Ringstead Bay Camping

View prices & book 9.5 144 reviews
Bell tent overlooking the ocean
Bell tent overlooking the ocean
Campers on site
Campers on the first weekend of opening
Guests sit outside of the bell tent
Bell tent on the grass
Grassy pitches
Bell tent with sea views
The campsite is based next to the coast
1/149
New
Campers on site
Campers on the first weekend of opening
Guests sit outside of the bell tent

  • Peaceful, rural site surrounded by woodland on the Jurassic Coast Path
  • Within five minutes’ walk of Ringstead Bay, a dog-friendly beach
  • On a working dairy farm with a shared fridge and freezer; café nearby
It pays to pack your walking boots for Ringstead Bay Camping, a peaceful, family-friendly site on a working dairy farm adjacent to the Jurassic Coast Path. Break them in with a five-minute walk to dog-friendly Ringstead Bay, before tackling the longer strolls to famed Durdle Door (under two hours’ walk) and Lulworth Cove (an extra 30 minutes of walking). This rural site should tick a lot of boxes, with its two and a half acres of relatively flat grass. There’s immediate access to footpaths from the site, but if your dog needs a quick run-around, there’s also an on-site (and off-leash) dog exercise area. You're also welcome to park next to your pitch. Nearby Ringstead Bay is a sweet spot for swimming, paddleboarding, windsurfing, surfing or launching a small boat. Let the children have a rummage through the rockpools around the reefs. Down by the bay (10 minutes’ walk or a five-minute drive from the field), there’s a café and shop with a kids’ play area and food like freshly made breakfasts, baps, woodfired pizzas and scampi and fries (ask for a takeaway if needed). They also stock basic camping essentials. Prefer to make your own meals? The on-site communal building, The Armoury, has a shared fridge and freezer. It also has lockable charging points for small devices. Elsewhere on site, there are toilets, showers, washing-up sinks and drinking water. You’re welcome to set up a fire, as long as it’s raised off the ground. The sheltered field has woodland on three sides, so access is via a private road through the woodland. Look out for the sea, Weymouth Bay and the Isle of Portland through the trees on the southern side. And here’s a nice fact about the field: it once held an American military establishment, so original bunkers, outbuildings and a World War II lookout are nearby.

Site type

Tent pitches 40
Rent a tent 10
Open now
Opens 25 July
Please note
  • 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.
  • Single-sex bookings of 4 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 25 Jul to

No availability here for your search criteria

Pitch types & availability

Accommodation

Tent pitchesTouring caravan pitchesMotorhome pitchesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsCaravans for hireRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children
Other options

Reviews

9.5

Overall rating from 144 Pitchup.com customers

  • 65%
    10
  • 22%
    9
  • 9%
    8
  • 1%
    7
  • 0%
    6
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    5
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 3
PeacefulSpectacular scenery

99% would recommend this site to a friend

99% would stay here again

What customers say

Ringstead Bay Camping offers a peaceful, spacious retreat with stunning sea views and direct woodland access to a quiet beach. Visitors praise the exceptional cleanliness of facilities, including toilets and hot showers, and the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. Convenient amenities like fridges, freezers, and charging points are available. Minor drawbacks noted include slightly uneven ground in places and the location of some facilities away from pitches. Overall, it's highly recommended for a relaxing, back-to-nature coastal experience.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 15
Arrival date (latest first)

Lovely site.

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 7
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Non-electric grass campervan, tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Well maintained site. The toilets and showers were assiduously maintained by the ever attentive staff.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Stunning location, sounds of the sea,…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Gemma R.

Non-electric grass campervan, tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Stunning location, sounds of the sea, owls in the woods, pub half a mile walk along the coast path. Secluded. Clean facilities.

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very friendly staff, clean facilities, beautiful…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 3
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Anonymous

Non-electric grass campervan, tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Very friendly staff, clean facilities, beautiful location and view, so close to the sea, relaxed and peaceful vibe.
Loved that I went to sleep looking at an amazing starry sky, listening to the waves and a nearby owl! On a slope but plenty of level pitches to find.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very helpful and friendly staff. …

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 5
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Ian A.

Non-electric grass campervan, tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Very helpful and friendly staff. Impressed to see them still cleaning the toilets and showers at 21:30!

Lovely view and you can hear the waves on the shore from the campsite.

Disliked The camping field is a bit rough. Difficult to find a pitch that isn't sloped.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very good

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 2
Simon C.

Non-electric grass campervan, tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Showers and toilets were regularly cleaned, friendly staff.

Disliked Ground was very rocky and bumpy. My knees are too old for this!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Friendly site with beautiful views and walk, lovely staff

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Joanna P.

