With the staycation proving more popular than ever due to the current circumstances, Dorset is set to see record numbers of visitors this summer. It’s not hard to see why this county is so desirable, with its beautiful beaches, historic coastline and family friendly attractions. And what better way to visit Dorset than in your caravan?
People choosing to go camping in the UK for their holiday this year has skyrocketed, with last year being one of the most popular years for camping holidays in the UK.
At Hogleaze Storage, providers of caravan storage facilities in Dorchester, we are big fans of the county we call home and in this article we will be giving away some ‘tips from the locals’ on where to visit with your caravan in Dorset this summer.
Choosing the right campsite for your caravan
There are over 100 campsites to choose from in Dorset so there should be something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a family friendly campsite that offers facilities for children such as a play area or swimming pool, or a site that is a bit quieter and aimed at those looking for a relaxing break, Dorset has it all.
Think about the location of the campsite – do you want to be walking distance from the beach, or in the countryside for lovely walks. Think about where you’ll want to visit when you’re here and pick a campsite that is situated in a good spot to travel from.
Trawling through lots of campsite websites can take hours, so consider using some websites that will do the work for you. Put in your ideal location and dates and they’ll find available sites.
Have a look at sites such as: www.visit-dorset.com, www.pitchup.com, www.coolcamping.com, www.campsites.co.uk, www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk.
Family friendly places to visit
Dorset has a plethora of family friendly places to visit, maybe one of the most obvious being it’s glorious beaches…here are a few of our favourites:
- Bournemouth
- Sandbanks
- Studland Bay
- Charmouth & Lyme Regis beaches, ideal for fossil hunting!
- Weymouth
- Swanage
You could even look at booking a beach hut for your stay!
If you’re looking to entertain the children at an attraction, have a look at these ideas:
- Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park
- Sea Life Weymouth
- The Tank Museum
- Abbotsbury Swannery
- Monkey World
- Dorset Adventure Park
There are also a number of country parks that are free to visit, including Moors Valley Country Park, Avon Heath Country Park, Durlston Country Park, Upton Country Park and Borough Gardens Dorchester.
If you’re unlucky enough to get some wet weather during your stay, there are plenty of indoor swimming pools and soft play centres for you to go to.
Favourite Dorset walking spots
Dorset is a beautiful county that offers miles and miles of stunning walking spots. Country or coastal walks are ideal to do on your caravaning holiday, especially if you’ve brought your furry friend with you. The Jurassic Coast is world famous for its scenery of Old Harry’s Rock, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door.
Other locations such as Badbury Rings is an area of great historical interest, with evidence of Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman occupation. You may also want to get a boat from Poole Quay over to Brownsea Island for lovely walks and a chance to spot the rare red squirrels.
Check out other areas such as Corfe Castle, Cerne Abbas Giant and Gold Hill at Shaftesbury. You can also access Hampshire’s famous New Forest National Park.
Have a look here for some walking route ideas: https://www.visit-dorset.com/things-to-do/activities/walking/walking-routes
Secret spots!
Us Dorset residents have our own favourite little secret spots, so we thought we’d share a few with you, shhh…
- Tyneham Village – Ghost village of Tyneham for a snapshot of life before WWII
- Chapman’s Pool – A pretty little hidden cove nestled in the Isle of Purbeck
- Kimmeridge Bay – Special area of conservation and boasts the best rock pooling and safest snorkelling site in Dorset!
- Moreton Ford – Great for paddling, take your nets to catch the little fish.
- Mudeford Quay – Ideal for crabbing!
- Blue Pool – A stunning nature reserve with beautiful picnic spots and views.
If you’re staying near Wimborne, you must check out Barford Farm Ice Cream Gardens.
Tips for new caravanners
Now that you’ve got a plan of what to do and where to visit while you’re staying in your caravan in Dorset this summer, you need to make sure your caravan is ‘set to go’ and that you set up your caravan correctly when you get to the campsite. Here are a few of our top tips, especially for new caravanners.
- Check your caravan thoroughly a few weeks before you go away – you don’t want a last minute issue such as a dead battery, flat tyre, empty gas bottles or the fridge isn’t working!
- Create a packing list – you can keep this to hand for every time you’re packing away.
Make sure you know how to get to the campsite – check out your route to make sure you’re not going to hit any narrow country roads that prove challenging to navigate a caravan through. - Set up your caravan correctly on the pitch – there is a lot to tick off: unhitching, levelling, connecting water and electricity, adjusting steadies, etc. Make sure you have everything covered and take it slowly.
- Think about becoming members of the Camping & Caravanning Club who offer discounts on all of their campsites.
- Make sure your caravan is insured and registered on the CRis when you buy it.
Here are some further tips and things to check from the Camping & Caravanning Club.
Storing your caravan or motorhome after the camping season
A lot of people have the problem of caravan storage. If you don’t have the space at home or would rather your caravan or motorhome was stored safely, consider a specialist caravan storage facility such as Hogleaze Storage. Based just outside of Dorchester, we are perfectly located for caravan storage, with easy access to the world heritage coastline just off the A35 and A37.
Offering competitive storage rates and benefits such as:
- Onsite extras such as a pressure washer, grey/blackwater discharge point and waste skip, drinking water refill point and on-site toilets
- Numerous security features
- 24/7 access to your individual plot
- Generous sized vehicle plots
- Excellent customer service (check out our Facebook reviews!)
Our popular caravan storage in Dorset gets booked up early so don’t delay contacting us. Call our friendly team on 01305 889777 or fill in our contact form on the website.