Holyrood Farm Campsite

View prices & book 9.8 104 reviews
View from campsite
Great views and relaxed camping at holyrood farm campsite.
View of the church from the site
Main view from the back of the field

  • Wild camping half a mile from Shaftesbury
  • Spectacular views over the Blackmore Vale
  • Campfires allowed
The views from this Shaftesbury site, they are stunning. As is the setting: small and secluded Holyrood Farm Campsite is in Dorset countryside overlooking the Blackmore Vale, within easy walking distance of the pubs and shops of Shaftesbury. It's close to several good footpaths for walking too – or you could take things up a notch with a stagger up Shaftesbury's Gold Hill, the famously steep cobbled street used several times as a set for the big and small screen…? Those spectacular vale views are from Holyrood's working farm, with sheep, rare-breed pigs and Dexter cattle (standard), alpacas (less so) and a badgers' watch (nocturnal trips ahoy). The vibe is wild camping, but there's a shower available all season. Campfires – of course – are allowed, and food (and beery?) bits can be sorted 10 minutes' walk away at the supermarkets and independent shops of Shaftesbury. Following a successful start to the site and taking feedback received into account, the owners have added flushing toilets, a washing-up area and improved access in and out, along with on-site checking in, firepits for rent and wood for sale. A permanent shower has also been added, with plenty of room to dry off and hang your clothes while showering.

Campground type

Tent sites 54
RV & Motorhome sites 3
Open now
Opens 18 April
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • Your dog must be tattooed or microchipped.
  • The campground/park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dog Act (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 18 Apr to

Site types & availability

Reviews

  • 92%
    10
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    9
  • 7%
    8
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    7
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    6
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    1
Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
9
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
9
Cleanliness
9
Wifi
7

100% would recommend this campground to a friend

99% would stay here again

What customers say

Top spot! Relaxed campsite, awesome country views & chill vibes. Jason's a legend, super friendly. Basic but clean facilities, showers are hot. Great base for exploring Shaftesbury on foot. Might need more loos when it’s busy though.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 11
Arrival date (latest first)

Great views!

Overall

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

Unpowered grass campervan site

Liked This is our 4th stay at Holyrood. We love the views, the walks and the close proximity to Shaftesbury. The campsite is always very clean and well kept and is definitely one of our favourites. Jason, the owner is always friendly and helpful. Toilets and a couple of showers are provided. No shop but there’s plenty of choice in Shaftesbury, a 15 minute walk away . We love the peace and quiet we just wish it was open for more weeks during the year.

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site with fabulous views facilities clean. Relaxed absence of check in…

Overall

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

Unpowered grass campervan site

Liked Great site with fabulous views facilities clean. Relaxed absence of check in and out times made a refreshing change. Nice walk into Shaftesbury for shops,pubs and restaurants. Would definitely stay again

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Quietness, hearing the church bells, walking distance to Shaftesbury, fire pits…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
7
Accommodation
6
Facilities / Activities
6
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
3
Cleanliness
6
Wifi
No rating
Anonymous

Unpowered grass campervan site

Liked Quietness, hearing the church bells, walking distance to Shaftesbury, fire pits

Disliked Gap around shower door. Uncovered washing up area

Recommend to friends Visit again

Perfect and idyllic off grid camping at its best

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
10
Kay C.

Unpowered grass tent or trailer tent site

Liked Idyllic location. Peaceful tranquil. Jason the farmer very friendly and helpful. Back to basics camping but with the benefits of toilets and showers. Fire pits available. All totally delightful. Large field with masses of open and level space. No strict check in or checkout but Jason regularly came and went just to check all was ok.

Disliked Absolutely nothing!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Fantastic campsite with a fabulous view. The facilities are basic but clean…

Overall

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

Unpowered grass tent or trailer tent site

Liked Fantastic campsite with a fabulous view. The facilities are basic but clean and the showers have nice warm water. The owner was very friendly and helpful.
The view alone makes it worth to drive a few extra miles to stay the night there.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Amazing views!

Overall

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

Unpowered grass tent or trailer tent site

Liked The amazing view and location. Close walk to Shaftesbury. Jason was a very friendly host.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Fabulous wild camping site on a farm with outstanding views

Overall

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

Unpowered grass campervan site

Liked Jason’s campsite has the best views of any campsite we’ve visited. Waking up to sheep bleating and the moon set over the Blackmore Vale is really special. It’s a wonderfully chilled wild camping site with an easy walk via a footpath to the pub and up the hill into Shaftesbury. The toilet, washing up and shower areas are no frills but kept really clean. And Farmer Jason is very warm and welcoming. We loved that there is no set check in and check out time so you can arrive and leave when you want. We were there in the heatwave but luckily got one of the few shady spots. In hot sun, you ideally need an awning on such an exposed site.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Brilliant stay yet again, will be back and back again

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
9
Wifi
6
Christopher C.

