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The View Camping

95%
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· Poole, Dorset, England
14 acres hosted by The View C.
50 tent pitches
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Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Welcoming family camping with campfires and far-reaching views over Poole Harbour and the Purbeck Hills

Naming this campsite was always going to be a no brainer. Set on two south-facing sides of a Dorset valley, campers pitch their tents to a backdrop of rolling hills that stretch all the way down to the Jurassic Coast, with the Isle of Purbeck and hilltop Corfe Castle visible in the distance. When the campfire’s going and quiet calm settles on the folds of the campsite, you can simply sit, relax and take it in.

That said, there must have been other options. They could have called it ‘The Atmosphere’, ‘The Wildlife’, ‘The Campfires’ or ‘The idyllic setting near Dorset’s main attractions’. All would have been equally worthy – if less catchy – names for a family-run campsite where you’ll find all the ingredients for a heady holiday recipe.

There's only a limited number of pitches spread across some 14 acres, so you’re guaranteed plenty of space. Guests can choose the spot they please, in the meadow at the top of the site for the best views of the Purbeck Hills and Poole Harbour or down in a valley glade where there are little wooded nooks and a reasonable chance of spotting roaming deer if you wake early. Campfires are allowed and there’s a relaxed, convivial atmosphere, with family campers and family tents ruling the roost, usually with swimming trunks drying on the guylines after a long day at the beach.

At times, The View can feel like a time warp. If you’ve left the rush of a town or city, you’ll find hours pass here simply doing nothing at all, other than enjoying the chatter of the birds and soaking in the open country space. Don’t worry. That’s natural. The character of the campsite, from the inquisitive farmyard animals to the impromptu musical gatherings with expert instrumentalists, can’t help but make you switch off.

If the vista draws you elsewhere, though, the campsite has a prime location. The best known beaches in the area – Lulworth Cove, Kimmeridge Bay, Swanage, Durdle Door, Bournemouth and Sandbanks – are all within a half hour drive, while Wareham and Poole are a little over 10 minutes. Take a picnic to the latter and catch a boat across the world-famous harbour to Brownsea Island. From there you can try and look back inland and spot the campsite somewhere up to the north. “What are you looking at?” a fellow ferry-goer might ask. “The View”, you can simply say, knowing your secret campsite discovery is safe for another day.

