Glamping in Dorset

Dorset is one of the UK’s favourite glamping locations. It’s easy to see why. When it comes to glamping holidays, Dorset has it all. Chocolate box villages, rolling countryside, a coastline that offers both rugged cliffs with epic views, as well as sheltered, sandy bays where you can kick back and soak up the sun. It’s not just the attractiveness of the region that makes it such a winner, however. The accommodation on offer is also a real draw. Pods, yurts, bell tents, airstream caravans and family-sized safari tents; there’s a glamping site to suit all tastes and if you’re a lover of luxury then you can’t go far wrong holidaying here. So, whether your after a seaside break glamping by the Jurassic Coast or an inland refuge where you can hide away from tourist crowds, you’ve come to the right place. Browse our collection of the best glamping sites in Dorset now and book your perfect luxury camping holiday today.

History and Heritage: The Best of Dorset

When it comes to the history of Dorset the famous Jurassic Coast is generally the first place you should start. The awe-inspiring, dramatic cliffs, formed some 185-million years ago, tell a tale of bygone eras when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The Dorset Tourist Board are always quick to claim they’re the home of the ‘real’ Jurassic Park and, today, you can roam the beaches below with a very decent chance of finding prehistoric fossils and gigantic footprints from animals, some long extinct. Back inland, history continues to come thick and fast, with the likes of Cerne Abbas – a chalky, naked, club wielding giant carved into the hillside – and the largest hill fort in all of Europe at Maiden Castle – it’s the size of 50 football pitches! There’s the medieval St Catherine’s Chapel at Abbotsbury, where you can soak up the breath-taking Dorset views and an eclectic range of castles and country houses all across the county. Plus, you can indulge in Dorset’s rich literary heritage – this is, after all, Thomas Hardy’s fictional Wessex, the fabled backdrop for novel after novel, with many of his grassy vales, pebbly beaches and sheep dotted heaths unchanged to this day. More recently, it also provided inspiration for the gripping Broadchurch television series. Creator and writer, Chris Chibnall, claims he wrote the series as a “love letter” to the Jurassic Coast. It’s a love that we at Cool Camping are happy to share. Dorset is the one!

Types of Glamping Accommodation in Dorset

It's hard to pin down any one type of glamping accommodation that is particularly prevalent in Dorset. Really, though, that is all part of the appeal. Whether your after a summery bell tent or a sturdy year-round pod, you'll find a glamping site that fills your need here, with a fantastic range of prices and varied levels of luxury across the county. Shepherd's huts have a particular affinity with their surroundings. They've been used here for generations – long before the word glamping even existed – and many glamping sites have converted old huts into modern day master-pieces, complete with kitchens, proper beds and luxury en-suite facilities. Here at Cool Camping we're not particularly picky. From pods, yurts and safari tents, to elaborate treehouses and converted London buses, we've found a little bit of everything in Dorset and across the UK. What's important is that the whole site, from the friendly owners to the fresh towels in your bedroom, offer something that little bit extra special. So if you want to go glamping in Dorset, you can be guaranteed that our recommendation – whether a rustic hut or a luxury safari tent – will be one of the most exciting places to stay in the county.

Top 5 things to do in Dorset

– Hunt for fossils beneath the mighty cliffs of the Jurassic Coast.
– Walk the clifftop footpath and enjoy the views of Old Harry Rocks.
– Hike to St Catherine's Chapel for some of the best views in the county.
– Eat the freshest fish and chips at Weymouth harbour.
– Take a day-trip into Poole and catch the ferry out to Brownsea Island.