Unpowered grass campervan site

Liked Stunning open views of the countryside

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site, views and area

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
1
Simon M.

Unpowered grass tent or trailer tent site

Liked Great site, excellent amenities, nice and clean would stay again

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent views. Clean facilities. Great host. Plenty of space…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
9
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
6
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating
Steve B.

Unpowered grass tent or trailer tent site

Liked Excellent views. Clean facilities. Great host. Plenty of space

Disliked Not many toilets or showers when busy

Recommend to friends Visit again


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

Bath available Car parking by site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry 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 Peaceful Spectacular scenery 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

Type

Farm Large (51-200 sites) Pop-up campground

Nearby leisure

Cycling nearby Indoor pool nearby Outdoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Tennis nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Seasonal sites

Location

Holyrood Farm Campsite

Gascoignes Lane

St James

Shaftesbury

Dorset

England

SP7 0NA

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

50.99825°N
2.19545°W

Nearest transport

Coach
0.8 km The Town Hall
0.9 km The Town Hall
14.4 km Virginia Ash
Rail
6.7 km Gillingham (Dorset) Rail Station
10.7 km Tisbury Rail Station
15.6 km Templecombe Rail Station
Ferry
35.1 km Poole Quay Ferry Landing
35.2 km Poole Ferry Terminal
38.3 km Brownsea Island Ferry Landing
Airport
35.4 km 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

If you're a UK sort of a certain age and can remember the famed ad for Hovis bread, nearby Gold Hill is where it was filmed – and did you know, big screen buffs, that the ad was directed by one Ridley Scott? The hill is five minutes' drive from Holyrood Farm Campsite, so totter up it for yourself when you get there; careering down afterwards on a bicycle very much recommended too. Your tired legs should also make an in-town effort to see Shaftesbury's two museums, one beside the ruins of Shaftesbury Abbey and telling its tale, and the other back at the top of Gold Hill, telling the history of Shaftesbury via many artefacts from its surrounds. (Best to have a look at this latter on your first climb, to save having to trek back up.) Day trips are within easy driving distance away from Shaftesbury: try the gardens at Stourhead House and Kingston Lacy 20 and 40 minutes away; the Fleet Air Arm Museum, telling the heady story of British aviation, half an hour away, and Dorchester about 50 minutes away. Other good day trip options are Longleat Safari and Adventure Park, 30 minutes away; the small peninsula of golden sand at Sandbanks 45 minutes away, and the town of Bournemouth, about an hour from the farm. Or stay close to the site if you're around at the end of August, and use it as a peaceful base to come back to after days at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Poole Harbour Rockley Sands 32.9 km Estuary N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Poole Harbour Lake 33.8 km Estuary N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Poole Branksome Chine 38.2 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Bournemouth Alum Chine 38.3 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Bournemouth Durley Chine 38.3 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Stourhead House and Garden 14.9 km

Longleat 21.7 km

Kingston Lacy House and Gardens 23.5 km

Wilton House 25.3 km

Haynes International Motor Museum 25.8 km

National Trust

Stourhead 14.8 km

Philipps House and Dinton Park 17.4 km

Little Clarendon 17.7 km

White Mill 23.5 km

Kingston Lacy 23.8 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Shaftesbury – Kingsettle Wood – Motcombe - Shaftesbury 1.2 km

Duncliffe Wood 4.7 km

The Donheads - Wincombe - Gutch Common - Barkers Hill 6 km

Donhead St Andrew and the Wardour Castles 6 km

Win Green and Tollard Royal 6.1 km

Local events

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

    Dorchester, England 34.7 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.

Nearest campgrounds

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.

Want to know more about camping in Dorset?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Holyrood Farm Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Holyrood Farm Campsite dog friendly? No View all features
  • What attractions are near Holyrood Farm Campsite? If you're a UK sort of a certain age and can remember the famed ad for Hovis bread, nearby Gold Hill is where it was filmed – and did you know, big … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Holyrood Farm Campsite?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  Anytime –  Anytime
    Depart by:  Anytime
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Holyrood Farm Campsite? From $40.92 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.