Durdle Door Holiday Park

Ewelina had mentioned that she had always wanted to see Durdle Door in Dorset. With a free weekend in the schedule and good weather predicted we left Friday evening headed for Durdle Door Holiday Park. My last visit here I’d booked a sea view pitch with electric hookup. This time we were under some trees close to reception without hookup. It’s not the cheapest campsite you will ever stay at, especially in high season. Since it was September when we made this visit the prices were not too bad.

Durdle Door Holiday Park – The Facilities

Besides pitches for tourers, Durdle Door Holiday Park also has space for tents. There are also permanent holiday homes and camping pods on site. There are shower blocks, toilets and dishwashing facilities. Ewelina was pleased to see that there were hairdryers since not all campsites have them. A coin operated laundry is also available as is gas bottle exchange service and chemical disposal point.

If you want entertainment then onsite Harry’s Café Bar is open every day. When we arrived the music was still playing late into the night. If you are a light sleeper you might want to request a pitch away from reception. The bar has a pool table and TV. I even remember seeing an FA Cup final between Chelsea and Portsmouth here on a previous walking holiday I was taking in the area.

The list of facilities at Durdle Door caravan park  is really endless and I’ve only mentioned some here. It even has a small Costcutter shop on site stocking the basics should you run out of something like milk or bread.

Durdle Door Holiday Park – What is there to see?

The campsite is just a few minutes walk to the sea and Durdle Door and Man O’ War beaches. The Durdle Door arch is one of the most photographed sites in Dorset. Having this famous landmark so close meant we were able to visit at sunrise when we had the place virtually to ourselves (there was one other committed photographer too). Needless to say once we had seen the sunrise we returned to the motorhome and went back to bed for a nap!

I really love visiting this part of the country. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve visited Durdle Door natural arch, usually on foot but also once kayaking through the arch itself.

A short walk along the coast down some steps leads you to Lulworth Cove. As you are descending the steps you can see how perfectly shaped this cove is. It’s a popular tourist location with huge car park, visitor centre and some shops. The car park is not cheap but I suppose that’s the way things are when you have such stunning and popular landscapes drawing the crowds in.

Another tourist location close by is the ghost village of Tyneham. A small community of over 200 people lived there until 1943. They were moved out so that the land could be used as a firing range to train troops during World War II. The residents expected to move back after the war was over but in 1948 the Army placed a compulsory purchase order on the land. It is still used to train the Army now. Indeed access to the village is only possible on days when the firing range is not in use. Many of the buildings have fallen into disrepair or have been damaged by shelling. The church and school house remain intact and are today museums. Some say the Army’s presence here has been a good thing since the land has not been subject to pesticides and as a result wildlife thrives here.

Our stay was a brief one and after a snack at lunchtime we left our pitch to head further along the coast to Portland Bill to take some photographs of the lighthouse. If you are looking for a Durdle Door campsite or camping near Lulworth Cove why not give Durdle Door Holiday Park a try!