Howard's Wood

View prices & book 9.6 186 reviews
Aerial view of Dorset countryside
Aerial view of Dorset countryside
Campsite
Campsite and shower
Woodland clearing
Pitch up wherever you want
Clearing
Forest camping
Peaceful camping in the woodland
1/149
Campsite
Campsite and shower
Woodland clearing

  • Almost wild camping in a 25-acre woodland at Netherbury in Dorset
  • Charmouth 25 minutes’ drive and Abbotsbury Swannery 35 minutes
  • Dog-friendly pop-up site 15 minutes’ walk from the local pub
There’s getting away from it all – and then there’s really getting away from it all. If you feel the need to do the latter, then do it somewhere like Howard’s Wood, an almost wild pop-up site on the outskirts of Netherbury in Dorset. Here you can escape into a 25-acre woodland – planted in 2003 by the landowners – and truly relax in the middle of a wildlife haven. Bring your dogs and exercise them while exploring the woods, and let the kids run around within earshot on the playing fields next to the pitches. The pretty basic setup here consists of composting toilets and hot showers, and is suitable for anyone and everyone looking for a simple camping experience out in nature yet near to some big-name Dorset attractions. For at Howard’s Wood, you can wake up to mornings filled with birdsong, with the chance of spotting deer and squirrels roaming around near your tent. After a day out at the mysterious National Trust - Cerne Giant (35 minutes’ drive) or scouring for fossils along the Jurassic Coast (half an hour), return to base for relaxing times cosying up around a firepit or cooking up a barbecue – pick up food in Beaminster or Bridport (both about 10 minutes’ drive). Alternatively you can wander down to the local pub (15 minutes’ walk), which has luscious country views, a beer garden for warmer evenings and good home-cooked food.

Campground type

Tent sites 14
Rent a tent 1
RV & Motorhome sites 14
Opens 23 July 2027
Please note

General

  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 23 July to

No availability here for your search criteria

Reviews

9.6

Overall rating from 186 Pitchup.com customers

  • 79%
    10
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    9
  • 8%
    8
  • 3%
    7
  • 1%
    6
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    5
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Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 6
BushPeaceful

97% would recommend this campground to a friend

96% would stay here again

What customers say

Howard's Wood has a cracker of a "wild camping" vibe in private bush spots with hot showers & composting toilets. Campers rave about the quiet, privacy, ripper hosts & top value. Perfect for nature buffs, near beaches & shops. Watch out for uneven ground & a single-track road.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 29/09/2026

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 19
Arrival date (latest first)

Our worst kept little secret

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Andrea E. 3 reviews

Unpowered forest floor campervan or trailer tent site

Liked This campsite is one of those you want to tell everyone about but at the same time tell no-one and keep it as your little secret.

It's a truly magical experience and the pitches are in little groves that makes it feel super private. It's like forest bathing. We felt so relaxed.

I feel the need to respond to some of the comments reg. the facilities; we go to semi-wild camping sites a lot as we don't need very much and from our experience the facilities were some of the best we've seen. We were super impressed. I feel people have no idea how rare it is to have hot water to wash your dishes at this price, we almost felt bad about using it.

We don't come down this way very often but will definitely be making a point to explore more of this part of the country just so we can stay here again.

Big shout out to Steph, the host, who is an absolute legend.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Price, and location ideal for quick…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Mike C. 1 review

Unpowered forest floor campervan or trailer tent site

Liked Price, and location ideal for quick stopover, which was our requirement for that night.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Friendly and helpful…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Bradley W. 1 review

Unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked Friendly and helpful

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice and secluded spots

Overall

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

Unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked Easy walks available from the campsite and ended up at a cider orchard with live music. Very quite and secluded camping spots. Some basic supplies in the shower/kitchen area you can use which can be handy.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful spot with spacious pitches and…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Natalie P. 2 reviews

Unpowered forest floor campervan or trailer tent site

Liked Beautiful spot with spacious pitches and great eco facilities.
Amazing value for money and dogs welcome at no extra cost.

