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Reviews of The Dorset Hideaway

Q: Is The Dorset Hideaway child friendly?

YES, it accepts children View all facilities

Q: Where is the nearest shop to The Dorset Hideaway?

There is a shop within 5 miles View all facilities

Campsite Search > UK > South West England > Dorset > Bridport > The Dorset Hideaway > Reviews

The Dorset Hideaway
Bridge Farm Cardsmill Lane
Whitchurch Canonicorum
Bridport
Dorset (Browse area)
DT6 6RW
Tel: 01308 308052
Visit their website Check Digital TV coverage See Weather Forecast

Pitches: 108
Open: 01/01/2024 to 31/12/2024
01/01/2025 to 31/12/2025

Rating:

8/10 from 57 Reviews

Photos (28)

Tent Pitches	Caravan Pitches	Motorhome Pitches	Small Campervans
Glamping Units	No Statics for Hire	No Statics for Sale	Seasonal Pitches
Electric Hookups	Hardstanding Pitches	Fully Serviced Pitches	Show Full Facilities

Who's it for
Families Welcome	Not Members Only	No Rallies	Not Naturist Site
Dogs Welcome	No Dogs Allowed	Groups Welcome
Facilities
Toilet Facilities	Hot Showers	Washing Up	Bathroom
No Baby Changing	Laundry On Site	Drinking Water	Disabled Friendly
Chemical Disposal	No Battery Charging	Gas Exchange	Recycling Facilities
Kitchen Facilities	Freezer / Fridge	No Motorhome Point	No Wifi Access
Shop <5 miles	No Bar	No Restaurant
Activities
No Playground	No TV Room	Games Room	No Evening Ents
Fishing On Site	No Wild Swimming	No Indoor Pool	No Outdoor Pool
Horse Riding <1 mile	No Cycle Hire	Golf <5 miles	No Tennis
Beach <5 miles	Watersports <5 miles	Boat Launch / Mooring <5 miles
Other Features
No Sea Views	Not Working Farm	Campfires Allowed	Open All Year
No Waterside Pitches	Public Transport <5 miles	Offroad Dog Walk On Site or Direct Access
Electric Car Charging Point

Reviews: 57 in total, now showing 11 to 20 Previous 10 Next 10

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Date of Visit: August 2019

Unit: Touring Caravan

Nights stayed: 2

Travelling as: Mature couple

Reviewer: KimWalker

10 reviews from this member

Not overly impressed.

When one reads the directions to reach the site one can see how remote it is but this is not made clear in the general website. Not easy for a 6m touring caravan going down single track lanes for 3 miles. As a previous critic wrote; as least were told about the milk tanker times when we left.

The owners are friendly enough and have worked hard to build a site which was a farm two years ago but something is just not right; perhaps the grass being cut neatly might help.

When we arrived we were met and shown to a pitch which met our requirements but there was no discussions about facilities etc. The shower block was new and even though there were only 2 female showers I did not have to wait on either morning. The old block was available for the overflow but I would not want to be there if the tent field was full, which was huge.

Reception was closed most of the time but the lady did answer her phone. We asked for some wooden blocks that arrived several hours later.

You can hire chickens (for the eggs) and a fire pit but what really worried me was the lack of signage about fire hydrants.

The children's facilities are great but we don’t have children but I could see families really enjoying it and feeling safe.

The dog walking field was good; we do have a dog.

Internet is non existent except at the Wifi point at reception and I could not log on.

You can hire the hot tub which we did but could not use due to the weather (I am hoping for a refund).

We left early due to bad weather coming in and will not return as it was not for us but I can see some people really enjoying it and it is a relatively new site.

Date of Visit: June 2019

Unit: Touring Caravan

Nights stayed: 5

Travelling as: Retired couple

Reviewer: Ourtouruk

4 reviews from this member

We chose this site based on their website giving a glowing description of a "5 star Luxury site".

The recommended approach road is down a 3. 5 mile road totally unsuitable for anything but the smallest touring caravan. The experience was so stressful that prior to our departure we checked with the local farm the timing of the bulk milk tanker that came along this route on a twice daily basis to avoid chaos.

Having arrived at the stated time, 2. 00pm, the reception was closed (as it was for the whole period of our stay) with a notice advising of a phone number to ring if the office was closed. THIS WAS RIDICULOUS as the owners had stated that the site is in an area with very poor mobile signal! Having walked around for half an hour we were finally directed to our pitch. Despite having advised the dimensions of our caravan the allocated pitch was too small. So after further delay we were moved.

Cleanliness of the shower/toilet block left a lot to be desired. I had to speak to a member of staff at the end of our second day and point out that there had not been any cleaning since our arrival. The block was cleaned almost immediately but once again the following day a very cursory cleaning.

