Howard's Wood

View prices & book 9.6 53 reviews
Aerial view of Dorset countryside
Aerial view of dorset countryside
Campsite
Campsite and shower
Woodland clearing
Site entrance
Trail through the woodland
Aerial view of the woods
Campsite
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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.

Site type

Tent sites 15
RV sites 10
Rent a tent 1
Open now
Opens July 18
Please note
  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality flashlight with them as parts of the park are unlit.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, Jul 18 to

Pitch types & availability

Accommodation

Tent sitesTravel trailer sitesRV sitesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsMobile homes for rentRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children

Reviews

9.6

Overall rating from 53 Pitchup.com customers

  • 84%
    10
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    9
  • 7%
    8
  • 3%
    7
  • 1%
    6
  • 0%
    5
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 7
ForestPeaceful

98% would recommend this site to a friend

98% would stay here again

What customers say

Howard's Wood offers a unique "wild camping" experience in private woodland clearings, praised for its peace and natural setting. Guests highlight spacious, secluded pitches, friendly hosts, and good basic facilities. While some pitches are uneven and signage could be improved, most visitors found it excellent value and plan to return. Ideal for a quiet escape.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 6
Arrival date (latest first)

Excellent site with a great host

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
Lee J.

Primitive forest floor tent campsite

Liked Everything, we had such a great time here at Howard’s wood. Loved the fact that you can park next to your pitch and are still in the woods. Pitches are well spaced and nice plots. You have the option to rent fire pits and bags of wood for a really reasonable price. Compost toilet, shower and washing facilities provided along with complimentary coffee and essentials at this location. Steph, the host, was absolutely amazing and ensured we had the perfect stay here at Howard’s wood. We will certainly be returning!

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great, feels like wild camping without worry of being moved on.

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
Nicola D.

Primitive forest floor campervan campsite

Liked Everything.. great place.. owners have done a fab job at keeping it feeling like your wild camping.. very quiet site as pitches are not on top of each other. All basic amenities, toilets, shower and washing area. Campfires allowed and they even give you logs to burn free of charge.. local park with football pitch, climbing frame, swings and zip line. will definitely be back!!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Recommended.

Overall

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

Primitive forest floor campervan campsite

Liked Absolutely lovely forest camping experience! Probably the best campsite I've been to. If you like rustic and wild this is for you. Still lovely hot shower to be had and the composting toilets are a lot more hygienic than many sites I've been to. Showers/washing are up by plot 24 which took a little investigation to find.

Nice pub down the road and a playing field with a little play park for the kids right next door. Perfect.

Disliked Minor niggle is we had to take our rubbish with us but for the price it's really not a complaint.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great woodland spot, in a lovely village, with a very kind host.…

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
Rene L.

Primitive forest floor tent campsite

Liked Great woodland spot, in a lovely village, with a very kind host. Booked again for next week

Recommend to friends Visit again

Wonderful camp site. The pitches are set up very nicely in the…

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
Henry W.

Primitive forest floor campervan campsite

Liked Wonderful camp site. The pitches are set up very nicely in the forest and everyone was really friendly. The amenities are great (shower, compost toilet, wash up anrea with hot water and logs to buy for camp fire) and the price for what you get is very good.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great wild campsite with a very back to nature feel

Overall

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

Primitive forest floor tent campsite

Liked Very quiet and natural setting, surrounded by trees and lots of wildlife
Stephanie was a fab host and was very good getting us some eggs which we were really looking forward to (and enjoyed!)

Recommend to friends Visit again

All good, I like the privacy on the woodland. Quite and relaxed place. …

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
Igor N.

Bell tent

Liked All good, I like the privacy on the woodland.
Quite and relaxed place.
Thank you

Recommend to friends Visit again

Steph was lovely and helpful. Facilities lovely and clean.,

Overall

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

Primitive forest floor campervan campsite

Liked Such a wonderful woodland. Simple and beautiful. Plots tucked away in the woods. A place to be at peace and just take in nature. Steph and her partner are truly at one with the woodland.
We have booked our next weekend of peace already xx

Disliked Nothing at all

Recommend to friends Visit again

First time I ve pitched anywhere like this and really enjoyed it

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 6
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 7
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 1
Jane F.

Primitive forest floor campervan campsite

Liked Loved the whole concept
Great for get togethers with friends and all very private

Recommend to friends Visit again

Loved the simple toilet..

Overall

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

Primitive forest floor campervan campsite

Liked Very peaceful gentle site.

Disliked Pitch was a bit rough and uneven got camper van stuck on tree root system. Site 6.. luckily no damage and neighbour helped with navigation..
Tap could do with a stand for the water container..

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Pop-up campground

Dogs allowed

Campfires allowed

Leisure on park

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Playground Recreation room/arcade TV room Takeout Tennis Watersports

Amenities on park

Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Free wifi Grocery store Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundromat Local produce Parent & baby washroom Payphone Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Restrooms Shower available Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Scouts welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue grills allowed Barbecue provided Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Budget/backpacker Forest Hikers’ paradise Peaceful Remote location Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Public transportation 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).

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Eypemouth 8.2 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
West Bay (West) 8.5 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Seatown 8.8 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Hive 10.3 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Charmouth West 12.2 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

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

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

    Dorchester, England 24.2 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 sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

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?
    RV, travel trailer and tent sites
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  Anytime
    Depart by:  noon
    On-park accommodation
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  Anytime
    Depart by:  noon
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Howard's Wood? From $14.80 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.