3.61 /5
136 reviews
58%
would recommend
Showing the most recent reviews from guests
Clear filters Good locations/ showers need updating Bell Tent - Bell Tents Aug 2023 Showers need updating. Bell tents are clean and comfortable. Location great walk into Swanage. Near steam train.
Nice
Bell Tent - Bell Tents Aug 2023 The reviews all say the place needs updating, which is true, but that should in no way detract from what is a fantastically located, friendly, good value site. We had a great stay and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
Lovely holiday
Large Tent - Electric Grass Pitches Aug 2023 Friendly staff. They re arranged the pitches to suit our needs. Easy walk to the beach. The shower block and toilets need tidying up but didn’t spill our lovely holiday. We would stay again and would recommend this campsite.
Great location close to Swanage
Large A-class or Tag Axle Motorhome - Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Aug 2023 Only a short walk across fields to road into the town. Site was busy as was height of the season. Could do with a bit spent on the toilets and showers.
Really good location, close to Swanage which is lovely. Site on the whole was good. Improvements could be made by providing more toilets and showers.
The overall impression of the site is not great on arrival unfortunately. Old static caravans and vehicles to match.
All facilities were pretty tired looking. Shower water pressure completely failed on me and another guy. Member of staff was advised and got onto it straight away however.
Great if you like a busy child and pet friendly site. A bit of noise at night by other campers but not excessive.
We gave our short break 8/10 so on the whole pretty decent.
Untidy, poor showers Motorhome - Large Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Aug 2023 Pitches have many weeds. Grass part isn’t mown and maintained. Old poor showers which are dirty.
Small amount of dirty toilets Single Axle Caravan - Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Aug 2023 To start with the positives, the fully serviced pitch was great and it was only just over one mile to the beach.
But the toilets and showers let this site down badly. There are just 12 combined showers, sinks and toilets on the touring field which get very busy in the morning with people showering and thus, there is no toilet available. The toilet floor was always wet and muddy because it was cleaned with a wet mop and not dried.
We will not be returning here.
Our stay Single Axle Caravan - Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Aug 2023 Lovely place to stay.
Was very disappointed in the shower block. It was dirty.
Went to the bar on a couple of evenings and stayed where we could see our granddaughter playing in the park. Where we sat was full of teenagers swearing. Apart from that it was lovely. Staff very friendly.
Great site, really relaxed with good facilities
Single Axle Caravan - Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Aug 2023 The location of the site is perfect. You can easily walk into Swanage town. Within easy reach of all of the local sites . We really enjoyed the week.
Had the best holiday!
Single Axle Caravan - Large Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Aug 2023 We loved every day here for the last 8 days. Kids really enjoyed it & there was so much to do locally and on the site.
Entertainment was great!
Ok for short stay VW-Type Campervan - Electric Grass Pitches Aug 2023 Last minute booking for a 2 night stay. Check in was easy and pleasant.
Pitch itself was quite close so we were lucky to only have a campervan. Wasn't overly noisy, except for some selfish people who decided the entire site would like to listen to their musical tastes. Thankfully, that didn't last all night.
The facilities were adequate, although things got pretty grubby pretty quickly. No mops or way of cleaning after yourself, except for some dirty looking squeegee mops caked in dirty water.
Nice path direct from field to Swanage, which was about a mile away.
It was ok for 2 days but I wouldn't want to stay any longer.
Camping
Motorhome - Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Aug 2023 The staff could not have been more helpful. Very friendly and helpful whenever we asked about anything.
The bar was a bit on the small side for the size of the site but there was bingo on for both children (which they loved) and adults.
To be honest the only downside was we thought the pitches are too close together but we only stayed 2 nights so we coped with it. We will say, do try it. The town of Swanage, which isn't too far away, is lovely and so is the beach.
Good Twin Axle Caravan - Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Aug 2023 People are so friendly. Service is great.
