Activities & Attractions

Whether you are coming to our Dorset glamping site for a rural glamping holiday, looking for a family glamping holiday in the Dorset countryside or joining us for a romantic getaway in rural Dorset, our holiday park and glamping site is brilliantly situated to offer a variety of activities and attractions.

World Heritage Sites

Here in Dorset we are spoilt for choice when it comes to world heritage sites within easy reach of our glamping site. Whether your interest is The Jurassic Coast, The city of Bath or Stone Henge, all of which are approximately under an hours drive from us.

Dorset Walks

Our glamping site is nestled at the foot of Duncliffe Wood, an ancient woodland managed by the Woodland Trust. Duncliffe is open to the public and is perfect for dog walking, an adventurous trip for families with children or a romantic picnic with a loved one. There are many walks through the woods and the vista offers views right across Dorset. In season, Duncliffe is known as one of the Dorset bluebell woods in April and May. 

Other good local walks include Hambledon Hill, a prehistoric hill fort, and Bulbarrow, one of the highest hills in Dorset, offering views across Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Devon. The North Dorset Trailway, and the Wessex Ridgeway are other, more level walks which can also be cycled or ridden.

Activities & Attractions for Couples

The surrounding area is wonderful for couples to relax and get-away from it all. Here are just some options available while staying with us:

  • Thermae Bath Spa
  • Fishing
  • Massage
  • Beauty treatment
  • Golf
  • Longleat House
  • Stourhead house & gardens

Activities for the energetic

We know that resting in the tranquil countryside is not everyone's cup of tea and that some people unwind by filling the day with high adrenaline activities or some gentle exercise so here's a list of activities for the more energetic amongst our guests (pleas note many activity providers require minimum numbers):

  • Fitness centre (on site)
  • Horse riding
  • Paintballing
  • Laser shooting

Family Activities & Attractions

There are many attractions in Dorset and the surrounding countryside of both both national and international aclaim, making our holiday park the perfect place to stay whilst you visit attractions in Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset and even Avon.

Some of the most popular locations for guests to visit are:

  • Shaftesbury Oasis Swimming Pool (5 mins)
  • Shaftesbury, Dorset (7 mins)
  • Climb Aboard Soft Play Centre (10 mins)
  • RiversMeet Leisure Centre (10 mins)
  • Compton Abbas Airfield (13 mins)
  • Pythouse Kitchen Garden (15 mins)
  • Larmer Tree Gardens (19 mins)
  • Stourhead House & Gardens (21 mins)
  • Old Wardour Castle (23 mins)
  • Heart of the Cranborne Chase AONB (26 mins)
  • Sherborne Castle (26 mins)
  • Haynes International Motor Museum (27 mins)
  • Great Dorset Steam Fair (28 mins)
  • Fleet Air Arm Museum (31 mins)
  • Longleat house & safari park (32 mins)
  • Stonehenge (34 mins)
  • Cerne Abbas Giant (40 mins)
  • Moors Valley Country Park (40 mins)
  • Monkey World (42 mins)
  • Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum (42 mins)
  • Salisbury Cathedral (44 mins)
  • Farmer Palmer's Farm Park (44 mins)
  • The Tank Museum (45 mins)
  • Heart of the New Forest National Park (45 mins)
  • Paultons Park (45 mins)
  • Tutankhamun Exhibition (46 mins)
  • Terracotta Warrior Museum (47 mins)
  • The Teddy Bear Museum (47 mins)
  • Dinosaur Museum (47 mins)
  • Poole, Dorset (48 mins)
  • Snowtrax (50 mins)
  • Adventure Wonderland (50 mins)
  • Splashdown Water Park (50 mins)
  • Lulworth Castle (55 mins)
  • Lulworth Cove (56 mins)
  • Bournemouth Beach (57 mins)
  • City of Bath (55 mins)
  • Weymouth Beach (60 mins)

For further details on individual attractions in the area please speak to the attraction directly.

