If you’re heading to this beautiful region to explore its fossil-packed shores and find out more about its literary connections, one thing is for sure – you’re certain to want to stay at the best caravan park in Dorset.
The Jurassic Coast offers many spectacular sights, including Durdle Door, Chesil Beach and Lulworth Cove. The 630-mile South West Coast Path begins (or ends) at Poole Harbour, while Weymouth and Bournemouth are just two of the many popular seaside destinations to be enjoyed. Dorset is also known for its strong literary links, courtesy of Thomas Hardy, presenting the chance to visit many locations that appear in his novels.
So, if you’re visiting this region and are wondering where to stay, our guide to the best Dorset caravan parks is here to help! In our Top 100 Sites Guide, our readers scour the UK to vote for the sites that have impressed them the most. From there, we can reveal the best caravan park in the UK, as well as the other standout sites in the regions.
The best caravan parks in Dorset:
Back of Beyond Touring Park
Bagwell Farm Touring Park
Monkton Wyld Holiday Park
South Lytchett Manor
Springfield Touring Park
The best caravan park in Dorset is:
Back of Beyond Touring Park
234a Ringwood Road, East Moors Lane, St Leonards BH24 2SB, backofbeyondtouringpark.co.uk
- Open: 1 March – 1 January 2024
- Touring pitches: 93
- Pitch+2+hook-up: From £26
The Regional Winner in our Top 100 Sites Guide has held onto its title of the best caravan park in Dorset for four consecutive years now.
It’s a site that provides guests with a relaxing and peaceful setting, ideal for getting away from it all. Set in 30 acres of stunning countryside, Back of Beyond has two lakes, with the area around both a Site of Special Scientific Interest, due to the rare species that reside there. The Dorset caravan park also encourages wildlife and flowers to prosper.
Excellent facilities are on offer throughout – this includes four heated toilet and shower blocks, a shop and also a dog-wash. There’s also the option of hiring out barbecues and fire pits from reception, especially useful if you don’t have your own caravan barbecue. Vendors also visit, selling a variety of food.
The site has made some new additions for 2023 as well – this includes the completion of an access bridge which will let visitors access the Castleman Trailway, and hedging added between pitches for additional privacy. Monty’s Bar is also having wood-burning stoves installed.
There’s more to the Dorset caravan site than it’s facilities and tranquil setting though – it’s also perfectly placed for exploring the region. Destinations to visit include the New Forest National Park, which is only a short drive away – other attractions include Bournemouth, Southampton, Stonehenge and Winchester.
It’s also an ideal caravan park for fishing, with a number of spots to head to, including the Moors River (do note a licence is needed though).
You say
- A beautiful, peaceful, adults-only campsite with first-class facilities and great staff helping to run it.
- Superbly run, friendly staff, brilliant site.
The standout contenders for the best caravan park in Dorset are:
Bagwell Farm Touring Park
Chickerell, Weymouth, Dorset DT3 4EA, bagwellfarm.co.uk
- Open: All year
- Touring pitches: 280
- Pitch+2+hook-up: From £24
This peaceful site alongside the Jurassic Coast has direct access to the South West Coast Path, with Weymouth nearby, too.
Amenities include a shop, off-licence, family bathrooms, accessible wet rooms, dog-walk and dog-wash, and The Red Barn bar and restaurant, open daily from April to October. In addition, new washers and dryers have recently been installed in the laundry room.
Children will enjoy the play area, which includes a sandpit, swings and a slide, as well as meeting the site’s resident donkeys and goats.
You say
- Friendly and helpful staff. The facilities are extremely clean and all maintained to a high standard.
- Very clean site, with very helpful and friendly staff.
Monkton Wyld Holiday Park
Scott’s Lane, Charmouth, Dorset DT6 6DB, monktonwyld.co.uk
- Open: 10 February – 6 November
- Touring pitches: 195
- Pitch+2+hook-up: From £27.25
With Lyme Regis and Charmouth both only three miles away, this well maintained park is ideally situated for exploring Dorset.
The 25 acre site has won a Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award and also offers award-winning washroom facilities. New for the 2023 season is upgraded free Wi-Fi.
Weekly food vans visit, and there are also two canine-walks on offer at the dog friendly caravan site, with the woodland path lit with fairy lights, ideal for an evening stroll.
You say
- A beautiful campsite with very friendly staff – and great showers, too.
- The setting is just perfect, the staff are very friendly and the disabled facilities are first class. A perfect site
South Lytchett Manor
Dorchester Road, Lytchett Minster, Poole BH16 6JB, southlytchettmanor.co.uk
- Open: 1 March – 31 December
- Touring pitches: 150
- Pitch+2+hook-up: From £28
This relaxing site is set in 20 acres of peaceful parkland, providing a beautiful setting for exploring Dorset.
The two buses that stop at the park’s gates head towards Swanage, Poole and along the Jurassic Coast to Weymouth, simplifying exploration of the surrounding area. Bournemouth is also only nine miles away.
From the site’s reception, bikes can be hired. There is also a shop that is stocked with local produce, a 2.5-acre dog walking field, a dog-wash and three heated amenity blocks provided. Daily pastries and bread are provided at the bakery too.
During the high season, outside caterers will stop by at the Dorset caravan park, and there is also a village pub that is 10 minutes from the site.
You say
- A perfect site, convenient for amenities, and there’s a bus stop just outside.
- Amazingly friendly site, with excellent facilities.
Springfield Touring Park
Candy’s Lane, Corfe Mullen, Dorset BH21 3EF, springfieldtouringpark.co.uk
- Open: 1 April – 31 October
- Touring pitches: 45
- Pitch+2+hook-up: £28
This charming site, 1.5 miles from Wimborne Minster in the Stour Valley, offers spacious pitches and an ideal location for taking in Dorset’s beauty. There will be plenty to do, too – Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch are nearby, while splendid Corfe Castle and the New Forest offer great days out.
A play area is available for under-12s, with other facilities including a laundry room and a shower block. The park, set in 3.5 acres of mature trees, has added motion-triggered lighting to the shower block for 2023, and has upgraded all of the electric hook-up points.
You say
- The friendly welcome of the owners, and the facilities available, were excellent.
- Great facilities. Fantastic location. Incredible owners.
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