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Sweet Hill Farm

93%
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· Isle Of Portland, Dorset, England
1 acre hosted by Charlotte B.
10 motorhome/tent pitches
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Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Best all-round: Finalist
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023.
Amazing views
Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.
Simple, almost-wild, seaside camping on the Isle of Portland

In Roman times, beacons were lit across Portland Bill to warn passing ships of the dangers of its pointed coastline. Many years and many unhappy accidents later, King George I conceded that its treacherous shores were likely in need of a lighthouse or two. Now, the famous Portland Bill Lighthouse is a far more welcoming sight for travellers, with Sweet Hill Farm, just a mile from its base, offering the ideal location for those looking to explore the island.

Sweet Hill Farm provides a family-friendly hub for spirited adventurers to descend upon, in a site devoted to leaving as little impact upon its land as possible. 60 spacious camping pitches are available across several fields in an "almost-wild" setting, meaning that handcrafted compost toilets and cold water taps provide basic amenities, while ensuring its surroundings remain unspoiled. Don’t expect showers or modern facilities but do expect to open your tent each morning to a perfect sea view.

Sweet Hill Farm is ideal for campers with an adventurous side. Its family-run Chesil Equestrian stables provide local trekking experiences, allowing visitors to meet and fall in love with the likes of Chip, Pepe, and Ffion before exploring Portland on horseback. Andrew Simpson Watersports Centre is just a 10-minute drive away and offers accessible sailing and watersports for all abilities, with classes and activities for ages five and over. Then for the particularly brave there’s abseiling courtesy of Portland Climbing, with its group climbing sessions offering a variety of grades to suit all skill levels.

If all that adventuring sounds a little overwhelming, then follow the South West Coast Path from the edge of the campsite and you’ll eventually join 18-mile Chesil Beach, which feels positively endless from this point on its eastern tip. The beach provides a variety of idyllic fishing spots, as anglers travel from all across the country to catch Portland’s plaice, sole, and other sea-dwelling fish. Alternatively, enjoy a scenic 30-minute walk to The Lobster Pot Restaurant for one of their famous Dorset Cream Teas, situated right next to Portland Bill with unparalleled views of the coast.

When you wake up on Sweet Hill Farm to a glorious view of the sea, with a day of exploration ahead of you and all of Portland’s pleasures within walking distance, you’ll wonder why it took nearly 2,000 years for the first lighthouse to be built there. Who wouldn’t want to see this place?

By day you will see kestrels, owls and wildflowers, and with zero light pollution by night you can enjoy the most beautiful star gazing. We own a riding school so you can also book to ride and see the island on horseback. Here we offer nearly wild camping. With minimal facilities and as little impact on the land as possible, we have handcrafted compost toilets and cold water on tap in each field. Come prepared for some wild weather but enjoy the breathtaking landscapes and coastline.
Activities
Biking
Boating
Fishing
Hiking
Natural features
Beach
Coastal
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Farm
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93%
203 Ratings · 114 reviews
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Robert D.recommends
March 11, 2024
Camping Pitch
Nice and wild, Spend the 2nd night by ourselves and the view to the lighthouse was splendid!
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Leanne H.recommends
February 25, 2024
Camping Pitch
Charlotte was very helpful, she was in constant contact with me and if i needed anything
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Dan H.
September 18, 2023
Camping Pitch
Lovely views. Not bad site
Great view of the sea and due to lack of light had a great star show on first night Staff at coffee shack very nice Toilets dreadful and the washing up area could do with a shelter as impossible to wash dishes of raining
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Corin B.doesn't recommend
September 18, 2023
Camping Pitch
Bad experiment!!
For starters she didn't know we where coming, there was nobody at the melding place. We waited for 15 min. We drove up very bad road, on the camping all mud.It was messy , the forecast was Rain so We went away for aslong We could leave!! No comming back here!
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Mark L.recommends
September 11, 2023
Camping Pitch
Great atmosphere, stunning location - just what we wanted.
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Alex K.doesn't recommend
August 31, 2023
Camping Pitch
Been to better places for this $$$
Overall I was disappointed. what should be improved: toilets should be cleaned and maintained more regular, there was no toilet paper, someone vomited and it remains there. bathrooms has just concrete floor which is not comfortable, also to have hot water or just water in shower you need to get coins, 1 coin per 3 min (costs 1£ additional). if you're doing it first time you will waste 2/3 minutes to figure out how it works. Also, buying tokens-it's available only in bar, and I decided to go to the shower at 8am in the morning, there's no one at bar to buy coins, where I should get it from?! even at 8:30am no one was picking up the phone number they left for buying logs/tokens. always queue to the toilet or sink. toilet doors also does not work properly and can be opened just by wind while you doing it. ground of pitches wasn't good, also hard to find a spot, at weekend it is overbooked. no manage where to stay, just a mess. a lot of dogs without a lead and no one controls this. view is not like on pictures on hipcamp, feels like a scam. around the camping some destroyed farm like after bombing and military-like buildings. only good was a bakery in a van. the camping is overpriced for this amenities and infrastructure but seems like all money went to the live band playing on Saturday. definitely not recommend to anyone.
Location
Isle Of Portland, Dorset, England, United KingdomTraditional, ancestral territory of various First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Charlotte B.Joined in March 2021
From the host
Our private land offers nearly wild camping in a glorious location with uninterrupted views over to Portland Bill. Come and enjoy the many activities Portland has to offer, from horse riding, walking, rock climbing, bird watching, fishing, sailing or enjoying ice creams at the famous Portland Bill lighthouse. Portland known as the jewel of Dorset, is a tied island, 4 miles long and just 5 miles south from Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county. The Jurassic Chesil Beach joins it to the mainland.
Nearby attractions

Portland Bill Lighthouse (01305 821050), the isle’s most famous landmark, is a 30-minute walk or five-minute drive away. Its accompanying Visitor Centre provides those brave enough to scale its 153 steps with the history of the 144-year old structure, while you’ll even be rewarded with a badge for making it to the top. Chesil Equestrian (01305 823719) is an on-site stable that provides horse trekking experiences around Portland’s coast, while Portland Climbing (07752454602) will get you set up with scaling the isle’s cliffs and Andrew Simpson Watersports Centre (01305 457400) will let you book sailing or watersports days out. The nearest beach, Church Ope Cove, is a five-minute drive or 25-minute walk away, while Chesil Beach is a 10-minute drive and Weymouth Beach is a 30-minute drive away.

Food and drink

The Lobster Pot (01305 820242) offers cream tea and crab sandwiches with a great view, though for a stiffer drink, The Eight Kings (01305 822110) serves real ale, a selection of home-cooked food, and the occasional live music. Quiddles Cafe (01305 820651) is a unique beach bar on Chesil Beach, a 10-minute drive away, providing delicious seafood straight from the source.

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