It is very tired and run down, but had everything we needed. Could do with a tidy up. Roast carvery was lovely. Chris Payne, a great singer on the Friday night.
Our stay
Single Axle Caravan - Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Aug 2023 We really enjoyed our stay at Herston, we found the place very friendly, the staff were amazing, entertainment at night was great for us and not too busy like some sites.
Always able to get a table, shop was well stocked for all needs, great takeaway for pizza and kebab onsite and even a refreshments van for breakfast and evening meals/snacks.
We would defo go again.
Camping Motorhome - Large Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Aug 2023 We arrived at our pitch which was great size wise but quite unkempt and the grass desperately needed cutting.
Toilet and shower blocks were filthy for our entire stay but thankfully, we were in a motorhome so used our own bathroom. Food truck was also dirty on the outside and the entire site needs a tidy up. Cleanliness costs nothing but time and a jet wash. The area itself, Swanage, Sandbanks and the coastal path are absolutely beautiful and can't wait to visit again using a different site.
We booked a superior pitch but was not anything superior about it.
Remote rural location
Large Tent - Electric Grass Pitches Aug 2023 The facilities were clean but basic, ok as base camp to explore the surrounding area.
A bit of a treck to walk to Swanage, but there is a train station nearby.
Overall we had a good time as the site was not too busy, however the pitch wasn't very big and we struggled for room as we have an 8 man tent.
Our stay
Single Axle Caravan - Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Aug 2023 Great site and very friendly.
Very disappointed in site Motorhome - Electric Grass Pitches Jul 2023 Unfortunately there is no clear structure of who knows what they are doing. Not sure who was in charge as there seemed to be 4 men and 1 women, but all had different ideas. The site has static, caravans, tents, bell tents, large site, but only 1 toilet/ washroom area. Fortunately, we were a caravan and motorhome so had our own.
It seems even though people are told the pitch number, some just park anywhere and then about twice a day, staff drive around checking who is on which pitch and give the information back to the reception, but the system is either not updated or its just doesn't work this way.
We had someone on our pitch number, so pitched on the one by the side temporarily until I let the reception know there was someone on it, the chap said yes just pitch on the adjacent number, so we did.
Then about 20 minutes after setting up, the lady from reception came and saw us, and say we couldn't stay where we were but to hang tight (the chap had given us the wrong pitch numbers), she went back to the reception again, rang me after about 10 minutes and said we could stay. She did check my booking ref and as we booked in April I think that's why she let us remain where we had been told by the chap in reception.
About 1-2 hours later, a car with 2 blokes came around checking who was on which pitch, it seems that even though people are given pitch numbers, it's not enforced, causing chaos. Tents can literally park where they like!
There is a rule about no music after 11.30pm, so when there was 2 groups still playing very loud music until 2.30-3am, this was no joke. It was so loud and with the strong winds blowing directly in our direction.
The following morning, myself and another lady who had young children, who were camping literally the other side of the bell tents where the loud music was coming from, reported to 2 more blokes (seem like security), who again happened to be driving around with clip boards checking who was on which pitch.
They said they would go and speak to them, which they did the following afternoon and apparently the people in the tent were made to leave due to attitude, which if they had obeyed the rules, this wouldn't have happened. I think if rules are there, then perhaps security could drive around at night. This is a family site so there needs to be more signs etc. Perhaps young groups of single people should be informed that there are rules about loud music late and its not a festival style site.
Unfortunately we had horrendous weather high winds and then rain on the 2nd day, so the ground became very muddy indeed and being up high on a hill, this wasn't pleasant but when it was sunny it was fine.
The site in places is very tired and the seasonal pitches, some of them have rubbish piled up, so its doesn't look very welcoming. Not sure if its new owners but its a shame as the location is fantastic, only 20 minutes walk into Swanage.
