Parsons Camp
Dorset, United Kingdom
Stock Gaylard
- Our low price promise from £172 €196 p/n
-
Camp
Sleeps 12
- Bus sleeps 4 (4 singles), bell tent sleeps 4 (1 double and 2 singles), bunkhouse sleeps 4 (1 double and 2 singles)
Suitable for children of all ages
Pets welcome
Overview
Tucked away in a glade, sat between two woods, the bus at the centre of the secluded Parsons Camp may be retired from running tourists around the Norfolk coast, but it can still show you a great time.
Now it’s done working, it’s been refreshed to create a comfortable and cosy space including a covered kitchen on the top deck. Enjoy the views whilst dining al fresco on the top deck seating area, or from the covered seating area to the front of the bus. The bus sleeps four in single beds on the bottom deck, with the rest of the passengers disembarking for the evening and heading for the bell tent, or the bunk house (both with a double bed and two singles). Take a long soak in the wood-fired bath in the converted horse box bathroom. There are also two gas showers and a compost loo nearby.
Parsons Camp is a 5-10-minute walk from, well, anything at Stock Gaylard, so you have the camp to yourself – in fact there are 1800 acres on hand to explore, as well as the gentle countryside of Dorset, and coast which is about an hour’s drive away.
Please note Parsons Camp normally sleeps 12, but 2 more people may bring an extra tent at the additional cost of £30 per person per stay, bringing the overall capacity to 14. Please call 0117 204 7830 to enquire and book.
Read more
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: 4 PM
- Check out: 10 AM
- Please bring a torch, towels, wellies, and walking boots
- The camp is consists of a double-decker bus, bunkhouse and a bell tent
- Initial firewood and a starter pack of charcoal is provided
- Private car park next to the camp for up to four cars
- No Wifi
- Bring portable charges for phones charging
- Phone signal available depending on network
- Dogs are welcome. Please bring your own dog bed and keep dogs off the furniture
- This space is accessible by public transport
Sleeping arrangements
- Bus sleeps 4 (4 singles), bell tent sleeps 4 (1 double and 2 singles), bunkhouse sleeps 4 (1 double and 2 singles)
Extra space available
Space for 1 baby no charge.
Space for 2 pets no charge. Please keep dogs off the furniture and out of the bell tent and bunk house
Kids & Pets
Children and dogs are welcome
Cooking
- Kitchenette on the top deck of the bus equipped with a gas oven, hob and sink
- Cooking utensils, crockery and glassware provided
- Solar-powered undercounter fridge
- Charcoal BBQ
- Firepit BBQ with cooking equipment
Washing
- Separate compost loo with a sink
- Separate gas-heated shower
- Wood-fired bath tub and sink in the horsebox
Heating, lighting & bedding
- Bed linen provided but please bring your own towels
- Gas heaters available
- Solar-powered lighting
Entertainment
- Firepit area
- Open garden
- Books
- Cards
- Board games
Read more
Getting there
Stock Gaylard, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 2BG
By public transport
The nearest train station is Sherborne (7 miles). From here, you can book a taxi to the space (15-minutes).
The closest EV charger is in DRC Coldharbour Car Park, a 15-minute drive away.
By car
Stock Gaylard is 13 miles from Yeovil to the west and Shaftesbury to the east. Your hosts will send you detailed directions to your camp upon booking.
Read more
Food & Drink
At Stock Gaylard
Local shops
Woodbridge Farm (1.4 miles) - has a vending machine where you can buy fresh milk.
Dike & Son (3.5 miles) - a highly recommended family-run independent supermarket.
Gold Hill Organic Farm shop (8.5 miles) - providing organic Dorset vegetables, fresh from the ground, all year round.
The Udder Farm Shop & Café (10 miles) - this farm shop also has a butchers, deli and fishmongers offering their own meats, local produce, drinks, store cupboard essentials and frozen foods.
Sturminster Newton (3.5 miles) - there's a co-op, greengrocer, butcher, bakery and much more.
Major supermarkets offer food deliveries. Please book your slot in advanced.
Pubs & Restaurants
The Green Man (1.5 miles) - beer garden and restaurant with daily specials showcasing the best local produce including local meat and game from Stock Estate as well as dairy produce from Woodbridge Farm.
