FAQ

Our postcode is DT6 6RW, this is only geographic and will NOT bring you directly to The Dorset Hideaway. You will need to either

Use the map grid reference number:  SY 39823 97842 or enter the longitude and latitude points into your satnav: 777016, -2.8548574 or print off the directions from the Contact/find us page of this website and follow these instructions once nearby.

We are only 3 miles from the main A35 road into the region.

There are signs along the lanes to help you too.

Our telephone numbers are:

• 07825 958822
• 01297 480851
• 01297 489761
• Our email is: info@thedorsethideaway.co.uk
• Our facebook page:facebook.com/thedorsethideaway
• Our Twitter account is:@dorsethideaway

• Press “BOOK NOW” button to open up the booking page
• Or telephone or email the above contacts

Please go to Reception in the Hub building at the entrance to the site, here you will be asked to confirm your name, address, booking details and pay your £20 security deposit and any booking anomalies, (things that might have changed, extra people etc.) Tea & coffee are available.

You will be given a welcome pack with site rules, WiFi code, shop/reception opening times, a site plan, spa price list, ideas for what to do and where to go and things that may be on, important telephone numbers and when the food vans are on site. (It is a good idea to keep this handy in your unit to refer to from time to time.) You will then be shown to your pitch.

• You can email us direct
• You can call any of these numbers 01297 489761/480851 / 07825 958822
• If you are already on site – just pop into reception and make your booking

Unfortunately due to the small size of the campsite we have to limit the number of large group bookings so they are kept to a minimum as they tend to disturb the overall ambience of peace and quiet on site. That said we do however allow family groups to pitch together but please do call and make these bookings direct with us.

There are currently 48 EHU pitches made up of a mix of Fully serviced, hard standing, mixed and grass. There are 6 deluxe glamping pitches, and 6 bell tent pitches. They are spread out over 2 acres of open farmland and there is a further 4 acres of open space around the site. There will be 20 more mixed/grass hard standing EHU pitches added in 2017. There are 6 seasonal pitches on site.

You can arrive anytime from 2pm onwards up to 6pm with a manned reception/shop (Hub building). If you arrive between 6pm & 8pm, reception will be closed, so you will need to text an ETA to this mobile 07825 958822 and you will be briefly shown to your pitch. For full site information please call into reception the next morning. Strictly no arrivals after 8pm. The main entrance vehicle and pedestrian access gates are alarmed after midnight. Please arrange your day accordingly.

• You need to vacate your pitch by 11am at the latest unless you have paid for (if available) a late departure.
• Deposits are returned on the day of departure after a pitch inspection. All pitches must be left clear of litter, firepit & wood (if applicable) & pegs and all large bulky unwanted items taken home with you and no damages reported.

The £ 20 deposit is a caution deposit against damage to property or plants on site, to ensure pitches are left clean and clear for the next booking and to ensure all large unwanted items such as tents, gazebos, chairs, poles, airbeds, BBQ’s etc are taken home with you and not left in the recycling area, to ensure rules are adhered to for the benefit, safety and overall enjoyment of the site for all and to ensure all dog mess is picked up and children are never left unaccompanied. We have never yet had to keep a deposit!

• You can either email info@thedorsethideaway.co.uk or telephone these numbers 07825 958822/01297 480851/01297 489761.
• We will do our very best to help with amendments where it is possible, we will offer alternative dates if possible.
• Cancellations more than 30 days before arrival date will be due a full refund less an administration charge, under 30 days notice there is no refund due.

• We DO NOT allow open uncontained fires anywhere on site, no fires direct on the ground or in holes.
• We DO allow you to hire one of our insurance approved fire pits for use on site. We CANNOT and do NOT allow the use of your own fire pits on site, your understanding is appreciated. Please do NOT bring these with you so as avoid disappointment. The safety of everyone on site is paramount to us.

