Knoll Farm Campsite

Step into the past by wandering along to Corfe Castle, less than five minutes’ drive from base. The 11th-century castle was built by William the Conqueror and was one of the earliest to be built in England – that’s more than 1,000 years of history to explore around this spectacular ruin. Staying in the days of yore is far from challenging too: take a ride on the Swanage Railway heritage steam trains, pay a visit to the spectacular 17th-century Lulworth Castle, call into the Clouds Hill cottage that TE Lawrence once called home (it’s a National Trust writers’ museum now), or rumble through the Bovington tank museum, all within 15 minutes of base. Kids in tow will likely get up to all sorts of monkey business at Monkey World ape rescue centre 15 minutes from the site, but are more likely to be seen five minutes away swinging around the waterpark and mud trail at Dorset Adventure Park. Less active guests, on the other hand, might prefer to wander along to the Blue Pool – also within five minutes – to meet the Wareham Bears (that’s 200 teddies in their own model village).