There are a lot of names to learn when you go glamping at East Shilvinghampton Farm. There’s Martin, the farmer who’ll show you around and Joby, his wife, who cooks dinners on site. There’s Trit-Trot, the goat, Chase and Pippin, the ponies and Fred, Alan and Owen, the alpacas. Those aren’t all the names you’ll hear at this Dorset farm but we’d better leave it there. After all, you’ll be needing some room to remember the names of the new best friends your kids are likely to make.
East Shilvinghampton is a sociable site with nine roomy safari-style tents in a huge field which offers panoramic countryside views, just a walk away from the nearest beach. It’s part of the Feather Down farm collection; a mini-chain of boutique glamping sites which champion off-grid farm stays in safari tents (which they describe as "tented cottages"). Lit only by candles and oil lamps, the rustic but homely accommodation, provided by Feather Down, is invariably lovely – with well-stocked kitchens, log burners and cute kids’ cupboard bedrooms as particular highlights. And while the accommodation varies little, the farm experience is authentic and unique as day-to-day site management is left in the hands of partner farmers, like Martin and co, who host Feather Down tents and guests.
It’s very much a family affair at East Shilvinghampton Farm; both in terms of who’s running the place and who’s staying at it. The Bartletts have been here for 70 years and three generations currently help keep everything in good order, from the cows in the fields to the shelves of the campsite honesty shop. The pre-pitched tents and made-up beds make this a fantastically easy option for families – but there’s more: high chairs and cots to hire, home-cooked meals by farm mum, Joby, to order and alpaca walks with son, Henry, to join.
With farm animals and campsite friends a toddle away, kids would be happy here all day but the on-site fun is only half the attraction. This is glorious Dorset and the farm is located between its two greatest treasures: the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the World Heritage-listed Jurassic Coast. You can take a long walk to unusual Chesil Beach, or drive 15 minutes to family-friendly Weymouth. Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Lyme Regis and Charmouth are not much further and all day trips you’ll want to make. In fact, from your well-placed base, walking, swimming, fossil hunting and visiting family attractions are as easy as the glamping at East Shilvinghampton Farm.
The site is on the edge of the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and just a few miles from the Jurassic Coast. The closest are Chesil Beach (five miles from site) and family-friendly Weymouth (seven miles). This seaside resort has a lovely crescent-shaped beach is great for kids and you can hop on a mackerel-fishing trip straight from the harbour. There's also West Bay, famous as the home of the Broadchurch TV series, Charmouth and Lyme Regis which are great for fossil hunting, Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove to name but a few (all within 22 miles of site). For walking, try The Jubilee Trail or the South Dorset Ridgeway, which takes in the Hardy Monument and the Hell Stone burial chamber. The very pretty village of Abbotsbury is just four miles from the farm and boasts a 600-swan strong Swannery (01305 871858), where lucky visitors can see cygnets hatching during May and June. The village also has fantastic Subtropical Gardens (01305 871387). Eight miles from site in Dorchester there are enough museums for many rainy days: the Dorset County Museum (01305 262735), Tutankhamen Exhibition (01305 269571), Dinosaur Museum (01305 269880) and the Keep Military Museum (01305 264066).
There are a range of home-cooked meals and cakes from the farm kitchen available to book in advance as well as meat for the barbecue fresh from the farm. There's also an on-site honesty shop where you can pick up basic supplies including milk and, on certain days, fresh bread. The King's Arms (01305 871342), two miles from site, in the village of Portesham is a traditional boozer, with an expansive garden to the rear. For something a little more indulgent, head a little further to satisfy your sweet tooth with a cream tea at Abbotsbury Tea Rooms (01305 871143) which has a beautiful garden behind a 16th-century thatched cottage. The award-winning Hive Beach Cafe (01308 897070), 10 miles away in Burton Bradstock, is recommended for seafood and spectacular views across Lyme Bay.