A maximum of 2 dogs can be brought onto site per booking

Dogs can be taken along the public bridlepaths that cross the site but must be on a lead at all times. When within the site fence boundary or in the wider open spaces dogs must be on a SHORT lead at ALL times and all fouling cleared up IMMEDIATELY. Dogs are NOT allowed in the play areas or in the Grub Pub Barn Dogs are NOT ALLOWED to be left alone in units. Dogs are NOT ALLOWED around the Amenity building, overflow shower block or Camp Kitchen areas.

• The fishing is coarse fishing, the following fish are to be found in the pond: Carp, Roach, Rudd, Perch & Gudgeon
• Fishing is included in your pitch fees at present
• If you haven’t fished before but would like to try then you can buy a basic rod & reel and starter kit from reception 

The shop and reception are open and manned in high season from 8am – 6pm with a lunch break from 12-2:30pm. In mid season the hours are slightly shorter and in low season it is on demand.

• The bandwith and speed available are what BT offer currently as a service to this area. We have no other option available to us at the present time.
• It is suitable for general web browsing and collecting and sending email, but not for video streaming, gaming or downloading large documents or images. It will just freeze if you attempt this.
• It will slow down as the number of people using it increases.
• It is only available in the information room currently and not directly on each pitch – but is FREE to use.
• Customers used to high speed broadband are often not aware that the national infrastructure is not fully inclusive, leaving many rural areas either not connected, or provided with a virtually useless service. For this we apologise in advance but currently our hands are tied.
• We are aware of the importance of internet access to our customers and are looking into providing satellite internet in the near future.

Whilst we wait for the digital revolution to arrive in our beautiful corner of Dorset, we trust you find the service we are able to provide suitable for your holiday & basic day to day needs.

• The Scrub (shower block) has underfloor heating, modern insulation to a very high U Value and solar thermal water heating to improve our energy efficiency and impact on the environment.
• There is a vanity area with mirrors, sockets, hooks and nooks for appliances and shelves for make up etc there are spotlights above and natural light from behind.

• There is a separate disabled washroom with adapted shower, seat, wc and basin and emergency alarms and the requisite grab rails and drop bars. There is no radar lock.
• There is a freestanding baby change unit.

• After a risk assessment and under our insurance cover currently – bicycles & scooters are not allowed on site around the pitches or buildings. You can cycle freely along the lanes and bridle paths surrounding the site.
• There is a dedicated ball play area – as ball games are not allowed on site or around the pitches
• There is a dedicated under 12s play area – both of these are unsupervised
• NO kites are allowed on site due to overhead power cables – should you wish to fly a kite please contact us first as we can show you a safe area to fly!
• NO children are allowed into the Scrub (shower block) building unsupervised – you risk losing your deposit if this happens!
• There is an open unfenced fishing pond in the field next to the campsite but the campsite does have it’s own fenced boundary, but you should be responsible for your own children at all times, especially beyond this area.
• We welcome families that wish to enjoy the beautiful surrounding countryside and bridle paths, sit round a firepit and stargaze but also respect our property and that of others on site. We will not tolerate unruly or rude behaviour and you may be asked to leave the site with no refund.

Yes we do! Please see the storage page of this website for full details.

• Single axles are £380 and twin axles are £480.

• There is fishing available in our small pond (free) – frozen bait to buy in shop
• There are spa treatments available in the ‘Hideaway Spa’ (pre-book)
• There are art courses available to book in our on site art studio (pre-book)
• You can go metal detecting with Mike (pre-book)
• You can go fossil hunting with Chris (pre-book)
• In high season there are tractor and trailer rides (providing sufficient numbers are available)
• From time to time we have baby animals on site as part of the working farm
• You can collect fresh eggs from the chickens

There is a seasonal ‘pop-up’ bar with ad hoc entertainment – all closes at 11pm prompt so everyone can get back to their pitches and settle down by a sensible time.

• You will need an electric hook up lead that looks like the 1 below (not a domestic 3 pin extension lead!!)
• The longer the better so you have more choice of space to pitch on away from the hookup bollard.
  You just lift the flap on our bollard and push the blue (non flapped end) into the socket – there is a nib (as you can see in the picture below) that sticks out on the socket to help you guide it into the socket.

