Howard's Wood

View prices & book 9.5 130 reviews
Aerial view of Dorset countryside
Aerial view of dorset countryside
Campsite
Campsite and shower
Woodland clearing
Pitch up wherever you want
Clearing
Forest camping
Peaceful camping in the woodland
1/121
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.

Campground type

Tent sites 14
Rent a tent 1
RV sites 14
Open now
Opens July 17
Please note

General

  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, Jul 17 to

No availability here for your search criteria

Campsite types & availability

Accommodation

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

Reviews

9.5

Overall rating from 130 Pitchup.com customers

  • 80%
    10
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    9
  • 10%
    8
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    7
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Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 6
ForestPeacefulWild camping

97% would recommend this campground to a friend

95% would stay here again

What customers say

This woodland campground offers a peaceful, "wild" camping experience with basic amenities like hot showers. Pitches are well-spaced for privacy. Hosts are very friendly and helpful. Guests love the quiet, nature, and value. Minor issues like rough terrain or signage are noted, but overall, it's highly recommended.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 8/4/2026

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 13
Arrival date (latest first)

Great camping, nice and peacefu…

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
Stephen F. 1 review

Primitive forest floor campervan or trailer tent campsite

Liked Great camping, nice and peacefu

Recommend to friends Visit again

Big pitches in the woods. Calm…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Alison M. 7 reviews

Primitive forest floor campervan or trailer tent campsite

Liked Big pitches in the woods. Calm and remote. Beautiful birdsong.

Disliked A site map marking pitch/toilet/shower locations would be helpful.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great little spot, nicely tucked away.

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
Stuart R. 3 reviews

Primitive forest floor campervan or trailer tent campsite

Liked Lovely wooded site with little and bigger tent pitches and van spaces dotted about. Clean and very rustic long drop toilets, showers and washing up area dotted about the woods. Well cleared trails and roadways. A real good feel to the place. The local church(I presume)clock chimes on the hour every hour in the distance, birds and other animals are heard around the place. A great proper rural feeling. One of the best impromptu stops I have made. A tenner a night is excellent!

The local pub is 15 mins walk straight along the road and is a great place...just make sure you book as they get very busy for food and rarely take walk in customers on busy days.

Disliked Slightly clearer signage into the site would be better... I drove past it and thought it would be a little further on.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Quiet, good location for area. Nice…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 6
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Primitive forest floor campervan or trailer tent campsite

Liked Quiet, good location for area. Nice local pub.

Disliked Basic facilities which we expected. Ok for one night and weather helped. Would be less fun if wet or cold.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Quiet relaxing stay

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 8
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Paul S. 15 reviews

Primitive forest floor campervan or trailer tent campsite

Liked Beautiful quiet location in a Dorset village, pitches are in a wood and are spaced out to provide privacy. Toilet facilities are very rustic, but they were clean and tidy. Showering facilities were also very rustic but again clean.

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

If you want wooded retreat this is the place

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 7
Facilities / Activities
 2
Customer service
 3
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Primitive forest floor campervan or trailer tent campsite

Liked The pitch we were on was the best pitch as good views and spectacular sunsets, not to far to the loo and felt open unlike all the other pitches but everyone likes different things.

Disliked Only one washing up sink so can be a queue but we had good chats with people waiting.
Showers are dark if the sun isn’t out.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great communication with Steph, who was…

Overall

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

Primitive forest floor tent campsite

Liked Great communication with Steph, who was super helpful each step of the way before and during our stay! Great remote location with privacy between pitches. Lovely shower facilities that were nestled into the nature of the woods! Would love to book again!

Recommend to friends Visit again

The pitch being on it s…

Overall

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

Primitive forest floor tent campsite

Liked The pitch being on it s own in the wood - pretty secluded

Recommend to friends Visit again

A great site

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Stuart D. 2 reviews

Primitive forest floor campervan or trailer tent campsite

Liked A great escape for a long weekend. Each pitch is like its own little sanctuary.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful area, friendly people, serene and…

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
Paul C. 1 review

Primitive forest floor tent campsite

Liked Beautiful area, friendly people, serene and peaceful 🙏

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

Bus
3.7 mi Coach Station
12 mi Yeovil Bus Station
14.8 mi South Station
Rail
6.1 mi Crewkerne Rail Station
8.1 mi Maiden Newton Rail Station
9.6 mi Chetnole Rail Station
Ferry
18.2 mi Weymouth Ferry Terminal
26.7 mi Bridgwater Ferry Terminal
Airport
29.3 mi 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 5.1 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
West Bay (West) 5.3 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Seatown 5.5 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Hive 6.4 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Charmouth West 7.6 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Mapperton House & Gardens 2.1 mi

Abbotsbury Swannery 11.1 mi

Montacute House 11.5 mi

Hardy's Birthplace 16.4 mi

Fleet Air Arm Museum 16.5 mi

National Trust

Montacute House 11.4 mi

Barrington Court 12.9 mi

Tintinhull Garden 13.1 mi

Loughwood Meeting House 13.4 mi

Shute Barton 13.5 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

PARNHAM 1 mi

BEAMINSTER MANOR 2 mi

MAPPERTON HOUSE 2.1 mi

DOWNE HALL 3.5 mi

North Chideock - Symondsbury and More. 4.6 mi

Local events

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

    Dorchester, England 15 mi

  • Sidmouth Folk Festival (Friday, July 31, 2026 – Friday, July 31, 2026)

    Sidmouth, England 22.4 mi

  • Beautiful Days (Friday, August 21, 2026 – Friday, August 21, 2026)

    Ottery St Mary, England 24.1 mi

  • Glastonbury Festival (Wednesday, June 23, 2027 – Wednesday, June 23, 2027)

    Glastonbury, England 26.7 mi

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 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:  11 a.m. –  Anytime
    Depart by:  2 p.m.
    On-park accommodation
    Arrive:  11 a.m. –  Anytime
    Depart by:  2 p.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Howard's Wood? From $13.45 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.