Donkey Down Camping at Culliford Tree

View prices & book 9 63 reviews
campsite and reception
Campsite and reception
Looking out to the downs
View from our tent 👌🏽
Ringstead bay
Where music/food was
Great views!
The eastern field
Lots of space!
1/88
Looking out to the downs
View from our tent 👌🏽
Ringstead bay

  • Spacious site over four acres of a working farm with great views
  • A 10-minute drive from Dorchester and 15 minutes from Weymouth
  • Barbecues and firepits welcome; neolithic tumuli in the main field
With ancient burial sites and some top-notch views to its name, Donkey Down Camping at Culliford Tree is the sort of place where you’ll certainly be keen to roll out of bed and go for a wander. The spacious site is spread over four acres of relatively flat grassland, next to Came Woods, with excellent views over the north Dorset countryside on one side and glimpses over Weymouth Bay and Portland on the other. There’s a fair bit of history at this working farm, in the form of several Neolithic tumuli in the main pitching field. And there’s more in the surrounding area too, which you can spot as you take walks along local footpaths to Hardy’s Monument and Osmington White Horse or along the Dorset Ridgeway. Getting in and out should be fairly straightforward here: the farm is a 10-minute drive from Dorchester and 15 from Weymouth, both easy journeys via B roads. Closer to home are the villages of Sutton Poyntz and Preston, which have convenience stores, fish and chip shops and a clutch of good pubs. With so much space to run about in, this site is a fine pick for family holidays and those travelling with dogs. Barbecues and campfires are allowed on site too, although some restrictions are in place to ensure the safety of guests and local wildlife alike.

Site type

Tent sites 50
Open now
Opens May 22
Please note
  • Your dog must be tattooed or microchipped.
  • The campground/park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Breed-specific legislation (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) and/or any of the following: Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, any Mastiff or Tosa.
  • Single-sex bookings of 4 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No bachelor/bachelorette parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, May 22 to

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Reviews

9

Overall rating from 63 Pitchup.com customers

  • 73%
    10
  • 7%
    9
  • 4%
    8
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    7
  • 6%
    6
  • 1%
    5
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Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 5
Spectacular sceneryPeaceful

90% would recommend this site to a friend

89% would stay here again

What customers say

This hilltop site boasts lovely countryside and Weymouth views. Visitors loved the friendly staff, peace, and great value. Facilities are generally good. Live music and the bar are popular. Some noted shower quirks or occasional noise, but it's seen as a well-run, basic spot for a relaxing getaway.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 2026-07-28

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 7
Arrival date (latest first)

Excellent place !…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 7
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Gustavo V. 1 review

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Excellent place !

Recommend to friends Visit again

views, location and peaceful - a…

Overall

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

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked views, location and peaceful - a full on real camping experience

Recommend to friends Visit again

views…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 9
Facilities / Activities
 4
Customer service
 5
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 10
Anonymous

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked views

Disliked toilet

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice and peaceful and friendly staff…

Overall

5 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 7
Facilities / Activities
 2
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
 Caitlin P. 1 review

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Nice and peaceful and friendly staff and toilets were nice and clean as well as the other facilities. Location was great

Disliked No hot water in the shower both times I tired them was very cold

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi
So sorry about the showers! We had an issue with the battery on the solar system which I did not discover as quickly as I should have. Please get in touch as I would like to compensate you.

Different location

Overall

2 out of 10
Location
 2
Value for money
 3
Facilities / Activities
 2
Customer service
 5
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Michelle P. 4 reviews

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Ground was flat for camping.

Disliked Had stayed previously in the old site which changed (albeit out of the hands of organisers as it is farm land). Grounds, people, general camping vibe very different. More suited to wild campers who want to be alone.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi.
So sorry we failed to meet your expectations. I agree that the current Culliford Tree site has a very different feel to Donkey Down site. Unfortunately the landlord there decided to curtail our use of it. Culliford Tree is all about the space, ancient history and peace and quiet which, I understand, is not for everyone.

Beautiful and scenic

Overall

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

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Everything was beautiful and quiet

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

What it's beautiful…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
 Fahim R. 1 review

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked What it's beautiful

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely pitch. Lots of space…

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
Sarah H. 1 review

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Lovely pitch. Lots of space to choose from. There was even a band on the Saturday night which was brilliant fun

Recommend to friends Visit again

Amazing basic campsite Gem. Beautiful views,…

Overall

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

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Amazing basic campsite Gem. Beautiful views, simple clean toilets and showers, super fun washing up facilities that the kids loved to join in with. Music on the Saturday night was the cherry on the cake. So easy to get to Weymouth or Dorchester. Lovely easy walks to do with the kids. Tim was very kind. Bring a kite as it's on a hill (but flat pitching)

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great value downland hilltop campsite with lots of space.

