The Railway Campsite
View prices & book
- Eight-acre field with Swanage Railway steam trains passing by
- A 10-minute drive to Swanage Beach; 35 minutes to Durdle Door
- Off-ground barbecues and firepits allowed; dogs welcome
Site type
50
3
Twin axle vehicles are not permitted on site.- At least one of the party members must be aged 16 or over.
Languages spoken
English
Open from Fri, 4 Jul to
Pitch types & availability
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
10 people maximum Ground type: Grass
Pitch size: Max 6m width × 6m depth (36m²)
Arrival daysFrom £16
View prices & book
Non-electric grass motorhome pitch
10 people maximum Ground type: Grass
Pitch size: Max 6m width × 6m depth (36m²)
Arrival daysFrom £20
View prices & book
Reviews
99% would recommend this site to a friend
98% would stay here again
What customers say
This campsite offers a fantastic location, with many guests highlighting its proximity to the Swanage steam railway and beautiful countryside views. Visitors frequently praise the friendly and helpful owners, clean facilities including hot showers and compost toilets, and the on-site snack shack. The spacious, relaxed atmosphere and freedom to choose pitches are also popular. While some mention the basic nature of the facilities or occasionally steep terrain, the overall sentiment is highly positive, with many expressing a desire to return.
Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews
Brilliant campsite, good amenities lovely friendly people who run it.…
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked Brilliant campsite, good amenities lovely friendly people who run it.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Beautiful well maintained site
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked Beautiful setting in Dorset countryside, well maintained site with facilities well kept with clean showers, the compost toilets we're cleaned regularly and always had lots of loo paper. The owner and all the staff were super friendly and it was a great bonus to have the cafe as we arrived late and could get a meal.
Disliked Having hot water for the washing up area would be great
Recommend to friends Visit again
Fabulous campsite that is extremely well managed
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked The showers, the food & drink shack, the friendly people running the site and shack, the location right next to the trainline, the open space and "pitch where you like" attitude
Disliked The toilets - and it's not necessarily the fact that they're compost toilets, that's fine and good for the environment. They're just too small.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Fantastic campsite...I have had to delay my stay due to being taken…
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked Fantastic campsite...I have had to delay my stay due to being taken in to hospital....they could not have been more helpful when I contacted them...we have moved the camping dates......a wonderfully easy process...fantastic people.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Location is superb, Great to hear and watch the trains, Staff friendly,…
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked Location is superb, Great to hear and watch the trains, Staff friendly, Site tidy, Lovely hot showers, Food shack looked great but did not use.
Disliked Nothing really - it is a basic site with long drop toilets but facilities were exactly what I was expecting.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Will definitely stay again
Non-electric grass motorhome pitch
Liked Friendly site, quiet, regular steam and diesel trains passing. Easy access to local station which goes from.Corfe Castle to Swanage.
Clean facilities. Late check out time.
Jamaican food on Thursday was great.
Loved Annabel's four gorgeous collie dogs, who kept the site's children (and us) amused for hours
Disliked Nothing
Recommend to friends Visit again
Fantastic site!
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked Fantastic campsite. Lovely owners who run the snack shack / cafe and keep the site very clean and organised. They have 4 sheepdogs that played really nicely with the kids. 2 rope swings and little woodland area for games, ideal for our kids who are 6 and 3. The site didn't feel crowded even when at capacity. Jamaican guys come and cook proper Caribbean food on Thursdays. Mobile shop comes every morning with fresh pastries. We did some hilly bike rides to Swanage and studland. Took the steam train to corfe castle, the station is literally at the entrance to the site.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Super campsite for those who enjoy fuss free and basic, which we do.
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked The site was spacious, clean, well drained and airy hillside with plenty of flat areas. A cool wooded patch which made a great play area (the village playground was only a couple of minutes down the road, but we did not need it.)
The staff/owners were as friendly and helpful as you could wish.
The snackshack was just that and much appreciated.
Very dog friendly - not that we brought our own dogs but the kids made friends with loads of them.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Good quality site for the price.
