The Bingledon Bell Tent family getaway in Dorset

*Available school holidays only* Follow the bumpy farm track under the lime trees humming with bees and get away from it all in rural Dorset. 20 acres of English parkland surround a spacious 6m bell tent with kingsize bed, fresh cotton linen and woodburner to keep you toasty by night. With a piping hot woodland shower and kitchen beneath the trees, guests enjoy total privacy and the entire place to themselves, shared only with roe deer in the early morning and the barn owl swooping low at dusk. Set beneath the canopy of three huge beech trees, the off-grid space offers the perfect opportunity to unwind and get away from it all. Immerse yourself in nature, light a fire and relax while watching the sun go down. Read a book in one of our hammocks while listening to the wind rustling through the leaves, an inquisitive wren flitting between fallen branches and the meadow grass swaying gently in the breeze. The Isle of Purbeck is just half an hour’s drive away; spend your days exploring the Jurassic Coast; swim in the crystal waters at Durdle Door, climb the steep hill at ruined Corfe Castle and hunt for ammonites at Kimmeridge Bay. In the morning, wake to green woodpeckers drumming in hollow trees and warm your coffee pot on the gas stove in our rustic kitchen under the canopy of vintage scout tents. SITUATION The Bingledon Bell Tent is set in 27 acres of English parkland, nestled amid beech, oak and sycamore trees. We have planted wildflowers around the tent as well as a horse chestnut avenue just a little further down the hill. We are in the process of restoring the parkland so you’ll see fallen branches left on the ground to create a habitat for rare beetles and cover for ground-nesting birds such as English partridge. This rural spot has the convenience of being a five minute drive away from Blandford Forum, a pretty Georgian market town on the River Stour, with a bakery for early morning pastries, two butchers’ shops for firepit ingredients and a M&S foodhall for the other goodies. If you fancy a night off cooking, you can enjoy a pleasant twenty minute stroll along a farm track and through the village of Pimperne to the Anvil Inn, a thatched 17th Century pub with locally brewed beers. THE BELL TENT The bell tent is a spacious six metres and has a seriously comfy kingsize mattress, fully equipped with pillows, duvet, toasty blankets and Egyptian cotton sheets. There’s no electric lighting or sockets, just battery lanterns and the glow from your woodburner which comes fully stocked with logs, kindling and firelighters. You’ll also find forgotten fun like dominoes and cards to rekindle simple time spent together. There is plenty of space for a travel cot (at no extra charge). At an additional cost of £25 per bed per night, you have the option to add one or two single mattresses on the floor in the six metre bell tent, allowing up to four guests in total. WOODLAND SHOWER Follow the wiggly path to the woodland shower and watch the beech leaves shimmering in the breeze while the birdsong echoes in the trees and the hot water rains down. Breathe in the peace and tranquillity and relax with Bramley toiletries provided. BREAKFAST Eggs freshly laid by our hens (£1.20), a jar of our home-made raspberry jam (£5) or local sausages (£5) to cook on your fire pit are all available to pre-order; just let us know when you make your booking. FOOD Either head to Blandford Forum or one of our many local farm shops and pick up some ingredients to cook on your fire pit, or stroll to the village pub in Pimperne along a farm track. Other pubs are around a 15 minute drive by car or taxi and there are some good brunch options in Blandford Forum and nearby Wimborne. KITCHEN Vintage scout tents form a canopy over the woodland kitchen, equipped with a gas stove, sink with running water, crockery and handy cooking utensils. There is even a small solar-powered fridge with mini freezing compartment; perfect for those sundowner G&Ts. EXTRAS Please let us know in advance if you would like a homemade raisin & banana or chocolate chip tealoaf (£10) freshly baked for your arrival. Well-behaved dogs are welcome at a charge of £20 per dog per night; please let us know if you would like to bring your pet. We operate self-check in but are on hand if you have any queries or need any advice on how to spend your day in Dorset. Head to the Isle of Purbeck where the sand on Studland Beach stretches for miles and the sea is shallow and perfect for children to swim or paddle. Durdle Door with its fabulous limestone arch is around 40 minutes away, as is Corfe Castle’s ruined castle perched on a hill. Inland, you can visit Shaftesbury’s steep Gold Hill and Cerne Abbas with its chalk giant on the hill. Accessing the bell tents includes driving through an off-road field with bumps. The national cycle network route 25 runs through Blandford, connecting Longleat to Bournemouth. The closest train stations are Poole, Wareham or Tisbury [all around 30 mins away]. Bus connections are limited and we are a two mile walk up a hill from Blandford Forum.