Friar Waddon House

9.3 33 reviews

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1/8

Peaceful, basic pitches in a tree-lined paddock with rural views
15 minutes' drive from the beach and attractions of Weymouth
Country pubs and farm shop within a five-minute drive

A secluded spot, with scenic surrounds and a short hop from the gorgeous Dorset coast – what a fab little rural retreat is Friar Waddon House, in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 15 minutes’ drive from the seaside resort of Weymouth. Gorgeous green views all around give the place a decidedly peaceful vibe, but you’re only five minutes’ drive away from pubs and a farm shop, and 10 minutes from a train station and supermarket. This is a laidback kind of place that welcomes dogs and has plenty of space for running about and playing games, setting up barbecues for dinners or trying your hand at campfire construction. A shared toilet block with showers is a short stroll away; there's lighting on site but sensible types might wish to bring a torch along anyway. As you'll note from the map pointer, this is a most handy spot for Dorset adventuring: there are miles of footpaths and quiet roads to wander or cycle along around here – the Dorset Ridgeway being a particular favourite. It's also a 15-minute drive to Weymouth, Dorchester and the fossil-packed Jurassic Coast, so there should be plenty to keep you entertained whether you favour countryside or coast (or, ideally, a bit of both…)

Site type

Languages spoken

English

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Features

Pop-up campsite

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 Car parking by pitch/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups 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

Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wild camping

Utilities

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

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Shop nearby

Type

Farm Medium (26-50 pitches) Pop-up campsite

Accessibility

Disabled facilities

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Tennis nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Friar Waddon House

Friar Waddon Road

Upwey

Weymouth

Dorset

England

DT3 4EP

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

50.67057°N
-2.51168°W

Route directions

The best way to get to the site is by turning of the the B3159 onto the Friar Waddon Road. The site is 1.5 miles along, on the right as you head west. Look out for a large concrete track, tall trees and camping signs.

Nearest transport

Coach

6.8 km South Station

7.8 km Marks and Spencer

19.1 km Coach Station

Rail

4.1 km Upwey Rail Station

6.6 km Dorchester West Rail Station

6.8 km Dorchester South Rail Station

Ferry

8.2 km Weymouth Ferry Terminal

36.9 km Poole Ferry Terminal

37.5 km Poole Quay Ferry Landing

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

Country days and coast days are equally easy from here – and equally fab. Walking and cycle trails are pretty much right outside the site, and there are plenty more routes around the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. If you like to see big stuff, take a wander to see the Cerne Abbas Giant, 25 minutes’ drive away (a lengthy lad indeed at 55 metres from top to toe) or make for Maiden Castle, 20 minutes away (one of Europe’s largest Iron Age hillforts, the size of 50 football pitches). For something more genteel, head east for 25 minutes or so to get to Sculpture By The Lakes and 15th-century Athelhampton House or follow the Thomas Hardy trail around Dorchester (15 minutes) and out to Higher Bockhampton. A trip down to the coast is a cinch too – take your pick from the sandy beach, aquarium and traditional seaside fun in Weymouth (15 minutes), the sweeping 18-mile Chesil Beach (20 minutes) and the fossil-hunter’s fave Osmington (20 minutes). The sea-view subtropical gardens, swannery and kids’ farm at Abbotsbury (10 minutes) are certainly worth a stop too.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name	Distance	Type	2020	2019	2018	2017
Weymouth Lodmoor	7 km	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Bowleaze Cove	7.4 km	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Weymouth Central	7.5 km	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Portland Harbour Castle Cove	9 km	Sea	N/A	Excellent	N/A	N/A
Portland Harbour Sandsfoot Castle	9.1 km	Sea	N/A	Good	Excellent	Good

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Abbotsbury Swannery 6.4 km

Weymouth Sea Life Park and Marine Sanctuary 6.8 km

Radipole Lake Nature Reserve 7.1 km

Hardy's Birthplace 10.8 km

The Tank Museum 19.1 km

National Trust

Max Gate 7.5 km

Hardy's Cottage 10.7 km

Clouds Hill 19 km

Corfe Castle 32.2 km

Montacute House 34.3 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Hardy Monument Circular 3.2 km

