Ringstead Bay Camping

View prices & book 9.6 30 reviews
Bell tent overlooking the ocean
Bell tent overlooking the ocean
Campers on site
Campers on the first weekend of opening
Guests sit outside of the bell tent
Bell tent on the grass
Grassy pitches
Bell tent with sea views
The campsite is based next to the coast
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New
Campers on site
Campers on the first weekend of opening
Guests sit outside of the bell tent

  • Peaceful, rural site surrounded by woodland on the Jurassic Coast Path
  • Within five minutes’ walk of Ringstead Bay, a dog-friendly beach
  • On a working dairy farm with a shared fridge and freezer; café nearby
It pays to pack your walking boots for Ringstead Bay Camping, a peaceful, family-friendly site on a working dairy farm adjacent to the Jurassic Coast Path. Break them in with a five-minute walk to dog-friendly Ringstead Bay, before tackling the longer strolls to famed Durdle Door (under two hours’ walk) and Lulworth Cove (an extra 30 minutes of walking). This rural site should tick a lot of boxes, with its two and a half acres of relatively flat grass. There’s immediate access to footpaths from the site, but if your dog needs a quick run-around, there’s also an on-site (and off-leash) dog exercise area. You're also welcome to park next to your pitch. Nearby Ringstead Bay is a sweet spot for swimming, paddleboarding, windsurfing, surfing or launching a small boat. Let the children have a rummage through the rockpools around the reefs. Down by the bay (10 minutes’ walk or a five-minute drive from the field), there’s a café and shop with a kids’ play area and food like freshly made breakfasts, baps, woodfired pizzas and scampi and fries (ask for a takeaway if needed). They also stock basic camping essentials. Prefer to make your own meals? The on-site communal building, The Armoury, has a shared fridge and freezer. It also has lockable charging points for small devices. Elsewhere on site, there are toilets, showers, washing-up sinks and drinking water. You’re welcome to set up a fire, as long as it’s raised off the ground. The sheltered field has woodland on three sides, so access is via a private road through the woodland. Look out for the sea, Weymouth Bay and the Isle of Portland through the trees on the southern side. And here’s a nice fact about the field: it once held an American military establishment, so original bunkers, outbuildings and a World War II lookout are nearby.

Site type

Tent sites 40
Rent a tent 10
Open now
Opens 25 July
Please note
  • Your dog must be tattooed or microchipped.
  • The campground/park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (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 hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the campground/park are unlit.
  • No naked flames are allowed inside the hired accommodation units.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.
  • If reception is closed on arrival: please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 25 Jul to

Pitch types & availability

Accommodation

Tent sitesCaravan sitesMotorhome sitesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsCaravans for hireRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children
Other options

Reviews

9.6

Overall rating from 30 Pitchup.com customers

  • 73%
    10
  • 16%
    9
  • 10%
    8
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 4
PeacefulWalkers' paradiseSpectacular scenery

100% would recommend this site to a friend

100% would stay here again

What customers say

Awesome rural spot with great sea views and beach access. Super clean loos and showers, plus friendly staff. Handy fridges, freezers, and phone chargers. Peaceful and good for nature lovers. Bits of bumpy ground but totally worth it for the location and vibe.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 3
Arrival date (latest first)

Will be back!

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
Tracy C.

Unpowered grass tent site (solo, small)

Liked Amazingly friendly and helpful staff!
Fantastic position 5 minute walk to the beach, woodland walks and perfect for the Coast Path!
Fires and dogs allowed!
Very spacious even when fully booked
Good to have phone charge, fridge, freezer facility
Quiet, no shop
Very clean toilets
Good washing up facilities with ecover!
Not great reception so had the excuse to switch off!

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely,.well planned out campsite. We will be back for sure.

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
 7
Bryony B.

Unpowered grass campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Happy lads checking on the site regularly. Beautifully clean loos and showers.
Considerate, friendly campers, Excellent sea view and cracking beach through the woodland dell.
Perfect.

Disliked Slightly farmy underfoot but totally fine in the sunshine and understandable with a dry spring.. but could get muddy if we get a lot of rain so bring wellies if that's the case. Sorted.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Ideal location for a peaceful stay

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 7
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Anonymous

Unpowered grass campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Beautifully clean hot water for washing up and close to the beach and other seaside resorts and places of interest

Disliked Fridge and charging station not with the pitches they are located at the barrier which you have to drive back

Recommend to friends Visit again

I loved it, can’t wait to come back.

Overall

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

Unpowered grass campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Cute site. Sea view, nice 5 minute walk to the beach.
Clean showers and toilets. Friendly staff.

Disliked The only thing I would suggest is having a separate tap for the drinking water. As queuing to get water whilst people washed up seemed to frustrate other guests in the camp.

Recommend to friends Visit again

We absolutely loved our stay at Ringstead Bay Camping! If you’re looking…

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
Razvan Ioan P.

Unpowered grass campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked We absolutely loved our stay at Ringstead Bay Camping! If you’re looking for a spacious, peaceful spot that feels like it’s far from civilisation but still close enough to everything you need – this is it.

The location is perfect. Just a short walk to the beach and lovely beach cafés, yet the site itself is quiet, open, and surrounded by nature. It’s the best of both worlds.

