Riverside Lakes

View prices & book 9.7 3 reviews
Kingfisher lake - specimen carp to nearly 30lb
New
Bell tents
Cut-out lawns between the meadows
Chill out pitch

  • Attractive natural site on a family-run Dorset smallholding
  • New Forest National Park 15 minutes' drive; Paultons Park half an hour
  • Fishing lakes and animals to meet, plus craft activities for the kids
Riverside and lakes in one location? Yes, family-run Riverside Lakes, on the Dorset/Hampshire border 15 minutes' drive from Wimborne, is an attractive spot indeed, with lots of gorgeous corners to choose from when you fancy chilling out in the open air. The lakes aren’t just for decoration though – they’re for fishing, and open to guests whether they're experienced with a rod or just trying it out for the first time. There are carp of up to 30lb in the specimen lake, with lots of littler ones in the smaller lake. Unhooking mats, weigh slings and nets are provided free of charge (and it's all fenced off so children are kept safe when roaming about). This site is part of a smallholding that’s also home to friendly pigs, alpacas, goats and chickens for you to meet; they’re even friendlier if you turn up with something from the site shop to feed them. Handily there are also various indoor activities available, including pottery painting and tie-dying. There’s a nicely natural vibe at this site, with pitching areas mown but much of the rest left as natural meadow. There's a policy of no cars on the pitches to make sure it's all peaceful and safe for kids. Bathroom facilities are spacious and clean, and there's a washing-up station and a fridge/freezer area to stash all your food and drinks ready for your evening campfire. Each pitch has a free-to-use firepit, with wood available to buy on site (please don't bring your own). Wood-fired pizzas are available on selected nights, or you can walk to one of the local pubs for dinner if you prefer. Just make sure you're back in time for the splendid stargazing on site.

Site type

Touring caravan pitches 55
Motorhome pitches 55
Rent a tent 5
Tent pitches 55
Open now
Opens 1 April

Tourist board rating

Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Facilities/activities including fishing are subject to extra charges payable on arrival.
  • No cars/motorbikes by the pitch/unit. All cars must be parked in the designated area.
  • Reception is unmanned after 8 p.m.. Please inform the site while on your way there should you expect to arrive after this time, so that the team can provide information about your unit/pitch.
  • If making a fire, the fuel, logs and coal have to be purchased on site.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the site are unlit.
  • No naked flames are allowed inside the hired accommodation units.
  • Swimming in the lake is not allowed.
  • If reception is closed 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 charging of electric vehicles is not permitted on site.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Tue, 1 Apr to

AA 5 pennants

Pitch types & availability

Other pitch types

Reviews

  • 66%
    10
  • 33%
    9
  • 0%
    8
  • 0%
    7
  • 0%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 0%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 0%
    2
  • 0%
    1
Location
9
Value for money
9
Accommodation
9
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
9
Wifi
5

100% would recommend this site to a friend

100% would stay here again

Reviews page 1 of 1
Arrival date (latest first)

Will definitely be booking in again

Overall 10/10

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

Chill Out non-electric grass campervan, tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Beautiful surroundings, extremely well maintained. Loved the animals, the peace, the bird song…everything!
Facilities very clean and in great condition, owners very friendly and welcoming.

Lovely spacious pitches, well separated from each other, so can still have…

Overall 9/10

Location
9
Value for money
8
Accommodation
8
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
9
Child friendliness
9
Cleanliness
8
Wifi
5
Cora A.

Chill Out non-electric grass campervan, tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Lovely spacious pitches, well separated from each other, so can still have some privacy.
Super friendly and helpful staff.
Nice lakes onsite where you can cast the rod if you fancy it.
All in all great campsite

Disliked Need to watch out for a ticks in tall grass.
But I guess in summertime they everywhere.
So that's more like a warning rather than bad comment :)

Friendly welcome The site The animals…

Overall 10/10

Location
7
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
7
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
1
Darren G.

Viewpoint electric optional grass campervan, tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Friendly welcome
The site
The animals


Features

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

Baby-changing facilities Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Local produce Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Picnic table Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Tents for hire 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

Camping 2.0

Jumbo tent pitches

Themes

Forest Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife haven

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 Large (51-200 pitches)

Accessibility

Bathrooms: Large spacious shower Bathrooms: Large spacious toilet Bathrooms: Step-free access

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Surf school nearby Watersports nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Motorhome service point Seasonal pitches Tourer storage facilities Water hook-up points for tourers

Location

Riverside Lakes

Slough Lane

Horton

Wimborne

Dorset

England

BH21 7JL

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

50.86347°N
1.92613°W

Route directions

If coming from the Horton Inn way with a tourer or motorhome, you may want to go past the site's turning and find a safe space to turn around, as the turning to the left is at an angle and can be tricky to negotiate.

Nearest transport

Coach
6 mi Meeting House Lane
8.4 mi Bournemouth University
9.3 mi St Johns Church
Rail
9.4 mi Branksome Rail Station
9.8 mi Parkstone (Dorset) Rail Station
9.8 mi Bournemouth Rail Station
Ferry
10.8 mi Poole Quay Ferry Landing
11 mi Tuckton Tea Gardens Ferry Landing
11.1 mi Poole Ferry Terminal
Airport
7.2 mi Bournemouth International Airport
25.4 mi Southampton 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

This is a fantastic area for outdoor activities, with places like Moors Valley Country Park (10 minutes' drive), which has cycle paths, orienteering and a treetop trail, and the New Forest National Park (15 minutes) close by. The national park has heaps of walks, bike rides and wildlife, plus attractions like New Forest Water Park (20 minutes) and the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu (40 minutes). And there's the coast too, of course – top spots nearby include the sandy beach in Bournemouth (25 minutes), wildlife-rich Hengistbury Head (half an hour) and the sailing hotspot of Lymington (40 minutes). At around an hour’s drive, Swanage and Durdle Door are a little further away but doable for a day trip. More family days out? How about Liberty's Owl, Raptor & Reptile Centre (20 minutes), Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park (20 minutes) or Paultons Park, Home of Peppa Pig World (half an hour)?

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Bournemouth Pier 10.5 mi Sea N/AExcellentGoodGood
Bournemouth Durley Chine 10.5 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Bournemouth Boscombe Pier 10.6 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodExcellent
Bournemouth Alum Chine 10.6 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Bournemouth Manor Steps 10.7 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentN/A

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Kingston Lacy House and Gardens 5.9 mi

Adventure Wonderland 7.1 mi

Breamore House 9.6 mi

The Bournemouth Balloon 10.2 mi

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum 10.4 mi

National Trust

Kingston Lacy 5.9 mi

White Mill 7.1 mi

Brownsea Island 12.2 mi

Mompesson House 15.1 mi

Studland Beach and Nature Reserve 15.2 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

Holt Heath - Horton Tower - Holt Heath 2.2 mi

ST GILES' HOUSE 3.5 mi

CRICHEL HOUSE 3.6 mi

CRANBORNE MANOR 3.7 mi

BOVERIDGE HOUSE SCHOOL 4.7 mi

Local events

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

    Dorchester, Dorset 23.9 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 Riverside Lakes have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Riverside Lakes dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Riverside Lakes? This is a fantastic area for outdoor activities, with places like Moors Valley Country Park (10 minutes' drive), which has cycle paths, orienteering and a treetop trail, and the New Forest National … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Riverside Lakes?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  8:30 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  8:30 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Riverside Lakes? From £72 (for 2 nights, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.