Herston Caravan and Camping

View prices & book 6.5 374 reviews
Well-spaced pitches
Well-spaced pitches
Bell tent
Spacious grass pitches
Bell tent with picnic table
Gather friends and family
Electric hardstanding and grass touring pitch
Friendly site
Bell tents with great rural views
1/130
Bell tent
Spacious grass pitches
Bell tent with picnic table

  • Holiday park one mile from the beach in Swanage
  • Half an hour's drive from Monkey World and Durdle Door
  • Visitor information, shop and takeaway on site; dogs welcome
Three cheers for this one on Dorset's Jurassic Coast: Herston Caravan and Camping is a family-friendly site only five minutes' drive away from the town of Swanage and its sandy beach. Everyone should find a full programme of stuff to do and see in this neck of the woods: perhaps rides on the steam-powered Swanage Railway, windsurfing down at Swanage Bay or clifftop walks on the South West Coast Path. The popular attractions of Corfe Castle, Old Harry Rocks and Durdle Door are all under half an hour's drive away too. Facilities on site include a mini market that also functions as a visitor information centre, and a takeaway for grabbing food when you're hungry. The spacious and clean toilet blocks have plentiful hot showers, family bathrooms, disabled facilities and washing-up areas. Dogs are also welcome at the park as long as they are kept on a lead and cleaned up after.

Campground type

Camper sites 164
RV sites 164
Tent sites 46
Rent a tent 57
Open all year
Opens
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Breed-specific legislation (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).

Languages spoken

English

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

6.5

Overall rating from 374 Pitchup.com customers

  • 25%
    10
  • 3%
    9
  • 21%
    8
  • 3%
    7
  • 14%
    6
  • 4%
    5
  • 8%
    4
  • 1%
    3
  • 11%
    2
  • 5%
    1
Location
 9
Value for money
 7
Accommodation
 6
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 7
Child friendliness
 7
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 5
Peaceful

57% would recommend this campground to a friend

59% would stay here again

What customers say

Great location near Swanage & beach. Staff are praised as friendly & helpful, facilities noted as clean. Spacious pitches & views are a plus. Some facilities are dated, and site could use tidying, but improvements are ongoing.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 6/23/2026

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 38
Arrival date (latest first)

While I liked the tent but I would not stay again

Overall

5 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 7
Accommodation
 7
Facilities / Activities
 2
Customer service
 4
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 1
 Isabel M. 1 review

Bell tent

Liked The bell tent was spacious and clean, I Shepard hut toilets/showers were also great for privacy and clean

Disliked Shop was never open, no water station to top up, no where to wash up at least nothing that was clear to us

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site could be tidier .Its all there may be not for everyone !

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 5
Wifi
 1
 Mandy B. 5 reviews

FHU cement/asphalt and grass travel trailer campsite

Liked Love this site chilled no stress very relaxed attitude.

Disliked Could be tidier around site ,cleaner showers.
But ok

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site. Location good for a…

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
Ray W. 1 review

FHU cement/asphalt and grass travel trailer campsite

Liked Great site. Location good for a walk into Swanage. Toilets and showers clean.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Scenery is 10/10 as are the staff. Great site!

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
Kimberley H. 1 review

Powered grass campsite

Liked Just spent a weekend here with my partner. Lovely vibe on this campsite, where you can enjoy laughter and light music. Facilities were really good, toilet and showers never had to wait long if at all. Staff/owner welcoming and engaging with the visitors on site.

Food and bar truck was brilliant and came with smiles! We really enjoyed our time, wish we had longer! Definitely will visit this one again.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Location…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 7
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 6
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

FHU cement/asphalt and grass travel trailer campsite

Liked Location

Recommend to friends Visit again

Would visit again

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 6
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 7
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 5
Wifi
 5
 Richard B. 1 review

FHU cement/asphalt and grass travel trailer campsite

Liked Great takeaway food in the evening, lovely tasting burgers. Friendly staff upon arrival and in the shop.

Disliked Shower facilities were clean but looked a bit worn, could do with modernising and cleaning. Very loud people around the bar until early hrs of the morning with alot of shouting, but supposedly there is a quiet rule after 11pm!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice views, clean facilities, good location…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 6
Anonymous

Powered grass campsite

Liked Nice views, clean facilities, good location

Recommend to friends Visit again

Huge pitches and very comfortable bell…

Overall

6 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 8
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 6
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Bell tent

Liked Huge pitches and very comfortable bell tents. Site very comfortable and easy to navigate

Disliked Bell tent had rotten sausage sandwich below bed which dog found.

Whilst advertised as dog friendly, as a solo traveller having no way of showering/ using toilet (new signs saying no acces for dogs) felt a little restrictive

Recommend to friends Visit again

We will go back there because of the staff.