It could be a lovely site, but needs someone to take control and tied it up, perhaps reposition some of the site so you don't just have one road in and out, so you literally drive through the tent field to get to the bell tents, which is not necessary if they use the exit as 2 ways, this would save the grass. The bell tents are also on a hill and the ground was so churned up that it was very muddy, again more amenities would be a good idea with another block, etc as if you need to wash up you have miles to walk.
We didn't eat or drink in the bar, as didn't need to. Also didn't use the shop either so can't comment.
We won't be staying here again, even on a hard standing as the pitches are so close together and for all the reasons above.
Poor campsite VW-Type Campervan - Electric Grass Pitches Jul 2023 No hot water in shower areas and crockery washing area. No hot water tap, let alone cold water from a hot tap in the toilet block near our pitch.
Showers were filthy and very unhygienic. Lighting in showers and toilets full of dead flies. Lower end of campsite was used as a dog toileting area with many dogs off leads. Most of the site looked very scruffy with many long term residential vans that seemed to resemble a traveller site.
Great location and price Large Tent - Electric Grass Pitches Jul 2023 Great location and price but poor cleanliness. Toilets - 1 x very small roll between 3 toilets. Same for the men. Showers were ice cold. No hot water or tissues to clean hands.
Needs updating Medium Tent - Electric Grass Pitches Jul 2023 This park is out of date and needs updating.
Some of the showers were freezing and toilets were not regularly cleaned. The bar was very old fashioned and lacked appeal. With some work, it could be a nice park as the location is good, only a 20 minute walk to Swanage.
Easy to get a taxi into town and staff were friendly. In the sea view field, the pitches were very close together as seen in the photos.
Good location but no hot showers Single Axle Caravan - Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Jul 2023 This is a great location, with a nice walk to the town. Site service was friendly, and availability was good.
However the toilet and shower facilities look tired and probably are insufficient at peak times. As a scuba diver, I wanted a hot shower in the afternoon/early evening and there was no hot water both times I tried, which I think is unacceptable when paying a high season price.
Lovely stay for a long weekend
Medium Tent - Electric Grass Pitches Jul 2023 Our camping trip ended a night earlier than expected due to the weather - the wind and the rain was relentless. However, we enjoyed our stay - camping holidays are what you make them to be.
The staff we met were lovely and helpful, booking in for us was easy as the reception was open, however we did get there for 12:30 to book in. I am not sure what you would do if you turned up later on.
The site is lovely, there are lots of areas to play ball games etc. The comments about toilets and showers in some reviews I read I feel a little unfair - it is camping, not a hotel. The campsite was not full, I could see there could be queues if the site was full but there are queues for toilets anywhere you go. The toilets were clean when we used them and the showers were clean when we used them. I have been to other campsites with worse facilities.
There is a cute little shop on site that sells the basics and the bar is small but fun with a karaoke night! The takeaway food was really nice and reasonably priced too. The walk to the beach was a lovely walk and about 15/20 mins straight into a lovely beach full of things to do.
We would return here any time, especially when it is so close to the beach and Corfe Castle, which we didn't get to go to for this visit.
Good location but facilities poor VW-Type Campervan - Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Jul 2023 This is a large site which needs a lot of tender loving care, which I don't think it is getting. The toilet facilities are inadequate for the size of the site. The shower blocks are dirty and very tired. Everything needs to be updated. The showers run cold one minute and scalding hot the next minute.
Good location
Motorhome - Large Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Jul 2023 The facilities were too far from our pitch. I am awaiting a knee replacement. I requested to be near amenities. The site has just been taken over & could do with tidying up. But would stay again.
A nice weekend but site a little lacking Motorhome - Fully Serviced Hardstanding Pitches Jul 2023 The location is ideal to walk across footpath to Swanage. The site is well laid out and good pitch sizes. Nice to have a bar and music and food available.
However, I felt that the site was not very well maintained and looked after. Weeds everywhere. The showers and toilets could do with a really good clean or overhaul. It was rather grubby and tired. Hot water supply was hit and miss.