Recommend to friends Visit again

I Loved how remote the site…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
 molly W. 1 review

Unpowered forest floor campervan or trailer tent site

Liked I Loved how remote the site was, just what we were looking for. The showers and Toilets where cool, very basic but perfect for the price you pay. The showers were very warm.

Disliked Potentially could put on the booking that you can just turn up and pitch up anywhere, it was a bit confusing at first.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely pitch and a great price.…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
 Maddy J. 1 review

Unpowered forest floor campervan or trailer tent site

Liked Lovely pitch and a great price.
Good facilities.
Lovely owners.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Fantastic peaceful site.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
 Jack S. 2 reviews

Unpowered forest floor campervan or trailer tent site

Liked I absolutely loved Howard’s Wood. It was so peaceful and really was fantastic value for money. We’ll definitely be back 🏕️🥰.

Disliked I loved the site, I couldn’t find any fault. Perhaps the only thing I could suggest is a more obvious sign at the gate but I’m really splitting hairs there, we found it after a moment or two.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Able to pitch multiple small tents…

Overall

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

Unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked Able to pitch multiple small tents on pitch.
Quiet location.
Dog friendly.
Flexible check in and checkout times.
Great value for money no extra charge for multiple tents or dog.
Excellent communication from owner.
Great local pub nearby - booking required for evening meals.
Was ideal for our one night stay.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Good value for money but camping in the woods not for me.

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 10
 Neil S. 6 reviews

Unpowered forest floor campervan or trailer tent site

Liked Location and nice walks also site was good value for money.

Disliked Bit dark and dank in the woods but that's just a personal opinion

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Pop-up campground

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 Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry Local produce 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 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 Bush Peaceful Remote location Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby

Type

Pop-up campground Small (11-25 sites)

Nearby leisure

Cycling nearby Restaurant nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Howard's Wood

Netherbury

Bridport

Dorset

England

DT6 5RT

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

50.78721°N
2.75317°W

Nearest transport

Coach
6 km Coach Station
19.4 km Yeovil Bus Station
23.9 km South Station
Rail
9.8 km Crewkerne Rail Station
13 km Maiden Newton Rail Station
15.4 km Chetnole Rail Station
Ferry
29.3 km Weymouth Ferry Terminal
43 km Bridgwater Ferry Terminal
Airport
47.2 km Exeter 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

Dorset packs a mighty historical punch, and there are several Iron Age sites to see locally. Hike up to the fort at Rawlsbury Camp (50 minutes) for spectacular views over Bulbarrow Hill and Blackmore Vale, or glimpse the sea from the top of the burial mounds at Eggardon Hill Fort (25 minutes). Time-travel forward to Saxon times to see the National Trust-owned Cerne Giant (35 minutes’ drive) etched into the chalk hillside above thatched Cerne Abbas village (half an hour). A day on a Jurassic Coast beach may be in the sightseeing schedule too; choices include the fossil hub of Dorset at Charmouth (25 minutes) or the soft sandy town beach at popular Lyme Regis (half an hour). Heading east, Seatown Beach (20 minutes) is a quiet shingle spot for solitary walks, while trips to the West Dorset Heritage Coast repay with scenic hikes along Chesil Beach (40 minutes) and the chance to feed the swans at Abbotsbury Swannery (35 minutes). If you’d rather stay closer to home base, tour the orchards and taste a drop or two of local scrumpy at Dorset Nectar Cider (five minutes), and if the kids have been well behaved, reward them with cuddly donkey encounters at Donkey Walking Adventures (10 minutes).
(within 10 km)
Castle, Aquarium, Theme park, Zoo and Cashpoint (within 16.1 km)

Food and drink

  • Hare and Hounds Pub 1.1 km
  • Half Moon Pub 2 km
  • New Inn Pub 2.5 km
  • The Ollerod Hotel and Restaurant 2.6 km
  • Knapp Inn Pub 2.6 km
  • The Red Lion Pub 2.6 km
  • Brassica Restaurant 2.6 km
  • Greyhound Inn Pub 2.6 km
  • Tangerine Cafe Restaurant 2.6 km
  • Bombay Spice Restaurant 2.7 km