Non-electric grass motorhome pitch
Liked Very friendly staff. Lots of space, play area for kids, shop onsite breakfast, evening options
Bbq's and fire pits,wood and kindling available. Elsan point, compost loos and showers all onsite.
Rail station for Swanage railway across from camp entrance.
Disliked Not all flat field, don't forget your levels if your in a vehicle.
Recommend to friends Visit again
The facilities are 2nd to none clean tidy and for £20 money well spent
Non-electric grass motorhome pitch
Liked Absolutely fantastic good value for £20 a night for a campervan highly recommend we didn’t plan on staying but it was so nice that we decided to stay more than two nights for a dog friendly very friendly all round steve
Disliked I found nothing to dislike
Recommend to friends Visit again
Loved seeing train run past every hour. Nice site and had cafe.…
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
Liked Loved seeing train run past every hour. Nice site and had cafe.
Disliked Breakfast £9.50 plus £2.50 for coffee expensive when served on paper plates, with wooden cutlery just outside of kitchen. Might have let this go but cafe owners friends turned up and were served on proper plates. Friends then proceeded to talk loudly about recent surgery, didn't go well with my breakfast!
Recommend to friends Visit again
From the manager: Sorry to hear about the conversation you overheard.
I’m afraid I’m not allowed to serve food on washable plates and knives and forks as I don’t have an industrial dishwasher it all has to be disposable for the general public I’m afraid. Only staff and family can eat off the kitchen crockery.
All the meat is from our local butcher and is top quality hence the price .
Features
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 WatersportsAmenities 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 WifiGroups welcome
D. of E. welcome Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcomeRules
Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all yearThemes
Budget/backpacker Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradiseUtilities
Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energyNearby amenities
Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby Shop nearbyType
Farm Large (51-200 pitches) Pop-up campsiteAccessibility
Accessible parking at pitch Bathrooms: Large spacious shower Uneven terrain; gravel or loose mudNearby leisure
Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Tennis nearby Watersports nearbyLocation
The Railway Campsite
Sunny Glade
Haycrafts Lane
Harmans Cross
Swanage
Dorset
England
BH19 3EB
Directions Timezone
Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)
GPS
50.61958°N
2.0239°W
Nearest transport
Coach
Rail
Ferry
AirportPlease 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
Water quality at nearby bathing waters
| Name | Distance | Type | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swanage Central | 2.9 mi | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Studland Knoll House | 3.8 mi | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Kimmeridge Bay | 4.7 mi | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Shell Bay North | 5.2 mi | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Poole Sandbanks Peninsular | 6.1 mi | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
Data source: European Environment Agency
Must see
Corfe Castle 2 mi
Swanage Railway 2.9 mi
Studland Beach and Nature Reserve 3.8 mi
Brownsea Island 5.6 mi
Lulworth Castle & Park 8.2 mi
National Trust
Corfe Castle 1.9 mi
Studland Beach and Nature Reserve 3.6 mi
Brownsea Island 5.6 mi
Clouds Hill 12.1 mi
White Mill 12.9 mi
Cycle routes
Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.
Other
Worth Matravers - Cliffs, Caves and Chapel 1.6 mi
Worth Matravers - Winspit - Dancing Ledge 1.6 mi
Corfe - Nine Barrows Down - Swanage 2 mi
Herston - Worth Matravers - Corfe 2 mi
The Purbecks - Castle and Coastal 2.2 mi
Local events
- Dorset County Show (Saturday 6 September 2025 – Saturday 6 September 2025)
Dorchester, Dorset 19 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.
Nearest sites
Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.
Want to know more about camping in Dorset?
Frequently asked questions
- Does The Railway Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
- Is The Railway Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
- What attractions are near The Railway Campsite? Famed for its ever-changing shades of blue and green, the Blue Pool (15 minutes’ drive) is surrounded by acres of heath- and woodland laced with trails. Take the easy path skirting the … Read more
- When can I check in and check out of The Railway Campsite?
Read moreCamping and touring Arrive: Anytime – Anytime Depart by: 4 p.m. - How much does it cost to stay at The Railway Campsite? From £16 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.