Non-electric grass campervan, tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Great location, views and walks, very friendly and attentive staff, clean facilities.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Highly recommended

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Non-electric grass campervan, tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Sea views, friendly staff, clean facilities, 5 mins walk to beach

Disliked Sometimes queues for the facilities (sinks, showers, toilets)

Recommend to friends Visit again

I would book again no problem

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Non-electric grass campervan, tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked The sea view, location to beach and coastal path where great
The toilets and Showers work perfectly well.

Disliked The ground was a was a bit uneven but only second time camping so not a great deal of reference

Recommend to friends Visit again

Was excellent

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 6
Caroline H.

Non-electric grass campervan, tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Space, views, close to beach, walk to pub

Recommend to friends Visit again

Most beautiful, clean and friendly campsite we've every stayed at

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Clodagh A.

Non-electric grass campervan, tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Absolutely beautiful peaceful location with fantastic sea views. The site was full when we stayed, but you wouldn't know it as there was plenty of space between pitches allowing for each group to have some privacy from others. The loos, sinks and showers were spotlessly clean, with a constant presence of really friendly helpful staff during the day maintaining things in tip top condition. The 'bunker' type building with the fridge and freezer were so useful for storage of our fresh food. The lack of WiFi was a real bonus. It forced our teenagers to get involved in 'real life', although there was some mobile signal. Please don't introduce WiFi, the lack of it was wonderful! Very close proximity to the pebble beach which was very clean. Really family- and dog-friendly atmosphere. We'll be back for sure!

Disliked Nothing about the campsite - it was by some margin the best campsite we've stayed at. The pebbled beach is tough on human and dog feet - bring some protective footwear!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Pop-up campsite

Campfires allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Beach access 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 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

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly 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 Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Communal freezer Communal fridge Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Shop nearby

Type

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

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Fishing nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Ringstead Bay Camping

Ringstead Bay

Ringstead Farm

Dorchester

Dorset

England

DT2 8NF

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

50.63426°N
2.36157°W

Nearest transport

Coach
4.3 mi Marks and Spencer
6.2 mi South Station
11.6 mi Red Lion
Rail
4.3 mi Weymouth Rail Station
4.7 mi Upwey Rail Station
5.1 mi Moreton (Dorset) Rail Station
Ferry
4.2 mi Weymouth Ferry Terminal
17 mi Poole Ferry Terminal
17.4 mi Poole Quay Ferry Landing
Airport
25.3 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

Those who pack their walking boots can have a nice time mapping out potential routes. There’s a stunning route east to White Nothe (less than an hour’s walk). Osmington Mills (15 minutes’ walk or 10 minutes’ drive) and a popular 17th-century pub are in the other direction. Walk further west to reach Bowleaze Cove and Weymouth’s sandy beach and attractions like an aquarium and miniature golf. Driving to Lulworth (25 minutes)? Pay a visit to the abandoned village of Tyneham (half an hour), which can be visited when the firing ranges are closed, or take a round-about route to The Tank Museum (20 minutes) and Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre (20 minutes). If you’re going west by car, perhaps consider touring the Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens (35 minutes), Lyme Regis (an hour) and West Bay (45 minutes), the filming location for Broadchurch.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Ringstead Bay 0.5 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Bowleaze Cove 2.7 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Weymouth Lodmoor 3.6 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Durdle Door West 3.8 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Durdle Door East 3.9 mi Sea N/AExcellentN/AExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Weymouth Sea Life Park and Marine Sanctuary 3.8 mi

Radipole Lake Nature Reserve 4.5 mi

Lulworth Heritage Centre 5 mi

The Tank Museum 6.7 mi

Lulworth Castle & Park 6.7 mi

National Trust

Max Gate 5.8 mi

Hardy's Cottage 6.7 mi

Clouds Hill 7.5 mi

Corfe Castle 13.3 mi

White Mill 17.7 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

Ringstead - Osmington Mills - Osmington Walk 0.4 mi

Osmington Mills - Ringstead - Upton 0.5 mi

Ringstead Bay - Chaldon Down - Ringstead Bay 0.9 mi

South Down NT Car Park - Scratchy Bottom 0.9 mi

South Down Car Park - White Horse Hill - Osmington - Osmington Mill - Ringstead - South Down CP 0.9 mi

Local events

  • Dorset County Show (Saturday 6 September 2025 – Saturday 6 September 2025)

    Dorchester, Dorset 6.7 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.

Want to know more about camping in Dorset?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Ringstead Bay Camping have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Ringstead Bay Camping dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Ringstead Bay Camping? Those who pack their walking boots can have a nice time mapping out potential routes. There’s a stunning route east to White Nothe (less than an hour’s walk). Osmington Mills (15 minutes’ … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Ringstead Bay Camping?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  11 a.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  3 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Ringstead Bay Camping? From £18 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.