Happyard

No availability at present on Pitchup.com 9.4 37 reviews

Visitor image of the beautiful views (added by manager 27 Feb 2023)

Meet bride valley jubilee jack and more cria ready to unpack shortly

Off-grid farm and alpaca centre in peaceful rural Dorset
Alpaca walks, meets and parties all available to book
A 10-minute drive to Bridport, 15 to Dorchester and 30 to Lyme Regis

It’s all about alpacas at Happyard, an eco-friendly farm home to a herd of friendly woolly beasts that guests can meet, walk with or even book a party with. The herd’s home is rural Dorset, in a swathe of green space with views over fields towards the Hardy Monument in the distance. It’s deep in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but is a handy spot for getting to sightseeing of all sorts: Dorchester is 15 minutes’ drive to the east, Bridport 10 minutes’ west and Weymouth within 25 minutes. Driving west again past Bridport, the Jurassic Coast’s Charmouth and Lyme Regis are easily day-trip doable at 30 and 35 minutes. Or stop off at the site on the way to Devon or Cornwall, as its setting just after the village of Winterbourne Abbas is minutes from the A35. The roomy accommodation field has spacious open-plan pitches – no postage-stamp sizes here, points out the site team – so there’s loads of room to roam when you’re not making friends with the Happyard herd. And yet another happy feature? Campfires and barbecues are allowed, so spark up your masterpiece and sit back under the night sky. Please note that the site is off grid and that guests should bring their own drinking water. Portaloos and a standard toilet are the main yard, and a shower can be used for a small fee per night. Book alpaca experiences in advance, using the contact details in your booking confirmation email.

Site type

Please note

This site has no on-site shower facilities.

Your dog must be tattooed or microchipped.
The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) and/or any of the following: Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, any Mastiff or Tosa.
Group bookings of 3 or more units (e.g. tent, touring caravan, motorhome or accommodation hire) travelling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
Dogs are not allowed if you are staying in the accommodation units.
Bookings must not be for more than 14 consecutive nights.
Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
Guests must bring their own duvets, pillows, sheets and towels when staying in rental accommodation. You will not be allowed to stay if you do not bring these items.
Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the site are unlit.
Bookings must not consist of more than 3 different households.
No naked flames are allowed inside the hired accommodation units.
Please note that the toilet facilities are unisex.
There is no reception on-site: on arrival please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.
Fires, barbecues and/or firepits will not be permitted in dry, windy and/or hot weather conditions.

The site is off-grid and guests should bring their own drinking water. Strong tent pegs may be required, in particular in dry weather.

Languages spoken

English

Pitch types & availability

No availability at present on Pitchup.com

Choose your dates and we'll email when available.

See nearby bookable sites

Reviews

would recommend this site to a friend

would stay here again

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1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Loved the location. Strikes me that it I’ll always be a breezy…

Overall	8/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	8
Facilities / Activities	4
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	8
Cleanliness	8
Wifi	No rating

Zoë L. Aug 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Loved the location. Strikes me that it I’ll always be a breezy location and we had a bell tent and it easily withstood the 30mph gusts but you definitely need to be prepared for the fact you are on a hill. Only staff we saw were teens but the one we dealt with was super helpful and let us know all the necessary info. Basic facilities but clean and seemed well maintained.

Disliked: Pretty much whole camping field is on a slope so can’t pinch level, but this is my only downside and it’s easily managed.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Wonderful campsite. Lovely chance to be close to nature and animals. Nice…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	10

Mya-rose H. Aug 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Wonderful campsite. Lovely chance to be close to nature and animals. Nice and quiet in the evenings

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site, lovely host and stunning animals.

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	8
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	8
Wifi	2

Gidon Daniel S. Aug 2024

Bell tent (basic)

Liked: Location (proximity to beautiful walks and beaches). Great host. All the amenities

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site and lovely staff

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Anonymous Aug 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Everything

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Good location price and clean facitities

Overall	8/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	8
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	10

Anna S. Aug 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Nice view. Lovely animals

Disliked: Ground was not flat. Very bumpy

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi, Anna thankyou for your review. We did have a very wet winter and unfortunately didn't manage to roll the ground before the hay was set in so the ground is not as good as it usually is annoyingly but for next season we will look at ways to improve this . Will also have super showers and extra toilets next year so I hope you'll come back and see us again?? Enjoy the rest of your holidays Tina and the happyard crew

Great big field with friendly staff and lots of animals for the kids

Overall	8/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	6
Customer service	8
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	8
Wifi	8

Rob J. Aug 2024

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Most of it as it's just plain and simple. Field at bottom has toilets, Guinea pigs,cats and a massive rabbit, middle field going up bank has loads of Alpacas and top field is for camping..... Massive field,great to play in for kids and horses at bottom.

