Poole Camping

Camping and glamping in Poole

Between Bournemouth and the Purbeck Peninsula, Poole is known for its natural harbour, the largest in Europe, making it a great base for campers with a taste for the water. From paddling to paddleboarding, ferry trips to fossil finding, this part of Dorset is shaped by the sea. With the town crowding round the quayside, camping and glamping near Poole tends to be tucked in the surrounding countryside – but there’s plenty to choose from in our hand-picked selection. You can pitch up in your own tent within a few miles of the harbour or go high-end with glamping. Dorset has bell tents and yurts, tipis and treehouses so there’s bound to be something to suit you.

Things to do in Poole

If you’re looking for things to do in Poole during a camping or glamping holiday you should probably start with the quayside. Head to Poole Museum to find out about the history of the town and harbour. The museum is also home to the tourist information centre from where you can find out about tours of the historic old town. Poole is the launching point for cruises to Brownsea Island, birthplace of the scouting movement – now managed by the National Trust, day trips to Guernsey and ferries over to the Purbeck peninsula. This part of Dorset, separated from Poole by a tiny stretch of water (or 25 miles by road) is home to the start of the Jurassic Coastline, a 95-mile stretch of cliffs, fossil-strewn beaches and rock formations that have been recognised as a World Heritage Site. Kimmeridge Bay, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door are its best-known treasures. The start of the 630-mile national trail, the South West Coast Path, is just across the water too at Studland just south of where the Swanage-Poole Ferry arrives.

There are beautiful beaches on Purbeck but you don’t have to stray so far from Poole for the opportunity to paddle. Sandbanks is the closest beach to town and is consistently voted as one of Britain’s best beaches. And, of course, there’s Bournemouth to the east with seven miles of golden sands and kiss-me-quick entertainment. For more information on things to do in Poole take a look at the Visit Dorset website.