•  Yes, provided they are in a bag marked with your surname and that access to collect or deposit ice packs is only during opening hours, so please plan ahead. The facility is free.

• Waste water is taken from the caravan/motorhome drain outlet on the outside of the van via a hose that looks like this – you will need at least 8m to ensure you can reach the drain regardless of which side the outlet is on your van .
• You may need a Y piece if you have more than one outlet – like the picture below right.

NO kites are not allowed to be flown on site but if you contact reception we can show you where you can fly a kite safely away from overhead power cables.

NO unfortunately no bikes/scooters/trikes are allowed to be ridden around the site roads due to the small nature of the site and its access roads our risk assessment suggested it would be safer not to allow them. They can be ridden in the field but the grass can be quite long, They can obviously be ridden on the surrounding lanes but with adult supervision as visibility over the hedges is not good. They are not allowed around the shower block at all in case someone were to be knocked over.

• We are within 4 miles of the South West coast path
• We are within ¼ mile of the Jubilee Trail and Monarch’s Way
• We are 4 miles from the Wessex Ridgeway trail
• There are numerous bridle paths around the area and two directly from site
• There are printed circular walks sheets available from reception at a cost of £1  * See on site activities page for circular walks pdfs.
• There are also Treasure Trails – look them up if you are not familiar – there are several different types and we have two that start directly from our site – approximately £5 each – keep the little ones entertained on a circular walk.

• Our nearest pub is 1 mile away – The Shave Cross Inn – they are not always open every day so please check their website listing for more information. Dogs allowed in bar. Oldest skittle alley, pool table & jukebox, lots of history, pretty thatched pub and beer garden, Carribean a la carte menu and bar menu.
• The Five Bells Inn is our village pub in Whitchurch Canonicorum – about 3 miles walk along the lanes – please see their website for events, local ales and food menu – good simple fayre with a nice welcome and dogs allowed in bar, pool table & skittle alley. Events from time to time.

• In Bridport you will find Morrisons, Lidl, Coop and Waitrose – approx. 6 miles away
• There is a small Nisa/Spar type supermarket in Charmouth 3 miles away – stays open late
• Tesco is either in Axminster or Chard (24 hour)
• We do NOT allow supermarket deliveries on site – we are too small for lorries and we want to try to encourage people to buy locally and keep the food miles down. Why not give the supermarket giants a miss while on holiday and sample some of our local delights – some of which are stocked in our on site shop.

The TEXACO garage in Bridport is the nearest petrol station or Morrisons store

• Charmouth at Dorset Leisure Centre Ltd open 10-4pm (Mon – Fri) 11-1 (Sat) Closed on Sundays
• Then any of the petrol stations /supermarket forecourts
• The site shop stocks (in opening hours or an emergency!)

  1. replacement blue camping gas cyclinders.
  RD 904 & RD 907 Exchanges have to be like for like

  2. 6kg Red propane LPG cylinders  by flogas. Exchanges must be between two flogas cylinders and not other makes but can be of different sizes.
  3. Replacement gas cartridge canisters  for the gas hob units

• Charmouth is the nearest beach approx. 3 miles from the site; it is possible to walk from the site, following the river down to the sea along the marked bridle paths (may be difficult with a buggy but fine on foot) – this route is totally off road and peaceful and safe. Charmouth has a ‘Jurassic Coast – visitor centre’ – please visit here first for some very important safety advice on access to the beach and cliffs and also for some wonderful information about the history of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site
• Please visit www.dorsetforyou.com/walking dog on beach for full up to date dog beach access.

• Nearest bus/coach station is in Bridport – the main A35 road which is 3 miles from the site has a coastal X53 bus – check online direct or with tourist information regarding times etc
• Nearest train station is either Axminster or Crewkerne – all stations to Exeter and Waterloo London