We advised the "warden" that we were going to leave two days earlier than we had booked and prepaid for. There was no reaction to this, no question as to why, nor a question as to whether we had enjoyed our stay.

Date of Visit: August 2018

Unit: Trailer Tent

Reviewer: Juliewoolf

1 review from this member

I felt I had to share our review across as many review places as possible, as it would seem there are so many critics out there and I would hate for people to miss out on this gem of a site because they are put off by some negative reviews!

We stayed here last August bank holiday and loved it then, so returned again for this one. The owners have done a fantastic amount of work on the place since our last visit, and speaking to them, they still have lots more planned including a mezzanine in the barn for the teenagers and another new shower and toilet block!

The pitches are fab, we were on the grass field near to the new play area. We loved the location of our pitch for convenience to all amenities, as well as the added bonus of being able to enjoy a drink by the fire while we could still watch our son playing in the play area with the new friends he had made.

Everyone on the site were so friendly, lovely sociable and happy site. The showers are lovely and hot and always kept clean. Yes, there are only 2 showers in each gender, but there is also the older block with more toilets and showers available, and these are open when the new block is shut for cleaning so still have access to facilities. I agree with them being shut for cleaning at the less busy time as they do a great job of making them very appealing!

I’ve been to some sites where it feels like they are rarely properly cleaned at all, whereas here they are doing a very thorough clean daily. The most I had to wait for a shower was 5 mins and that was on one of their busiest weekends!

Also must mention the new addition this year of their very own food hut! It sells a variety from fish and chips to steak and ale pie and all was lovely, especially the chunky chips! It is a great addition that means you don’t have to worry about cooking after a long drive and set up. It’s open Friday to Sunday from memory.

Couldn’t recommend this place highly enough, it’s a fantastic site with everything you could want. Thank you Esther, Mike & Sean, we will see you again next year for sure

Date of Visit: July 2018

Unit: Motorhome

Reviewer: Lovetheoutdoors

7 reviews from this member

What a very special site this is - clean, beautiful and in a very nice location.

Owners friendly and will bend over backwards to accommodate you. Great for walking, cycling and visiting surrounding sites of interest.

Will be back soon.

Date of Visit: August 2018

Unit: Other

Reviewer: Klopp

1 review from this member

Booked a last minute break, as on the website the place looked nice. My partner dealt with a lady in reception, who she says was unpleasant. The accommodation [Glamping] was nice, although next to a cow shed which wasn't visible on the website pictures.

Painful walk in flip flops to showers /toilets as walking on really coarse smashed up tarmac. Showers nice but only two so had to wait and the site wasn't full. This was the same with the toilets and lacked toilet paper.

The Yurt was supposed to be dog friendly as booked with lady on phone but the man showing us around seemed surprised by this.

Outside lights on decking area failed to work, reported this and a man said it was fixed but 10 mins later lights went out. Overall the site has great potential, with kids play area, football pitch, volleyball net, fishing pond, spa? nice pitches for caravans, tents etc. The location is beautiful, but be prepared for some narrow, tight lanes approaching the site.

The negatives were the facilities, as reception was rarely open if you had a problem, you had to call and wait. The website does not truly reflect the reality of site, two new showers where not enough. Also misinformed about walking distance to beach from lady on phone, she quoted 3 miles was in fact nearer 6 miles.

Date of Visit: August 2018

Unit: Trailer Tent

Reviewer: Nathanstev

3 reviews from this member

For days suddenly were wrongly parked or had to be removed due to sign writing. Don't step over the line whilst cleaning, the owner will be there to tell you off extremely abrupt, all covered by its health and safety!.

Don't be drawn in by the picture of a relaxing picture of spa and hot tub. This is bolted on to the washing and shower area, and is in full view of anyone on site. The facilities are clean and new, considering it was built in 2016.

But there isn't enough, with only 3 sinks, 2 toilets and 2 showers in each. Not forgetting the overflow which has 2 unisex toilets and showers. Not enough for 95 pitches. Games area, don't break anything it's all on CCTV and they will find you. £20 deposit for a dog stake. Dog walk area is in the field away from site.

They have a food van on site. Open 7pm till 9pm which is handy as it takes the guy an age to cook anything doing 1 order at a time. Again it just didn't open one evening without any real apologies.

Trying to do to much and failing rather than doing the basics right. Drainage-sort it Customer service is lacking and the staff are not personable at all almost like we are trespassing-take a course. Rules are too many and to widely posted-scrap most of them.

Facilities-more! Pitches-less and bigger. A relaxing haven it is not. Will not be back.

Date of Visit: August 2017

Unit: Campervan

Reviewer: Podge68

7 reviews from this member

We chose this site as the website looked amazing. The whole concept of peace and quite, with new facilities and not too many pitches sounded idyllic. On arrival we were offered a choice of 2 pitches close to the shop, it was thick brown mud and I didn't want to put my awning on top of it but had no choice.