Overall

6 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 9
 Diane M. 1 review

FHU cement/asphalt travel trailer campsite (large)

Liked Burger stand and shop and the staff went above and behond. Martin even droped us into swanage because my husband is on oxygen and we couldnt get a taxi. So thank you such much.

Disliked No dislikes

Recommend to friends Visit again

Not bad but could be cleaner

Overall

4 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 7
Facilities / Activities
 4
Customer service
 1
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 3
Wifi
 No rating
Aimee O. 3 reviews

Powered grass campsite

Liked The views

Disliked Toilet blocks were basic and not very clean.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

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 Rallies welcome 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 Leave the car at home Luxury Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery 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

Large (51-200 sites)

Nearby leisure

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

Touring and motorhomes

Gray water hook-up for caravans Seasonal sites Water hook-up points for caravans

Location

Herston Caravan and Camping

Washpond Lane

Swanage

Dorset

England

BH19 3DJ

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

50.61816°N
1.97913°W

Nearest transport

Bus
1 mi Bus Station
3.6 mi East Street
3.6 mi East Street
Rail
7 mi Poole Rail Station
7.4 mi Parkstone (Dorset) Rail Station
7.6 mi Hamworthy Rail Station
Ferry
4.5 mi Shell Bay Ferry Terminal
4.7 mi Sandbanks Ferry Terminal
5 mi Brownsea Island Ferry Landing
Airport
12.8 mi 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

A five-minute drive gets you into Swanage for sandy walks, sandcastle building, splashing about and more serious watersports. To kayak round the cliffs and coves of the Jurassic Coast, make for Knoll beach (10 minutes' drive) or Lulworth Cove (40 minutes) to hire your craft and see the place from sea level. The 630 mile-long South West Coast Path passes through town: pick it up and head eastwards to the Studland and Godlingston Heath Nature Reserve to see the wild and nature-filled Wessex that inspired Thomas Hardy (or hire a steed from the trekking centre for extra historical detail). Going west, the path goes past the splendid sights of Stair Hole and Durdle Door (40 minutes), while descents of varying steepness lead down to quiet and cove-like beaches like Winspit (accessible only on foot from Worth Matravers, 10 minutes away) and Kimmeridge (half an hour). For a spot of time travel, pick up the Swanage Railway for a nine-mile steam trip to Wareham, perhaps stopping off en route for a clamber round the ruins of Corfe Castle (10 minutes). Younger visitors should have a ball among the play barns, pedal go-karts and pettable animals at Salt Pig the Farm - Putlake, five minutes away. Further afield, there are pony rides, deer safaris, tractor trips and bouncy castles at Farmer Palmer's Farm Park (30 minutes), and at a similar distance the heavy hardware in The Tank Museum and the charming residents of Monkey World should keep everyone's monkeys out of mischief.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Swanage Central 1 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Studland Knoll House 2.6 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Shell Bay North 4.4 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Poole Sandbanks Peninsular 5.2 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Poole Shore Road Beach 5.7 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Swanage Railway 1 mi

Studland Beach and Nature Reserve 3 mi

Corfe Castle 3.8 mi

Brownsea Island 5 mi

Dorset Cruises 8.1 mi

National Trust

Studland Beach and Nature Reserve 2.2 mi

Corfe Castle 3.7 mi

Brownsea Island 4.9 mi

White Mill 13.4 mi

Kingston Lacy 13.5 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

Herston - Worth Matravers - Corfe 0.3 mi

Swanage to Corfe Circular Walk 1.8 mi

Durlston Castle Historic Landscape 1.9 mi

Studland - Old Harry - Ballard Down - Studland 2.2 mi

Worth Matravers - Cliffs, Caves and Chapel 2.9 mi

Local events

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

    Wareham, England 10.1 mi

  • Tankfest (Friday, June 26, 2026 – Friday, June 26, 2026)

    Wareham, England 12.7 mi

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

    Dorchester, England 20.8 mi

  • New Forest and Hampshire County Show (Tuesday, July 28, 2026 – Tuesday, July 28, 2026)

    Brockenhurst, England 23.1 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 Herston Caravan and Camping have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Herston Caravan and Camping dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Herston Caravan and Camping? A five-minute drive gets you into Swanage for sandy walks, sandcastle building, splashing about and more serious watersports. To kayak round the cliffs and coves of the Jurassic Coast, make for Knoll … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Herston Caravan and Camping?
    RV, travel trailer and tent sites
    Arrive:  noon –  10 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    On-park accommodation
    Arrive:  3 p.m. –  Anytime
    Depart by:  10 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Herston Caravan and Camping? From $66.18 (for 2 nights, 6 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.