Disliked: Not complaining about anything but you can hear cars at night on road, you are no where near road but it travels, you get used to it and obviously the trek down to toilets, especially at night.... But take a good torch and you'll be fine.... Just suck it up and do it..... For the price, no probs

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice and quiet place.

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	8
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	8

Anonymous Aug 2023

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Quiet and not busy place. Clean portable toilets with toilet paper and sanitizers. Nice views. Lovely place.

Disliked: Shower would be advantage. I wouldn't stay there longer that one night as I would need shower after all day walk or paddleboarding.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thankyou very much for your review,we are considering showers although this would then have a bearing on the price and like to keep costs down to stay in the wild camping/ budget break but we certainly are looking at the options Wishing you a super time for the rest of the holidays and hopefully see you in the future 🤠

Lovely little site, simple facilities with plenty of pitching space

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	10

Lizzie B. Aug 2023

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: It’s a beautiful small and simple camping site. We loved the alpacas, cows and other animals down in the yard! The portaloos were clean and there was another toilet down in the yard, but we didn’t have to use it as there was never a queue. There was just a handful of other campers, so it was quiet and peaceful, but everyone including the hosts were really friendly and welcoming! We loved our short stay and wouldn’t definitely recommend and go back!

Disliked: Nothing at all! It is quite tricky to find if using satnav, however what.three.words locations and map coordinates are given on the confirmation, so be sure to use those!

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thankyou so much for your wonderful review it really means so much to us as really debating whether we offer camping again in the future as this season has really been a tricky one with this awful weather but reviews like this really perk me up Thankyou Enjoy the rest of your holidays hopefully the weather will be kinder 🤠

Really good value. Super friendly staff. Alpacas, horses, guinea pigs, rabbits and…

Overall	8/10
Location	8
Value for money	10
Accommodation	8
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Alan Y. Sept 2023

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Really good value. Super friendly staff. Alpacas, horses, guinea pigs, rabbits and cats. Beautiful views. A previous review mentioned road noise was a problem but we didn't find it an issue at all. You can hear it a bit but no more than many other camp sites and not enough to keep me awake and I'm a light sleeper.

Disliked: Slightly sloping pitches. Not really a problem if leveling ramps are used but would be good to know in advance so extra ramps can be packed.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you so much for taking the time to write a really kind review. Were so glad that you enjoyed your stay with us and hope to see you all again in the future 🤠

The kids could go off to the horses and Lammas was safe…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	2
Facilities / Activities	4
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	2
Wifi	2

Anonymous Aug 2023

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: The kids could go off to the horses and Lammas was safe enuff to let the kids play

Disliked: Nowhere to put ur rubbish Nowhere to empty ur toilet

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Portable toilet

Pop-up campsite

Dogs allowed

Campfires 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 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

Budget/backpacker Peaceful Remote location Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available No drinkable water point Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Farm Medium (26-50 pitches) Pop-up campsite

Accessibility

Accessible parking at pitch Disabled facilities

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Watersports nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Seasonal pitches

Location

Happyard

Bride Valley Alpaca Farm

Higher Kingston Russell

Dorchester

Dorset

England

DT2 9ED

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

50.72098°N
-2.59332°W

Route directions

Please do not turn off the A35 until you see the sign for Kingston Russell; a satnav may tell you to turn off too early. The site is a few hundred yards down the lane on the right, just after the old farmhouse. The site's What3words is loopholes.trials.dressings.