Groceries

  • Isaac Cider Off-licence 1.6 km
  • Co-op Food Supermarket 2.6 km
  • Lidl Supermarket 5.3 km
  • Co-op Food Supermarket 5.5 km
  • Waitrose Supermarket 6 km
  • Morrisons Supermarket 6.8 km
  • Felicity's Farm Shop Supermarket 8 km

Parks and play

  • Netherbury Playing Field Playground 0.3 km
  • St. Swithun's Church Gardens park 5.9 km
  • Purcombe Orchard and Gardens park 5.9 km
  • Purcombe Hill park 5.9 km
  • Mead park 6 km
  • Sidling park 6 km
  • Plot park 6.1 km
  • Little Mead park 6.1 km
  • Borough Gardens park 6.1 km
  • Pilsdon Plot park 6.1 km

Family days out

  • Furleigh Estate Wine Tours Visitor attraction 1.6 km
  • Stokewater Meadow Donkey Walking Days Visitor attraction 1.8 km
  • Mangerton Mill Visitor attraction 3.6 km
  • Powerstock Castle 5.9 km
  • Marshwood Castle 6.7 km
  • Foxdown Childrens Farm Zoo 8.3 km
  • Langdon Hill Visitor attraction 8.4 km
  • Harbour Amusements Amusement arcade 8.4 km
  • Bredy Farm Visitor attraction 9.7 km
  • Red Post Visitor attraction 9.7 km
  • Forde Abbey Castle 12.7 km
  • Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium 15 km

Public transport

  • Colfox School 4.5 km
  • King's Head 4.8 km
  • Kings Head 4.9 km
  • Knightstone Rise 5 km
  • Bridport Hospital 5.2 km
  • North Mills Trading Estate 5.4 km
  • Lee Lane 5.8 km
  • Park Road 5.9 km
  • Town Centre 5.9 km
  • Bridport Medical Centre 6 km

Beaches

  • East Beach 8.7 km
  • Seatown Beach 8.8 km

Other nearby

  • Eype Marina 8.2 km
  • West Bay Harbour Marina 8.6 km
  • Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club Golf course 8.8 km

Local services

  • TSB Cashpoint 5.9 km
  • Nationwide Cashpoint 5.9 km
  • Beaminster Pharmacy 2.7 km
  • Barton House Surgery Doctors 2.8 km
  • Tunnel Road Surgery Doctors 2.9 km
  • Bridport Community Hospital 5.2 km
  • Boots Pharmacy 5.9 km
  • Superdrug Pharmacy 6 km
  • Well Pharmacy 6 km
  • Bridport Medical Centre Doctors 6 km
  • Chargernet Charging station 6 km
  • Esso Fuel station 6.1 km

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Must see

Mapperton House & Gardens 3.4 km

Abbotsbury Swannery 17.8 km

Montacute House 18.5 km

Hardy's Birthplace 26.3 km

Fleet Air Arm Museum 26.6 km

National Trust

Montacute House 18.4 km

Barrington Court 20.8 km

Tintinhull Garden 21 km

Loughwood Meeting House 21.5 km

Shute Barton 21.8 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

PARNHAM 1.5 km

BEAMINSTER MANOR 3.3 km

MAPPERTON HOUSE 3.4 km

DOWNE HALL 5.7 km

North Chideock - Symondsbury and More. 7.5 km

Local events

  • Glastonbury Festival (Wednesday 23 June 2027 – Wednesday 23 June 2027)

    Glastonbury, England 43 km

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 Howard's Wood have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Howard's Wood dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Howard's Wood? Dorset packs a mighty historical punch, and there are several Iron Age sites to see locally. Hike up to the fort at Rawlsbury Camp (50 minutes) for spectacular views over Bulbarrow Hill … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Howard's Wood?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  11 a.m. –  Anytime
    Depart by:  2 p.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  11 a.m. –  Anytime
    Depart by:  2 p.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Howard's Wood? From $28.58 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.