Turnpike Showground

Pitches next to the woods (added by manager 26 Aug 2020)

Loading image…

Pitches next to the woods (added by manager 26 aug 2020)
1/8
1/37
Favourite

This site does not currently take bookings here on Pitchup.com.

If you are the owner of this site, start taking bookings through Pitchup.com.
It's free, quick and easy!

Add your business details

  • Spacious pick-your-own pitches in the north Dorset countryside
  • A 10-minute drive to Shaftesbury; half an hour to Longleat safari park
  • Dog-friendly site with easy access to the A303 and A350
Seriously in need of some space to take a break? Then get thee along to Turnpike Showground, a large site in the north Dorset countryside, a mile from the village of Motcombe and handily located between Gillingham and Shaftesbury (both of which are less than 10 minutes’ drive away and packed with places to eat, drink and shop). To call this place large is no exaggeration: the whole site stretches over more than 60 acres, with a field of over 30 acres given over to the pitches. The number of people on site is never massive though: bookings are always kept to a sensible limit to make sure that all comers can reap the benefits of that open space. Life on site is pretty laidback: it’s a non-contact check-in here and there are no marked-out pitches so you can pick the spot that appeals the most. Drinking water taps are spread around the site and guests have access to a toilet block that has separate ladies’, gents’ and accessible facilities, plus a baby changing area. This is a place that welcomes dogs and kids, who are welcome to join you on rambles around the outer stretches of the site to take in the rural views (and if you want a bit more of all that, it’s worth noting that the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a few minutes’ drive away). And that’s not it on the ‘excellent location’ scoreboard either – the A303 and A350 are both close by too, for easy jaunts in whatever direction you choose around Dorset or the neighbouring Wiltshire and Somerset.

Site type

Tent pitches 70

Languages spoken

English

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

See all results in England

Want to know more about camping in Dorset?

Features

Pop-up campsite

Dogs allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house

Cycle hire

Evening entertainment

Fishing

Fitness centre

Games room

Indoor swimming pool

Kids' club

On-site restaurant/cafe

Outdoor swimming pool

Play area

TV room

Take away

Tennis

Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available

Car parking by pitch/unit

Composting toilet

Disabled facilities

Dog park

Drying room

Food shop

Free wifi

Ice pack freezing

Internet access

Launderette

Parent & baby washroom

Pick-up from public transport

Portable toilet

Pub toilets

Public telephone

Shower available

Toilet block

Washing-up area

Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome

Family friendly

Motorcycle friendly

Rallies welcome

Single-sex groups welcome

Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Peaceful

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Type

Large (51-200 pitches)

Pop-up campsite

Nearby leisure

Outdoor pool nearby

Restaurant nearby

Location

Turnpike Showground

Show Office

Motcombe

Dorset

England

SP7 9PL

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

51.01877°N
-2.23005°W

Nearest transport

Coach
1.7 mi The Town Hall
1.7 mi The Town Hall
7.8 mi Virginia Ash
Rail
2.1 mi Gillingham (Dorset) Rail Station
7.2 mi Tisbury Rail Station
8.3 mi Templecombe Rail Station
Ferry
23.8 mi Poole Quay Ferry Landing
23.8 mi Poole Ferry Terminal
25.8 mi Brownsea Island Ferry Landing
Airport
24.1 mi Bournemouth International Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Shaftesbury (10 minutes’ drive) should certainly be on the schedule for anyone that remembers the old Hovis advert, which was filmed on the town’s Gold Hill (or indeed anyone that likes good views, which are plentiful around the abbey and Castle Hill too). In fact there are good views galore around here: get set to snap a whole load of pics on wanders around the gorgeous grounds at Stourhead, pretty Larmer Tree Gardens and the ruins of Old Wardour Castle (all about 20 minutes’ drive). And best make sure there’s enough battery left for an outing to Stonehenge (35 minutes) too… If rural breaks aren’t complete without meeting some animals, set forth for the safari park at Longleat (half an hour) or make a date with the gentle giants at the Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park (40 minutes). Hauser & Wirth’s vineyard and art gallery are about 25 minutes away, and it’s a similar drive to the Haynes International Motor Museum for the petrolheads in your life.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Poole Harbour Rockley Sands 22.3 mi Estuary N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Poole Harbour Lake 22.9 mi Estuary N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Poole Branksome Chine 25.7 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Bournemouth Alum Chine 25.8 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Poole Canford Cliffs Chine 25.8 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Stourhead House and Garden 7.2 mi

Longleat 11.8 mi

Haynes International Motor Museum 14.4 mi

Kingston Lacy House and Gardens 16.6 mi

Wilton House 16.7 mi

National Trust

Stourhead 7.1 mi

Philipps House and Dinton Park 11.5 mi

Little Clarendon 11.7 mi

White Mill 16.5 mi

Kingston Lacy 16.8 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Shaftesbury – Kingsettle Wood – Motcombe - Shaftesbury 1.7 mi

Duncliffe Wood 1.9 mi

Todber - Fifehead - Stour Provost - Todber 3.8 mi

The Green and Around West Knoyle 4.7 mi

HATCH HOUSE 4.8 mi

Local events

  • Glastonbury Festival (Wednesday 26 June 2024 – Wednesday 26 June 2024)

    Glastonbury, Somerset 18.3 mi

  • Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival and Rally (Friday 19 July 2024 – Friday 19 July 2024)

    Dorchester, Dorset 18.8 mi

  • Dorset County Show (Saturday 7 September 2024 – Saturday 7 September 2024)

    Dorchester, Dorset 22.2 mi

  • Tankfest (Friday 28 June 2024 – Friday 28 June 2024)

    Wareham, Dorset 22.4 mi

  • Camp Bestival Dorset (Thursday 25 July 2024 – Thursday 25 July 2024)

    Wareham, Dorset 26.4 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Reviews

No reviews yet.

​
  • Does Turnpike Showground have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Turnpike Showground dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Turnpike Showground? Shaftesbury (10 minutes’ drive) should certainly be on the schedule for anyone that remembers the old Hovis advert, which was filmed on the town’s Gold Hill (or indeed anyone that likes good … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Turnpike Showground?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  Anytime –  Anytime
    Depart by:  Anytime
    Read more