Overall

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

Primitive grass and earth tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Great value hilltop campsite with lots of space and splendid tumuli. Lovely views over the countryside, including Weymouth harbour and Portland. Kind, friendly owner with a lovely border collie named Tess. The jetwash-style dishwashing facility is a brilliant idea.

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 Car parking by site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Free wifi Grocery store Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundromat 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 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

Hikers’ paradise Peaceful Spectacular scenery 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

Type

Farm Medium (26-50 sites) Pop-up campground

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Donkey Down Camping at Culliford Tree

Chalky Road

Whitcombe

Dorchester

Dorset

England

DT2 8NL

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

50.66769°N
2.4268°W

Nearest transport

Coach
4.7 km South Station
6.6 km Marks and Spencer
22.5 km Red Lion
Rail
3.5 km Upwey Rail Station
4.7 km Dorchester South Rail Station
4.9 km Dorchester West Rail Station
Ferry
6.8 km Weymouth Ferry Terminal
31 km Poole Ferry Terminal
31.6 km Poole Quay Ferry Landing
Airport
43.7 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

What exactly is the Osmington White Horse (25 minutes' walk)? In the shape of King George II riding his steed, this limestone figure is carved into a smugglers’ landscape. Hardy's Monument (two hours' walk/20 minutes' drive) is a stone monument and a fine reward for a slightly more challenging hike. If you’re keen to see more historical bits, The Tank Museum (20 minutes) houses an impressive collection of war tanks and the Swanage Railway (40 minutes) keeps alive a steam railway from the 19th century. Dorchester (10 minutes) is another good bet, with a dinosaur museum, teddy bear museum and the Tutankhamun Exhibition’s mummy artefacts. Of course, you’re not far from the Jurassic Coast either – big sights there include Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door (20 minutes), Chesil Beach (20 minutes), Portland Bill Lighthouse (half an hour) and Abbotsbury Swannery and Subtropical Gardens (25 minutes). As for classic seaside amusements and other family-friendly days out, count on Fantasy Island amusement park (10 minutes), Bournemouth (45 minutes), Monkey World (20 minutes) and Weymouth (15 minutes). Weymouth has a gorgeous sandy beach, the Sealife Centre and boat trips to fish for mackerel or visit Portland.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Bowleaze Cove 3.5 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Weymouth Lodmoor 4.8 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Weymouth Central 6.2 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Ringstead Bay 6.7 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Portland Harbour Castle Cove 8.3 km Sea N/AExcellentN/AN/A

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Weymouth Sea Life Park and Marine Sanctuary 4.9 km

Radipole Lake Nature Reserve 6.3 km

Hardy's Birthplace 7.4 km

Abbotsbury Swannery 12.3 km

The Tank Museum 13.3 km

National Trust

Max Gate 4.6 km

Hardy's Cottage 7.3 km

Clouds Hill 13.5 km

Corfe Castle 26.2 km

White Mill 29.9 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

LODMOOR (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 25/11/2004) 4.1 km

Nottington - Lorton - Radipole 4.5 km

Lodmoor Nature Reserve - Littlemoor - Preston 4.6 km

Nottington - Southill - Chickerell 4.6 km

Nottington - Upwey - Broadwey 4.7 km

Local events

  • Dorset County Show (Saturday, September 5, 2026 – Saturday, September 5, 2026)

    Dorchester, England 6.1 km

  • Camp Bestival Dorset (Thursday, July 30, 2026 – Thursday, July 30, 2026)

    Wareham, England 15.8 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 Donkey Down Camping at Culliford Tree have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Donkey Down Camping at Culliford Tree dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Donkey Down Camping at Culliford Tree? What exactly is the Osmington White Horse (25 minutes' walk)? In the shape of King George II riding his steed, this limestone figure is carved into a smugglers’ landscape. Hardy's Monument (two … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Donkey Down Camping at Culliford Tree?
    RV, travel trailer and tent sites
    Arrive:  11 a.m. –  9 p.m.
    Depart by:  noon
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Donkey Down Camping at Culliford Tree? From $44.97 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.