The weather had been really bad before we arrived but I do feel this site has problems with drainage as we had really good weather other than 2 half days of rain and the ground sheet was flooded as water didn't drain away.

There are only 2 toilets in the female and 2 in the male with 2 unisex toilets at the back which look like the old original ones. Again 2 showers in each. This may be fine at quieter times of year but it's the only site I've ever had to queue at. Toilet paper snapped easily leaving none available. Although the facilities are new they're just not enough of them. Showers were free and plenty of hot water but be prepared to wait.

Over the bank holiday people were being accepted to stay in every inch of available space up to 9. 30 at night. Very noisy and pitching in the dark, trying to earn as much money possible rather than thinking of other campers. But I suppose it's the last chance to gain income at the end of season. But this all added to the toilet problems.

Groups were allowed to pitch together which wasn't fair on quieter campers however saying that come 11. 30 it went really quiet as I think they were told to be. Wifi is okay if you're near the information room and free.

Lots of rules on site which didn't bother me. Tractor rides for the kids in the evening but at a price. Fire pits are a nice touch and logs can be purchased on site. The site shop is only open sporadically and I saw many a camper looking for opening times. There is a barn area with large table for getting together and a football and pool table which is a nice touch.

There is a spa on site which I never saw open but I heard the owner say it £10 per person for the hot tub but not are how long you had for this. No sign of the art room advertised on website. 3 bell tents look like they've seen better days. On the website it states shepherd huts and pub for 2017 along with other facilities but they weren't there on our visit but may be ready for next season.

The site is accessed via a small B road so be careful if pulling a caravan. Nearby is West Bay and Lyme Regis which are lovely and main shop is Morrisons in brigport which has a petrol station also.

Overall our stay was enjoyable but I think made better by the good weather. The owners work really hard as they have a farm to run also but this means they're not on site a lot but there is a contact number on the door. I would return to this site if only to see if they've completed the changes.

Owners were pleasant enough but need a bit of customer relations training as a bit abrupt at times. I would recommend the site as really well situated to explore Somerset and surrounding areas.

More toilets and showers, less campers being packed in on the top field and better drainage and this site would be excellent.

Date of Visit: August 2017

Unit: Touring Caravan

Reviewer: SJJohns

8 reviews from this member

I saw this site online and loved the concept, hence why I booked. However, we were there during a weekend in August and I wished we had gone elsewhere.

This site can only be reached down country lanes. Whilst the lanes are quiet do not to go with a caravan unless you are confident and competent at towing. My husband is and was fine, as a passenger I was stressed. I would suggest that the slightly better way in with a caravan is from the B3165 and not the A35.

This site has excellent facilities and when we arrived they were in pristine condition. However, it was very busy and they were soon 'trashed''. In my opinion there were far too many people on site for the facilities they had. Even at 2300 hrs I had to queue for the toilets and generally the whole experience in the washrooms was unpleasant.

In addition to the above there did not seem to be that much space. We were on a small pitch, there would not have been room for an awning and our vehicle. All the pitches were taken and there were tents directly behind us. There were more tents in the field next door, no one was spaced out. Rather than the quiet and relaxing experience I was hoping for it was probably the worst camping I have ever experienced. I believe this was down to the layout of the site, the lack of space and facilities. We have been on plenty of other busy sites in summer and not felt as we did here. We left as early as possible on Sunday morning and I felt relief as we drove away! I had thought before we got there that we would book the hot tub but this would have been like trying to relax in the middle of a children's playground.

And finally, it was not cheap, £91 for two nights on a very small but fully serviced pitch. It was not worth it. Also there was a shop on site but everything was extortionately priced. You expect to pay more but not be ripped off - which is exactly how I felt after the weekend.

Date of Visit: May 2017

Unit: Touring Caravan

Reviewer: SamandRose

27 reviews from this member

If you like the idea of spending your caravan or camping holiday in a beautiful, tranquil place and feeling like you have retreated into a more peaceful world, this site - especially if it's outside peak season - should be right up there on your list of places to consider. The views over open countryside are spectacular and the only vehicle noise you'll hear will be made by either a passing tractor or a fellow campsite visitor. We were told that wild deer come close to the site in the early mornings, but could never quite manage to wake up in time to spot them!

But there's none of your 'this is a small site on a converted farm, therefore the facilities are basic' excuses here. The separate male, female and disabled toilets and showers are immaculate and this is one of the few small to medium-sized sites that we've seen that offers spa treatments. Whilst we didn't try those out, we did spend an evening in the outdoor Jacuzzi watching the sun set, which felt a bit like being in heaven.

It's fair to say that the site is on a farm in the middle of nowhere and that the roads to it are mostly single-track - meeting a tractor coming the other way when you have a caravan behind can feel a bit intimidating - but take care and it's perfectly manageable.

