The Railway Campsite

View prices & book 9.4 280 reviews
Train going past the site
Train going past the site
The steam train running past
View of the site on a cloudy morning
View of the site
View of the field
Party in the woods
Pitches
View of the site
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The steam train running past
View of the site on a cloudy morning
View of the site

  • Eight-acre field with Swanage Railway steam trains passing by
  • A 10-minute drive to Swanage Beach; 35 minutes to Durdle Door
  • Off-ground barbecues and firepits allowed; dogs welcome
If you’ve got little train enthusiasts in your family (or large ones, for that matter…), this is a site that’s likely to please them very much indeed. As the name suggests, The Railway Campsite is located next to the railway – and none other than the famed Swanage Railway. Waving at the steam trains as they puff past is a popular pastime around this dog-friendly site – although there are also some great Dorset countryside views for when there’s no railway action, plus lots of space around the eight-acre open field for whatever you choose to focus your attention on. And presumably you’ll want to take a ride on one of those trains too? That’s easily done, since Harmans Cross station is just next door to the site. All you have to do is choose whether to journey up to Corfe Castle or over to Swanage for a day at the beach (both about 15 minutes by train). When you’re not riding the rails, you can get out to some great coastal corners, including Studland Beach, Kimmeridge Bay or Dancing Ledge – all are within a 20-minute drive. This is a back-to-basics site, but it does have wooden composting toilets, a shower hut and chemical disposal facilities. The on-site snack shack opens its doors on weekends for breakfast, drinks and light evening meals. It's also open on Thursday evenings for Jamaican food. Off-ground barbecues and firepits are allowed in the designated areas (the site has firepits for hire and wood for sale if you need it), so you’re welcome to have a go at making your own dinner. You can source provisions at the small supermarket in the village of Harman’s Cross (five minutes’ walk).

Campground type

Tent sites 30
RV sites 20
Open now
Opens July 3
Please note

Admission

  • At least one of the party members must be aged 16 or over.

General

  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.
  • This is a quiet park: no music is allowed.

Occupancy

  • Group bookings of 6 or more adults are not permitted (couples and immediate family members excepted).
  • No bachelor/bachelorette parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Single-sex bookings of 6 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • The park caters for families (immediate members) and couples only - bookings from all other forms of groups are not accepted.

Safety

  • Fires, barbecues and/or firepits will not be permitted in dry, windy and/or hot weather conditions.
  • Raised fire pits are allowed in designated areas only.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, Jul 3 to

No availability here for your search criteria

Reviews

9.4

Overall rating from 280 Pitchup.com customers

  • 68%
    10
  • 11%
    9
  • 15%
    8
  • 1%
    7
  • 0%
    6
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    5
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 6
Peaceful

98% would recommend this campground to a friend

97% would stay here again

What customers say

A spacious, relaxed campground offering great value and a fantastic location near the Swanage heritage railway. Visitors appreciate the freedom to choose spots, friendly staff, and the convenience of the on-site snack shack. While facilities are described as basic, they are generally found to be clean and well-maintained. The picturesque setting and the charm of passing steam trains are consistent highlights. Some guests noted the hilly terrain and occasional issues with noise, while recent upgrades to facilities like compostable toilets and showers have been positively received.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 8/11/2026

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 28
Arrival date (latest first)

A great stay.

Overall

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

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked The location is beautiful. Welcoming hosts and our dog is welcome here.
Peaceful setting.
Hot showers.

Disliked Toilets ok but as a pop up sight a bit primitive.,

Recommend to friends Visit again

It's a lovely campsite, it's a…

Overall

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

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked It's a lovely campsite, it's a great location especially if you love trains. And everyone is really friendly and helpful.

Recommend to friends Visit again

We will be back!

Overall

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

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Fabulous spot
Loved every minute
Peaceful and beautiful
Friendly staff

Recommend to friends Visit again

A brilliantly peaceful campsite

Overall

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

Primitive grass RV campsite

Liked Unbelievably peaceful! So quiet, with so many polite, friendly and respectful campers. Really well situated - you’re less than 10 minutes from Dancing Ledge. Really unique!

Disliked Really the only thing I could say is that the site is very undulating. Be sure to bring the chocks for your vehicle.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Good facilities for the price. Lovely…

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
Tony E. 2 reviews

Primitive grass RV campsite

Liked Good facilities for the price. Lovely to have the choice of where we pitched.

A lovely location.

Enjoyed the Snack Shack, especially the local brew. All the staff were very friendly and helpful.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Recommended if basic camping and facilities is your thing.