You can choose your own pitch from several beautiful fields, from higher grassland meadows with panoramic views towards the stunning Isle of Purbeck, Corfe Castle, and Jurassic Coast or perhaps nestle your tent in a peaceful soft valley glade. Each meadow offers a unique experience, all within walking distance to bespoke up-cycled toilet units, ranging from eco-friendly to flushing.  We also have a couple of quirky showers on site too as an added extra. There are several open-air, fresh, water stations and taps over the whole site.  On arrival, you will be greeted and given a brief introduction of what The View has to offer and the range of pitches you can choose from. Choose a spacious grassy area for one tent, up to 6 people. Car to be parked in nearby designated area.
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95%
54 Ratings · 44 reviews
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Elisabeth V.recommends
September 5, 2023
The View Meadows
A very lovely Dorset escape!
We pitched our tent at The View for a long weekend and had such a lovely time! The site is really sheltered, no strong winds just a nice pleasant breeze ☺️ Our highlight, and what felt the most fantastically far away from everyday life, was the weekend evening acoustic music that was gently moving over the fields from the barn. Lit by twinkle lights and a campfire, everyone pulled up their camp chairs to listen and sing along to some old favourites. Really pleasant atmosphere, and a noise curfew at 11pm meant we could ensure some good sleep too!! It was nice also that there were so many facilities dotted all around the fields, it was “these are your nearest loos/showers/sinks” rather than “these are the only…” I spoke to both Kate and Cathy and they were wholly lovely and welcoming! I’d fully recommend!! Thanks so much again ♥️
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Robert G.recommends
September 5, 2023
The View Meadows
The View with a musical vibe
We stayed at The View on Aug bank holiday for two nights. Cathy and Kate have organised a great 3 field camp site with a good balance of freedom to camp and designated areas. My 3 year old loved seeing the goats, sheep, cockerel and horses around the site in their various enclosures. Hearing an owl at night gave a real sense of being back to nature. The view over the fields and forests is pretty good from about half the camping area. Electricity cables partially obscure it by running through the middle of the site. This site mainly provides compost eco loos for guests. They're kept very clean, and don't smell but it's worth knowing this before you book if it might put you off. You also have to take all rubbish away with you as part of their eco policies. Two showers elsewhere on site (in a related horse box) had flushing toilets. They had plenty of hot water and act as family shower areas. Whilst we were there( not sure if every weekend) various musicians were playing at the barn area. They gave our weekend a lovely communal chilled out musical vibe which I really liked. The site offers easy access to Purbeck and Jurassic coast. Studland and Sandbanks beaches are within a 30 min drive. Also Poole harbour which is great for watersports. Overall I'd come back for some more Purbeck camping to The View.
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Christine H.recommends
September 2, 2023
The View Meadows
I loved everything about the view, from the initial clear instructions to get there to the friendly warm welcome from Cathy and Kate. Telling us everything we needed to know about the site while explaining what it means to them. Quite a lot of the pitches are on a slight hill but that was okay. The showers and toilets were quirky and clean and there was plenty of fresh running water. The campsite was lovely and safe for kids to roam safely and play football.
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Alison M.recommends
September 1, 2023
The View Meadows
Amazing place!
This campsite is just lovely! There is so much space to pitch and we appreciated being able to choose our own spot. We arrived on the Sunday of the bank holiday weekend and while they had not anticipated doing live music, they managed to call around some friends so we had a fab night of live songs and singing around the campfire. We loved the view and tranquil atmosphere of the site. The toilets and showers were great and it was only a short stone's throw to the car park. There are three fields to pick from, one of which you aren't allowed fires, so loads of room for everyone. Our kids roamed free with new pals and loved the animals on site. Kate was more than happy to show them off and introduce us to the sheep and goats. We know the local area well so were so surprised to come across such a lovely peaceful spot nestled so close to all the main places we wanted to visit! We'll definitely be back again :-)
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Lois K.recommends
August 28, 2023
The View Meadows
Gorgeous!
A gorgeous campsite, all facilities were clean and lovely hot shower! In a beautiful setting and we really enjoyed the music in the evenings in the barn :)
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Ozgur K.recommends
August 28, 2023
The View Meadows
Nice experience
Very friendly and lovely people.. perfect for camping with your family as well. Highly recommended..
Location
Poole, 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 The View C.Joined in August 2020
From the host
Step out of life’s stresses and immerse yourself in breath-taking countryside at ‘The View’. The warmest welcome is always assured by Cathy and her daughter Kate. The 14-acre site is unique, set in the heart of stunning natural beauty with abundant wildlife and birds. Get back to the core of life within nature. You can choose your own pitch from several beautiful fields, from higher meadows with panoramic views towards the stunning Isle of Purbeck and the Jurassic Coast, or perhaps nestle your tent in peaceful soft valley glades. The site is perfectly located in the small village of Lytchett Matravers, central for exploring all of Dorset’s very best. An idyllic haven and a stone’s throw from everything; Poole, Bournemouth and Purbeck’s, award-winning beaches, beautiful countryside, historic sites, and most special things Dorset has to offer, whatever your interest. Plan your adventures or simply just relax. The village is high in elevation, and you can see Poole with its world-famous harbour, Old Harry rocks and Brownsea island from the park and recreation ground (Great spot for family picnics). As the name suggests the views from every tent are simply gorgeous and they make the site so special. Poole Harbour and quayside, with its beautiful islands and abundant wildlife and birds, are near, as are Bournemouth Studland, Sandbanks, Swanage, all with beautiful beaches. The stunning Arne peninsular and RSPB reserves. The world heritage Jurassic coastal path with so many historic sites and special treasures are all very near. You can look out from your tent over a tapestry of countryside. The lovely Wareham Forest with its nature reserves, and the amazing 11th century Corfe Castle stands proud in the distance set within the beautiful Purbeck hills. We are now using our lovely barn and often host mini-events including well-being and musical gatherings where you can learn, meet new friends, and share magical moments. Our passion is to encourage awareness and care of nature, along with enriching people's wellbeing. Come and meet our lovely mischievous animals they are sure to make you smile! This is a gentle peaceful site with lots of space to choose the perfect pitch. A place to unwind and make special memories. Ideal for those who love the countryside.
Nearby attractions

The campsite is on the edge of the village of Lytchett Matravers, seven miles north of Poole Harbour and 12 miles from Bournemouth's sandy beaches and seaside attractions. The village centre is only a walk away from site and has an open recreation area with a play park, a great spot for a picnic. Farmer Palmers Farm Park is one of the closest attractions (01202 622022; a mile away) others nearby include the National Trust house and gardens at Kingston Lacy, Wimborne (01202 883402; seven miles) and Monkey World (01929 462537; 10 miles). Wareham is the closest town, six miles away. It has Saxon walls and a pretty setting on the River Frome where you can hire boats. Wimbourne is a little further (eight miles in the other direction), home to cobbled courtyards, boutique shops and Wimbourne Minster. The world-famous Jurassic Coast stretches east from Poole Harbour across the Isle of Purbeck where there's plenty to see and do. Swanage and Studland beaches, RSPB Arne (01929 553360), Corfe Castle (01929 477060), Lulworth Cove, Kimmeridge Bay and Durdle Door are all within 20 miles of The View Camping.

Food and drink

A little food wagon is on site several days a week serving simple homemade food. Down the road in the village The Chequer's Inn (01202 622215) is one of two pubs serving food and also hosts a mini market and milk vending machine. There's also The Barn Cafe (01202 900131), especially recommended for cakes. For a meal out, The Bakers Arms (01202 622900) and St Peter's Finger (01202 622275) both in Lytchett Minster, two miles from The View Camping, and The Worlds End in Almer, five miles away, are all recommended. There are lots of high-quality cafes, restaurants and bars located throughout Poole, Bournemouth, Wareham and Wimborne. For local produce and picnic supplies, head for The Salt Pig (butchery and cafe) in Wareham, Pamphill Dairy in Wimborne, and Vines Close Farm in Sturminster Marshall.

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