Caravan site in Dorset

[PaulCraven]

Can anyone recommend a caravan site in Dorset please, ideally next to a beach with on-site pool? Must have mains hook-up. I can't seem to find much apart from Freshwater beach and West Bay Holiday Park. Has anyone any experience of either? Thanks.

 

[rayc]

Paul, I live in Poole and west Dorset is my favorite part of the county. I normally stay at West bay [Parkdean]in Autumn each year. The caravan pitches are seperate from the statics and are tiered. The wash blocks are adequate, the bar complex is well run as is the swimming pool.I have not been in high season but would suspect that the facilities are creaking. The site is at West Bay so a stroll along the harbour and beach is on your doorstep. If you do a forum search on Dorset in the UK Parks forum there are several listings on Dorset and one from someone there in August.

I have never been to Freshwater but have passed it loads of times. It is not my cup of tea with unmarked pitches, tents mixed up with caravans [and I mean close and mixed] etc. It has got good access to the pebble beach but be aware the current can be strong.

 

[PaulCraven]

Thanks for your comments Ray. We're hoping to go just before the schools break up. We have a two year old and a four year old so the beach is top priority! I think I'll take your advice and book at West Bay.

 

[rayc]

Paul, I don't want to poke my nose in to your plans and I am sure you will have a good time at West Bay but if a beach is your priority I would opt for either Swanage or Weymouth, which have sandy beaches and plenty for children to do. I would recommmend East Fleet at Weymouth and Ulwell Cottage at Swanage [Ulwell has an indoor pool on site]. Ray

 

[PaulCraven]

Ray, I welcome any advice you can give. A sandy beach would be lovely, some sites don't seem to be very forthcoming when describing the nearby beach! Isn't the beach sandy at West Bay? I like the look of Ulwell cottage, my concern would the heavy summer traffic on the south coast, would we end up in traffic jams every day just to get to a beach? Is there lots of car parking or would we be fighting for spaces? Our children aren't the most patient! I guess being local you avoid the summer traffic as much as possible! We live near Skegness and avoid it like the plague in peak season, lovely any other time of year though! Thanks again.

 

[rayc]

Paul, the further west you go from Weymouth the bigger the pebbles and the less sand. This carries on all the way through Deven to Exmouth {not to say there are not some bits of sand e.g Lyme Regis}.

If you are coming before the schools break up you will have no real problems outside of the rush hours. I think there are buses from East Fleet and Ulwell into Weymouth / Swanage.

If you go to www.resort-guide.co.uk and select Dorset you can then check out all towns and find lots of facts.

Anything you want to know in particular just ask.

Ray

 

[mistermac]

Hi

I wouldn't go back to Freshwater - far too busy, crowded & generally cramped.

The 'private' beach is in fact a mountain of shingle.

Nice area - just that site's not my cup of tea.

Mac

 

[Anthony_374242616]

Freshwater beach, you`re Absolutley correct about the "beach" here its just pebbles and shingle so will need shoes to walk on it, also swimming is a no no its very dangerous here people have been killed due to the drop of sea floor just as you go in but still lovely veiws and great walking, the pitches are marked out but yes it is very crowded, good for kids on site though and central for most day excursions its ok but would`nt go back