Overall

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

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Relaxingly quiet site, staff really friendly and helpful, going out of their way on one occasion. Trains, shop and bus within close walking distances.
A delightful experience and central location.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent location, friendly owner, good showers…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Steve C. 3 reviews

Primitive grass RV campsite

Liked Excellent location, friendly owner, good showers

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very basic site but great location if you bring everything with you!

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 9
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 7
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Ben W. 1 review

Primitive grass RV campsite

Liked Nice location, plenty of space around pitches and campsite even in peak season. Area to camp under trees. Showers were hot and worked well.
Cafe was good.
Near by bus, train and play park for kids.

Disliked Unclear where to go on arrival. The ground was steep and uneven in areas so it was hard to know where to setup.
Composting toilets did smell at points, they were never busy but well used.
Limited sinks for washing up without hot water or bins.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: It is back to basics Campsite, hence the price!
For most of the year, it is a field in its natural state.
We don’t have Electric so hot water is difficult on all the basins as well as the showers which are obviously free and hot.
I’ve put bins out before, but everyone puts their Camping rubbish in and I would just be running them to the main bins constantly. So most people don’t mind walking their rubbish to the bins by the entrance it is inconvenient but the best solution for everyone. All the toilets have been in for sanitary use.
There is a sign by the entrance, which says what to do on arrival and a map. I try and answer anything calls if there are any questions to be answered..

Relaxed campsite with great views and…

Overall

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

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Relaxed campsite with great views and excellent location, plenty of options where to camp, and a good cafe.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Space…

Overall

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

Primitive grass RV campsite

Liked Space

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 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 Hikers’ paradise Leave the car at home Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery

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

Farm Large (51-200 sites) Pop-up campground

Accessibility

Accessible parking at site Bathrooms: Large spacious shower Uneven terrain; gravel or loose mud

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horseback riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Tennis nearby Watersports nearby

Location

The Railway Campsite

Sunny Glade

Haycrafts Lane

Harmans Cross

Swanage

Dorset

England

BH19 3EB

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

50.61958°N
2.0239°W

Nearest transport

Bus
1.8 mi East Street
1.9 mi East Street
2.9 mi Bus Station
Rail
6.5 mi Wareham Rail Station
6.8 mi Holton Heath Rail Station
7.1 mi Poole Rail Station
Ferry
5.3 mi Shell Bay Ferry Terminal
5.5 mi Sandbanks Ferry Terminal
5.6 mi Brownsea Island Ferry Landing
Airport
13.8 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

Famed for its ever-changing shades of blue and green, the Blue Pool (15 minutes’ drive) is surrounded by acres of heath- and woodland laced with trails. Take the easy path skirting the lake (where kids can also hunt for magic fairy doors), or steel yourself for a more challenging uphill route leading to views of the Purbeck Hills. Overlooked by the Georgian Clavell Tower, Kimmeridge Bay (20 minutes) is part of the Jurassic Coast. Rockpooling here may well yield some fossils; if not, you can head to the Etches Collection Museum, which displays fossilised marine creatures dating back millennia. The bay has clear waters for swimming and a summer snorkelling trail. Stay on the Jurassic Coast and move westwards to Durdle Door (35 minutes from the site), an iconic limestone arch stretching out into the sea. You can admire this imposing natural landmark from the dog-friendly beach or from the lookout point up on the cliff (easily reached via the South West Coast Path).

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Swanage Central 2.9 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Studland Knoll House 3.8 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Kimmeridge Bay 4.7 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Shell Bay North 5.2 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Poole Sandbanks Peninsular 6.1 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Corfe Castle 2 mi

Swanage Railway 2.9 mi

Studland Beach and Nature Reserve 3.8 mi

Brownsea Island 5.6 mi

Lulworth Castle & Park 8.2 mi

National Trust

Corfe Castle 1.9 mi

Studland Beach and Nature Reserve 3.6 mi

Brownsea Island 5.6 mi

Clouds Hill 12.1 mi

White Mill 12.9 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

Worth Matravers - Cliffs, Caves and Chapel 1.6 mi

Worth Matravers - Winspit - Dancing Ledge 1.6 mi

Corfe - Nine Barrows Down - Swanage 2 mi

Herston - Worth Matravers - Corfe 2 mi

The Purbecks - Castle and Coastal 2.2 mi

Local events

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

    Dorchester, England 19 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 The Railway Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is The Railway Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near The Railway Campsite? Famed for its ever-changing shades of blue and green, the Blue Pool (15 minutes’ drive) is surrounded by acres of heath- and woodland laced with trails. Take the easy path skirting the … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of The Railway Campsite?
    RV, travel trailer and tent sites
    Arrive:  Anytime –  Anytime
    Depart by:  4 p.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at The Railway Campsite? From $26.99 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.