A Chess Piece Visit 3.3 km

Nottington - Chickerell 3.8 km

Nottington - Upwey - Broadwey 3.9 km

Nottington - Southill - Chickerell 3.9 km

Local events

Dorset County Show (Saturday 7 September 2024 – Saturday 7 September 2024)
Dorchester, England 8.4 km
Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival and Rally (Friday 19 July 2024 – Friday 19 July 2024)
Dorchester, England 17.5 km
Tankfest (Friday 28 June 2024 – Friday 28 June 2024)
Wareham, England 19.1 km
Camp Bestival Dorset (Thursday 25 July 2024 – Thursday 25 July 2024)
Wareham, England 21.7 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.

Reviews

would recommend this site to a friend

would stay here again

72%
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1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

very bad…

Overall	6/10
Location	6
Value for money	4
Accommodation	4
Facilities / Activities	4
Customer service	2
Child friendliness	2
Cleanliness	6
Wifi	2

Yuliyan G. Sept 2023

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: very bad

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Is this because you got asked to be less noisy after the quiet hour at eleven pm? and thanks for not recycling your rubbish

A lovely little campsite, quiet and peaceful. Rustic, rural and restful!…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	No rating
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Bev B. Sept 2023

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: A lovely little campsite, quiet and peaceful. Rustic, rural and restful! We'll be back for sure

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely setting, quiet and peaceful.

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Anonymous Sept 2023

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Peaceful Beautiful setting Very clean Friendly host Chickens 🐔

Disliked: Nothing.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent no frills site set in a beautiful location

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	2

Jane B. Sept 2023

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Friendly welcome, beautiful location, very quiet, great amenities, very simple set up that has exactly what I need, great location for visiting places, lovely farm for picking up some delicious free range eggs

Disliked: That it's not open all year round

Recommend to friends Visit again

Welcoming, Friendly, Nice Facilities

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

Natasha F. Aug 2023

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: So relaxed, friendly and chatty welcome with time to talk. Clean, simple and functional facilities. Back to basics with allowing fires and dogs, it was perfect! Thank you.

Recommend to friends Visit again

The owners were Incredibly friendly and helpful. An idilyc and peaceful location.…

Overall	8/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	8
Wifi	10

Anonymous Sept 2023

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: The owners were Incredibly friendly and helpful. An idilyc and peaceful location. Not crammed in, spacious pitch given.

Disliked: The toilet facilities - the eco friendly toilets although brilliantly designed, had a strong pong. Personally would prefer a flushable like a portaloo.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice place good value…

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 Aug 2023

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Nice place good value

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very welcoming host, peaceful area with great facilities. Will definitely return to…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Emma D. Aug 2023

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Very welcoming host, peaceful area with great facilities. Will definitely return to this site when travelling over this way in the future!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very nice eco friendly site with owner Martin very friendly and offers…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Sarah C. Aug 2023

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Very nice eco friendly site with owner Martin very friendly and offers BBQ and fire pits for hire has chickens alpaca and horse in field we had a fantastic week here very relaxing would recommend and lovely walks across road with fantastic views also around 6mls from Weymouth and Dorchester what more could you possibly need

Recommend to friends Visit again

Basic but beautiful! Would stay again

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	6
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	6
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Oliver F. Aug 2023

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked: Beautiful veiws around, cheap, quiet, the man who owns it is really personal-able and great to talk to. Some little creative bits for people to do. Don’t get me wrong, it is basic (as advertised) however, that’s why I stayed there. For peace and quiet. Looking to already book again.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Does Friar Waddon House have a swimming pool? No View all features
Is Friar Waddon House dog friendly? Yes View all features
What attractions are near Friar Waddon House? Country days and coast days are equally easy from here – and equally fab. Walking and cycle trails are pretty much right outside the site, and there are plenty more routes around … Read more