for a longer excursion. Moreton Ford is a 10 minute walk away – unique for its width and shallowness, the ford is perfect for a picnic by the shore, while paddling and swimming. Worth a visit whilst you're there is the church of St Nicholas, home to world famous etched windows and the grave of Lawrence of Arabia. The Bovington Tank Museum (3 miles; 01929 405096) and Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre (5 miles; 01929 462537) are great family days out nearby, while the Jurassic Coast, including Durdle Door, Swanage, Kimmeridge and Lulworth Cove is around half an hour (10 miles) away.

Food and drink

It's a 15 minute walk to The Dovecot Cafe (Open Mon–Sun; 10am–5pm; 01929 463647) situated within The Walled Gardens in Moreton, highly recommended. They do lunches and light bites, plus traditional cream teas that are the real winner. Pub-wise the nearest is the Frampton Arms (01305 852253), and the excellent Countryman (01305 852666) in East Knighton. Both of these you need to jump in the car for due to a lack of pavements. There is a small shop on site selling farm produce and a Co-Op Local Store 3 miles away in Crossways.

Things to do nearby