A little further afield...
More adventures in the area within approximately an hour's drive:

  • Corfe Castle (54 mins)
  • Peppa Pig World (62 mins)
  • Sealife Adventure Park (62 mins)
  • Abbotsbury Swannery (66 mins)
  • Wookey Hole Caves (~60 mins)
  • Swanage Steam Railway (67 mins)
  • Beaulieu Motor Museum (approx 70 mins)
  • Portland Castle (approx 70 mins)

Local Towns & Market Dates

Shaftesbury in Dorset, is one of the oldest, and highest, towns in England, evoking old world charm. Ridley Scott's directorial debut was here during the filming of the Hovis advert on Gold Hill situated behind the town hall. Many mistakenly believe that the cobbled hill featured in the advert is in Yorkshire but you too can walk up it and feel like the bakers delivery boy, but you are welcome to have a cup of tea at the cafe when you reach the top. Shaftesbury also has a fascinating Abbey ruin that was once the seat for royals and the most powerful Abbey in the country. There's a market on Thursdays and also a farmer's market on the first Saturday of every month.

Gillingham in Dorset, is a great place for some local night life. It has a number of pubs, two bars and a nightclub. Gillingham also has several supermarkets for stocking up on supplies. Local market on Thursdays & Saturdays.

Sherborne in Dorset, is known for it's historic Abbey and castles. There is also a market on Thursdays.

Wincanton in Somerset has a famous racecourse and a farmer's market on the first Friday of each month.

Salisbury in Wiltshire, is known worldwide for it's medieval Cathedral and is very close to the world heritage site of Stonehenge. A local city with a race course and good night life it is also easily accessible from Gillingham train station (just 2 stops) two miles down the road. Salisbury holds markets on Tuesdays & Saturdays plus a fortnightly farmer's market on the first and third Wednesday of the month.

Down in Poole every Tuesday the Quay is taken over by a stream of shiny, gleaming motorbikes with free entry to spectators. At other times it is a quieter harbour to stroll.

Dorchester dates back to prehistoric times and also has a wealth of roman, medieval and early modern architecture and has markets on Wednesdays plus a farmer's market on the first Saturday of the month.

Yeovil in Somerset, is a large town with entertainment facilities for families such as bowling, arcade games, cinema and a theatre as well as with a vibrant nightlife including many pubs, bars and nightclubs. This is another country town that is easily accessible by train from our glamping site.

Events in and around the area 2018

May 2018

26th - 28th May '18      Poole Regatta, Poole Harbour
28th May                       Corfe Castle village May fair
29th May                       Sherborne Castle Country Fair
30th May - 2nd June     Bath & West Show

June 2018

2nd June '18                 Shaftesbury Farmer's Market
3rd June                        Simply Porsche, Beaulieu
5th June                        Dream Machines, Poole Quay
8th - 10th June             Wimborne Minster Folk Festival
9th & 10th June            Falconry at Corfe Castle
9th & 10th June           Cheese & Chilli Festival, Christchurch
12th June                      Dream Machines, Poole Quay
16th & 17th June          Falconry at Corfe Castle
19th June                      Dream Machines, Poole Quay
21st June                       Summer Solstice (Stonehenge)
23rd & 24th June          Falconry at Corfe Castle
24th June                      Kingston Maurward Country Fair
26th June                      Dream Machines, Poole Quay
29th June - 1st July       Tankfest, Bovington Tank Museum
29th June - 1st July       Shaftesbury Fringe Festival
29th June - 8th July      Gillfest

  July 2018

30th June - 1st July      Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show
1st July '18                   Gold Hill Fair
7th July                         Shaftesbury Farmer's Market
7th July                         Yeovilton International Air Day
13th & 14th July          British Beach Polo Championships
14th & 15th July          Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival
21st & 22nd July          Wimborne History Festival
28th & 29th July          The Great Dorset Chilli Festival

August 2018

4th August '18             Shaftesbury Farmer's Market
4th - 12th August        Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Week
15th August                 Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show
23rd - 27th August      The Great Dorset Steam Fair

September 2018

1st Sept' 18                 Bournemouth Air Festival
1st & 2nd Sept            The Dorset County Show
1st - 9th Sept               Gillingham Walking Festival
8th & 9th Sept             Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival
23rd Sept                     Heavy Horse Show

29th Sept                     Shaftesbury Carnival

October

29th Sept - 6th Oct     Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival
6th Oct '18                  Shaftesbury Farmer's Market
6th Oct                        Gillingham Carnival
12th - 27th Oct           Purbeck Film Festival

November 2018

3rd Nov '18                 Shaftesbury Farmer's Market
3rd Nov                       Lyme Regis Fireworks & Bonfire Night
4th - 11th Nov            Bridport Literary Festival

December 2018

3rd December           Shaftesbury Christmas Lights Switch-on
7th December           Corfe Castle Winter Lights event
21st December         Winter Solstice (Stonehenge)

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