Nearest transport

Coach

6.9 mi South Station

7.5 mi Coach Station

9.8 mi Marks and Spencer

Rail

4.2 mi Maiden Newton Rail Station

6.7 mi Dorchester West Rail Station

6.9 mi Dorchester South Rail Station

Ferry

10.1 mi Weymouth Ferry Terminal

26.3 mi Poole Ferry Terminal

26.7 mi Poole Quay Ferry Landing

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

Even away from the alpacas, this is an excellently family-friendly place in which to settle down for a Dorset hol, whether you want countryside, coast, farms or fossil hunting. Or ditch the idea of day trips while you’re here and set off on the hiking paths and bike trails around the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – Kingston Russell manor house, the Dorset Downs, Long Bredy village and the Valley of Stones National Nature Reserve are all within walking or pedalling distance. If alpacas have whetted the kids’ appetite for creatures of all sorts, drive 20 minutes or so south to Abbotsbury Swannery, the world’s only managed colony of mute swans. Around 600 swans are here to see and help feed, on a sizeable site also home to a petting farm, play areas, pedal go-karts, a nature reserve and a maze. (The Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens are five minutes’ drive from here if you crave a calmer time afterwards.) Other excellent options include West Bay, scenic setting of the TV drama Broadchurch (15 minutes); a gawp at the Cerne Abbas Giant (20 minutes), the 55-metre chalk figure etched into the Dorset hillside, and following the Thomas Hardy trail around Dorchester to Higher Bockhampton.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name	Distance	Type	2020	2019	2018	2017
Hive	5.9 mi	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
West Bay (West)	7.6 mi	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Eypemouth	8.4 mi	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Weymouth Lodmoor	9.3 mi	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Bowleaze Cove	9.5 mi	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Abbotsbury Swannery 4.3 mi

Mapperton House & Gardens 7.1 mi

Hardy's Birthplace 8.9 mi

Weymouth Sea Life Park and Marine Sanctuary 9.2 mi

Radipole Lake Nature Reserve 9.4 mi

National Trust

Max Gate 7.5 mi

Hardy's Cottage 8.9 mi

Clouds Hill 14.9 mi

Montacute House 16.8 mi

Tintinhull Garden 18.3 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

South from Little Bredy 1.6 mi

BRIDEHEAD 1.7 mi

Eggardon Hill and Powerstock 3 mi

Hardy Monument Circular 3 mi

ABBOTSBURY GARDENS 4.2 mi

Local events

Dorset County Show (Saturday 7 September 2024 – Saturday 7 September 2024)
Dorchester, Dorset 7.3 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.

Policies

Booking terms and conditions

Admission

Admission is only permitted after registering at reception.
All guests spending the night at the park must present their ID at the reception desk and sign registration forms.
At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.

Arrivals and departures

Late arrivals must notify the park as soon as possible. Your booking will be held for 24 hours. After this period the management reserves the right to relet your unit.
No refunds/discounts for inclement weather, late arrivals or early departures.

Changes to your holiday

Bookings cannot be amended within 7 day(s) of arrival.

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed if you are staying in the accommodation units.
Dogs must be kept on leads and supervised at all times.
The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) and/or any of the following: Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, any Mastiff or Tosa.
Your dog must be tattooed or microchipped.

Extras

Motorbike(s) can be brought instead of the car(s) included.

General

Bookings must not be for more than 14 consecutive nights.
Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
In the event of a complaint, please speak to reception immediately. Complaints which are not brought to the management's attention during your stay cannot be dealt with once you have left the site.
Please note that the toilet facilities are unisex.
Public areas are non-smoking.
Refunds within the indicated cancellation period are only possible if the site is able to relet your unit/pitch.
The management reserves the right to deny access or terminate the stay of those guests whose behaviour is deemed unsuitable. No refunds will be offered.
The site is not liable for any refund in the event of force majeure.
This site has no on-site shower facilities.

Hired accommodation

Guests must bring their own duvets, pillows, sheets and towels when staying in rental accommodation. You will not be allowed to stay if you do not bring these items.
Hired accommodation: a £100.00 damage/cleanliness deposit hold is required prior to arrival and will be released within 24 hours of your departure date after inspection of your unit should no damage/losses be found. The damage deposit will automatically be pre-authorised in advance on the card used to make your booking.
No naked flames are allowed inside the hired accommodation units.
Your unit must be left clean and tidy; a fine of £50.00 will be charged for unclean units upon departure.

Occupancy

Bookings must not consist of more than 3 different households.
Group bookings of 3 or more units (e.g. tent, touring caravan, motorhome or accommodation hire) travelling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.

Pitches

Please note, pup tents are to be used for storage purposes only. Guests may not use them for sleeping.

Reception

There is no reception on-site: on arrival please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.

Safety

Barbecues are permitted but must be raised off the ground and attended by an adult at all times.
Firearms are not permitted.
Fires, barbecues and/or firepits will not be permitted in dry, windy and/or hot weather conditions.
Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the site are unlit.

Vehicles

The car is only included in the rate if you are travelling with a touring caravan or a tent. Cars are not permitted when travelling with a motorhome/campervan.

Visitors

Visitors must register at reception and pay their fee.

Additional terms

The site is off-grid and guests should bring their own drinking water.

Strong tent pegs may be required, in particular in dry weather.

Payment terms

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Frequently asked questions

Does Happyard have a swimming pool? No View all features
Is Happyard dog friendly? Yes View all features
What attractions are near Happyard? Even away from the alpacas, this is an excellently family-friendly place in which to settle down for a Dorset hol, whether you want countryside, coast, farms or fossil hunting. Or ditch the … Read more