The Alders

The morning air smells of damp earth and old stone, with wood pigeons calling from the ash trees that line this quiet corner of west Dorset.

The Alders offers proper beds under a roof — a mix of guest house rooms and camping pods for those who want to sleep close to the outdoors without quite giving up four walls. It's a good middle ground for couples testing the camping waters, families with younger children, or anyone who fancies the countryside without the full tent commitment. Sandford Orcas sits in gentle dairy country near Sherborne, all honeyed Ham stone villages and footpaths threading through buttercup meadows — this is Hardy country, slow-paced and deeply rural.

Facilities aren't widely listed, so expect a simpler, more personal setup than a full campsite. Dogs are welcome by arrangement, and campfires depend on conditions when you arrive — worth asking ahead if that's part of your plan. Open all year, so it works for off-season escapes when most canvas-only sites have shuttered. The vibe feels more like staying at a friendly farmhouse than checking into anywhere formal.