There are just a couple of things that niggle though. The site claims to offer 55 pitches but only about 12 of those were large enough to accommodate our caravan (which is 6. 5m long, and certainly not enormous by today's standards). Most of the others are pitches are grass or gravel (more gravel pitches were being constructed during our stay) and large enough only for a tent or a small VW-type campervan. And are people who holiday in tents or small campervans really those who want on-site spa treatments?

The other point is that during our midweek stay in early May, we shared the site with only four other couples in caravans. And trying to judge what the site might be like when fully occupied based on that experience is a bit like trying to determine how busy a town centre car park will get on a Saturday afternoon if you drive into it at midnight. However, on the understanding that the site offers tractor and trailer rides and other children's entertainment during the summer season, my slight concern is that suddenly it might not feel like a peaceful 'hideaway' any more.

If these worries are unfounded, I'll apologise to the owner, Esther, right now. But I still personally feel that the site would benefit from a smaller total number of pitches but with more of a larger size.

Date of Visit: April 2017

Unit: Motorhome

Reviewer: Woodie59

1 review from this member

Arrived on site a few days before Easter to a lovely welcome from Esther fab sized level gravel pitch with 6ft hedge in between so great screen if you not overly keen on your neighbours! ;) It was more than ample for our rather large KON TIKI (8. 6m) & tag along car (yes we made it to the site with no problems with our sized unit!), still loads of space, grass in front for all the loungers windbreaks dog etc. Disagree with previous review, site was manned throughout our stay on site for the same dates for all of our 7 nights someone was in reception morning and night - during the day they were out and about cleaning the showers, mowing and beavering away keeping the site looking lovely and tidy and walking around at night handing out logs for the fire pits whilst Esther was busy in the Spa, so yes not all day but there for the important check ins and morning/evening purchases, I know cos the kids cleaned me out for toys and sweets! The shower block is the best we have seen or experienced ( yes 2 wcs, 2 showers and 3 basins but also the same in the gents too so a lot more!) The grass in the farm field (not campsite) was rather long when we there also but this is because it is the farm and silage grass being grown and not the campsite but the owners let us campers go in there too - it would very much depend on when you stayed as to the length of the grass in the field but our kids were more than happy to roam free and venture through the grass like in the old days, how often does that happen now?! Am in total agreement with the no ball policy in side the site having been on other sites and had the side of our expensive unit bashed with a stray ball saves for a lot of aggro and bad feeling! Like a site that has rules and sticks to them for all keeps the peace and people know to be respectful. There's loads of space to run and play ball so why do it right next to the units when you're trying to just chillax?! Does annoy me when people stay and then either lie or skew things to make them look in a bad light this is am amazing site and so ruddy peaceful even when the site was full over Easter week there was piping hot showers (not luke warm and not a dribble either) they last ages and the temperature can be chosen by you not the site so not like a campsite shower at all. Yes they are closed at set times but this maintains them in fab order all the time and NOOOO you don't have to resort to your van there is not only a large disabled wet room and family room available with wc and shower (if you have to shower between 12 & 2!) must be blind if they missed it! So there's access to a flushing loo all day long but there is also a second shower block behind so gawd knows why they had to 'resort' to their van and noone was left without a loo at any time! The laundry is open and finished and if I could I would attach a pic we took prove it when we returned again last weekend cos we love the site. The play area is basic and there are plans to improve it but some rotter pinched the lot so they are saving to replace it - the barn is coming on nicely (saw a pool table being delivered !) so there will be indoor stuff soon enough anyway so a bit of everything for all ages is the real picture. They have tractor trailer rides and kids clubs in the summer so plenty to do on site. Yes wifi is not fast but they don't advertise it and if your 7 year old doesn't find this fast enough then might I suggest he go run around outside?! :o and get off the satellite TV! - this is a rural site and for people who want to sit back and listen to peace and the birdsong, some pampering & relaxation in the Spa (I treated the wife to a massage on Saturday evening it was easy to do I just called the number on the door as it says to do (!) and booked in seconds, it is only manned for appointments - you could hire the hot tub (plenty did over Easter - a but chilly for us ) for that it is perfect and we love it as it is just what we want, I guess not all sites are for everyone but if you want a site that is well maintained and cared for and immaculately clean with fabulous facilities and great value then this is the one, if you want a site with wifi on the pitch, clubhouse, great satellite etc then no this isn't for you. The addition of food and bbq/hog roasts nights are going to top this site off perfectly.

Previous 57 Reviews in total, now showing 11 to 20 Next

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Common Questions

Is The Dorset Hideaway child friendly?  YES, it accepts children  View all facilities

Where is the nearest shop to The Dorset Hideaway?  There is a shop within 5 miles  View all facilities

Is The Dorset Hideaway dog friendly?  YES  View all facilities

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