Camping in Bournemouth – Wild Camping Tips & Campsites

Located on England’s south coast and surrounded by Jurassic coast national park, Bournemouth is an eye-appealing resort town. It is one of the biggest towns in Dorset and welcomes visitors with its many refreshing camping sites. 

The sites among Dorset’s forest, amusing parkland, coastline, countryside, and New Forest’s rural pastures are perfect for camping in Bournemouth’s surrounding areas. This blog post will help you explore the beauty of the quiet, natural, and serene setting the site offers for camping. 

Is it Legal to Camp in Bournemouth?

In the UK, it is legal to camp in most places if you have permission from the owners of authorized sites, but there are some rules you should be aware of. It would help if you always let people know where you are camping and ensure you don’t leave trash or anything that might harm the landowner or the environment.

Unless you have permission from the landowner, and you get caught sleeping overnight, camping, or enjoying open fires in Bournemouth, you may be fined up to £1000. 

“Not many places to wild camp down south. Mainly just regulated campsites. I wild camp in the New Forest all the time; however, it’s not actually allowed.

I just randomly walk around and set up camp, but you can get a fine if they catch you. It’s illegal to wild camp in the New Forest and pretty much everywhere in the UK. You’re supposed to use a proper campsite.” –Reddit.

When is the Best Time to Visit Bournemouth?

The weather in Bournemouth is very mild and sunny all year round, with an average temperature of 14 degrees Celsius in July. Between January and March, visiting Bournemouth can get very cold and quite unfavorable. The weather is not good for visiting Bournemouth from April to June. 

However, the best time to visit Bournemouth is from July to October. The recorded temperature this month is 12 degrees Celsius to 15 degrees Celsius. Bournemouth receives a high number of visitors in September. 

Moreover, this is the peak season, so you would experience a rise in prices for your stay in Bournemouth camping sites. 

4 Campsites in Bournemouth That You Can’t Miss!

Camping is a perfect way to get out of the city and enjoy nature. There are some amazing campsites in Bournemouth that offer a variety of activities for all different tastes.

Yeoman Camping and Caravans

Located on Yeoman’s road in Bournemouth, this camping site is perfect for visiting if you are interested in fishing, horse riding, or golf. It is a Certificated Site (CS) and includes small, privately run campsites with 5 motorhomes, caravans, or 10 tens or trailer tents. 

Facilities:

  • Toilets need to be flushed
  • Washbasins
  • There is an electricity hookup on the grass pitch
  • A well-sheltered area
  • Family-friendly sites

Pricing: You can get electric hookups from £16 per night and non-electric pitches from £8-12 per night, depending on occupancy.

Address:  Yeoman Camping And Caravan

Things to do: You can enjoy many activities just a short walk away from your camps.

  • You can enjoy walking to the nearby beach or the large Castle Point shopping center
  • Enjoy fishing in the sea- just one mile away from your campsite.  
  • Horse riding is just a few minutes away
  • You can play golf, football or other sports 
  • You can hire a cycle to explore around the camp. 

 

The Homestead

Homestead is located near Dorset, Bournemouth. With an abundance of flowers, wildlife, oak trees, and local birds on 6 acres of the camping ground, it is one of the perfect holiday backdrops for visitors. 

dorset beach
If you go a bit out of the campsite, you’ll be greeted by this stunning beach overlooking Durdle Door.

Facilities:

  • Toilets
  • Showers available
  • No dogs allowed
  • Family-friendly
  • Public transport nearby
  • Drinking water available 
  • Facilities for disabled 
  • Electric pitches 

Pricing: Prices vary with varying seasons; you can get a pitch for £20, £22, and £30 in the low, Mid, and High seasons. For trailer tents and tents, you have to pay £12, £14, and £16 + £2 per adult in the Low, Mid, and High seasons. Children under 16 can enjoy their stay free of cost. 

Address: The Homestead 

Things to do: You can enjoy various activities on a small ride.

  • Swimming
  • Sea kayaking
  • Jetskiing in Poole water
  • Camping
  • Fishing 
  • A short drive to Poole (20 mins) and South Coast Beaches (20 mins) 

St Leonards Farm Caravans & Camping Park 

St. Leonards Farm Caravans & Camping Park is located near Bournemouth’s Sandy beaches and is a perfect camping spot for families wanting to spend more serene holidays.

Facilities:

  • Toilet 
  • Disable friendly
  • Hot shower
  • Laundry on sites
  • Electric hookups
  • Dogs Allowed
  • A large and open picnic area 

Pricing: £19 to £36 per night for 2 people according to the seasons. There are no charges for 4 years and under. 

Address: St. Leonards Farm Caravans & Camping Park

Things to do:

  • Boat hiring and sailing 
  • Jet skiing and dry slope skiing 
  • Swimming 
  • Horse riding 
  • Cycling 
  • Go carting 
  • Fishing 
  • Play golf, football, and other games. 
  • Fossil hunting in Kimmeridge Bay and Durdle Door 

Parley Glade 

It is situated in the middle of Bournemouth and is a small family-friendly site where you can enjoy your holiday with your family and friends. 

Facilities:

Toilets are not available in the parley glade certificated site. If you are visiting the Parley Glade, you must take portable toilets with you that you might need in case of emergencies. You can take your pets with you. Washbasins and drinking water facilities are also present. 

You can get pitches of different kinds (hard standing with electric hookups, grass-only pitches, grass pitches with electric hookups, tent pitches, motorhome pitches, small campervans, caravan pitches, and hard place-only pitches).

Pricing: You can get your camping site in Parley Glade from £12 to £20.  

Address: Parley Glade 

Things to do:

  • Fishing within walking distance from the site.
  • Horse riding
  • Cycling.
  • Indoor pool
  • Sandy beaches on a short walk.

Conclusion

Bournemouth has amazing campsites to offer for nature lovers. Especially when you visit the campsites from July to October, you will see nature at its peak. However, to keep your travel and camping safe, visit the rules and regulations for camping in Bournemouth. 

Looking for other camping spots in England? We covered the following locations that are nearby:

About Antonio

I’m Antonio, a passionate traveler, and outdoor lover who’s running this website. I started this site to share my passion for camping, traveling, and bikepacking.