The host was absolutely lovely – warm, welcoming, and always quick to respond to emails. Communication was easy from start to finish, and any questions were answered promptly and helpfully.

One of the real highlights was the cleanliness of the site. The block of facilities was spotless throughout our stay and clearly cleaned multiple times a day. It made such a difference and showed how much care goes into running this place.

We genuinely couldn’t have asked for more. Can’t wait to come back again soon – this place is a real hidden treasure!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Really lovely campsite! Highly recommend

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
Joanne N.

Bell tent

Liked Great Location
Clean toilets/showers
Good sized glamping tents (fit 6 people comfortably)
Easy access to the beach
Not overcrowded
Friendly staff

Recommend to friends Visit again

The location was ideal, just a few minutes walk from a very…

Overall

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

Bell tent

Liked The location was ideal, just a few minutes walk from a very quiet bay that was great for a morning swim.
Despite being a fairly new site the facilities were excellent and always clean, we saw staff cleaning these facilities multiple times daily.
The added benefit of having the car parking pass was wonderful and meant we could park up and walk the coastal path on our last day without having to worry about the car.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Absolutely fantastic holiday. That good we are going again in a month!…

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
 6
Rachel K.

Bell tent

Liked Absolutely fantastic holiday. That good we are going again in a month!
Facilities excellent and clean, tent was amazing and spacious.
Beautiful surroundings and views
Loved it 🥰

Recommend to friends Visit again

Everything was good, nice location, nice view. Very recommended.…

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
Anonymous

Unpowered grass campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Everything was good, nice location, nice view. Very recommended.

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Brilliant peaceful location

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Anonymous

Unpowered grass campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Location close to the beach
Clean showers and toilets
Relaxed atmosphere
Fridge and freezer

Disliked Very very minor points are the ground was uneven and a separate water tap to the washing up sinks would have been helpful

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: We are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay! We work hard to keep the facilities clean. For information, there is a separate water tap located at the side of the toilet block. It is all drinkable water. The plan for next year is to level out the field and reseed it. This should give a flatter surface. We hope to see you again!

Features

Pop-up campground

Dogs allowed

Campfires allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Beach access 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

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

Utilities

Charging facilities Communal freezer Communal fridge 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 Medium (26-50 sites) Pop-up campground

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Fishing nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Ringstead Bay Camping

Ringstead Bay

Ringstead Farm

Dorchester

Dorset

England

DT2 8NF

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

50.63426°N
2.36157°W

Nearest transport

Coach
7 km Marks and Spencer
9.9 km South Station
18.7 km Red Lion
Rail
6.9 km Weymouth Rail Station
7.6 km Upwey Rail Station
8.2 km Moreton (Dorset) Rail Station
Ferry
6.8 km Weymouth Ferry Terminal
27.3 km Poole Ferry Terminal
27.9 km Poole Quay Ferry Landing
Airport
40.6 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

Those who pack their walking boots can have a nice time mapping out potential routes. There’s a stunning route east to White Nothe (less than an hour’s walk). Osmington Mills (15 minutes’ walk or 10 minutes’ drive) and a popular 17th-century pub are in the other direction. Walk further west to reach Bowleaze Cove and Weymouth’s sandy beach and attractions like an aquarium and miniature golf. Driving to Lulworth (25 minutes)? Pay a visit to the abandoned village of Tyneham (half an hour), which can be visited when the firing ranges are closed, or take a round-about route to The Tank Museum (20 minutes) and Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre (20 minutes). If you’re going west by car, perhaps consider touring the Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens (35 minutes), Lyme Regis (an hour) and West Bay (45 minutes), the filming location for Broadchurch.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Ringstead Bay 0.8 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Bowleaze Cove 4.3 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Weymouth Lodmoor 5.8 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Durdle Door West 6.1 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Durdle Door East 6.3 km Sea N/AExcellentN/AExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Weymouth Sea Life Park and Marine Sanctuary 6.1 km

Radipole Lake Nature Reserve 7.2 km

Lulworth Heritage Centre 8 km

The Tank Museum 10.7 km

Lulworth Castle & Park 10.8 km

National Trust

Max Gate 9.4 km

Hardy's Cottage 10.8 km

Clouds Hill 12 km

Corfe Castle 21.4 km

White Mill 28.4 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Ringstead - Osmington Mills - Osmington Walk 0.6 km

Osmington Mills - Ringstead - Upton 0.9 km

Ringstead Bay - Chaldon Down - Ringstead Bay 1.4 km

South Down NT Car Park - Scratchy Bottom 1.5 km

South Down Car Park - White Horse Hill - Osmington - Osmington Mill - Ringstead - South Down CP 1.5 km

Local events

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

    Dorchester, England 10.8 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.

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in Dorset?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Ringstead Bay Camping have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Ringstead Bay Camping dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Ringstead Bay Camping? Those who pack their walking boots can have a nice time mapping out potential routes. There’s a stunning route east to White Nothe (less than an hour’s walk). Osmington Mills (15 minutes’ … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Ringstead Bay Camping?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  11 a.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  3 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Ringstead Bay Camping? From $40.43 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.