The Antelope Inn (3.2 miles) - serving your classic pub favourites, home made by their team of talented chefs and using local suppliers to ensure fresh, quality, local ingredients every time.
The White Hart (4.5 miles) - traditional alehouse with a twist of contemporary comfort that also serve fresh local food.
Trooper Inn - dine in comfort with our wholesome meals, freshly-prepared in The Trooper Kitchen. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available.
Plumber Manor Hotel (5.2 miles) - offering a delicious dinner menu that changes daily and ‘a la carte’ supplements accompany the set price menu.
The Green Restaurant (8.3 miles) - a warm friendly place to meet, relax and enjoy delicious food with friends and family. For lunch you can choose from the daily menu or our à la carte menu offers a variety of options to suit your appetite, from three courses to lighter bites. The evening à la carte allows you to select your favourite dishes for a perfect dinner.
Read more
Activities
At Stock Gaylard
There are 1800 acres of land to explore at Stock Gaylard, with each camp enjoying its own privacy, with lovely walks and woods on the doorstep.
Places to Visit
Sturminster Mill (4.5 miles) - an attractive, small market town in North Dorset, located at a bridging point across a sweeping meander in the River Stour.
The Tank Museum (19 miles) - The museum houses 300 military machines, representing the key battles of every major conflict since the First World War. Tehir moving exhibitions tell the story of this British invention; from the mud of the Somme to the beaches of Normandy and the deserts of Iraq – featuring powerful stories from the soldiers that fought in them.
Monkey World (19.9 miles) - the perfect place to learn about our primates and support their safety.
Longleat Safari Park & House - did you know that Longleat was the first Safari Park to open outside of Africa in 1966? Home to over 120 species, you can see our amazing animals by car, foot, train, bus and boat.
Cerne Giant (9.7 miles) - ancient naked figure sculpted into the chalk hillside above Cerne Abbas.
Kingston Lacy (19.8 miles) - a lavish family home re-imagined as a Venetian Palace in the rural Dorset countryside.
Outdoor & Active
Gorcombe Sports (17.2 miles) - Offering a wide range of activities including clay pigeon shooting, archery and quad biking.
Paintball Matrix (9.2 miles) - hosts a number of varied game fields including a fort with an electronic drawbridge. Night games are also run as we have on-site power and field lighting.
Youvil Golf Club (11.2 miles) - offering an an all weather 15 bay Driving Range and Practice Area as well as a very popular clubhouse with full bar and catering facilities available, along with extensive changing room areas and one of the largest professional shops in the South of England.
Read more
Meet your hosts
Meet Andrew and Josie
Stock Gaylard Estate is a small, traditional estate of about 1800 acres, including 300 acres of oak woodland, 80 acres of common land and an 80 acre deer park with a small lake. Owners Andrew and Josie lived for a number of years in East Africa where they first discovered that camping can actually be comfortable! This inspired them to create a place where two families could camp together in comfort, in the beautiful surroundings at Stock Gaylard.
Wildlife & environment
Conservation and preservation are at the heart of everything done at Stock Gaylard, and the unspoilt environment you see today combines modern dairy farming with a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest. There are a number of conservation projects running on the estate including the habitat restoration of Lydlinch Common in order to promote both the nightingales and marsh fritillary butterfly. The estate has a number of barn and tawny owls and up to 20 species of butterflies can be spotted over the summer months on the many conservation headlands, fields and hedgerows around the farms.
Read more
-
Overview
Tucked away in a glade, sat between two woods, the bus at the centre of the secluded Parsons Camp may be retired from running tourists around the Norfolk coast, but it can still show you a great time.
Now it’s done working, it’s been refreshed to create a comfortable and cosy space including a covered kitchen on the top deck. Enjoy the views whilst dining al fresco on the top deck seating area, or from the covered seating area to the front of the bus. The bus sleeps four in single beds on the bottom deck, with the rest of the passengers disembarking for the evening and heading for the bell tent, or the bunk house (both with a double bed and two singles). Take a long soak in the wood-fired bath in the converted horse box bathroom. There are also two gas showers and a compost loo nearby.
Parsons Camp is a 5-10-minute walk from, well, anything at Stock Gaylard, so you have the camp to yourself – in fact there are 1800 acres on hand to explore, as well as the gentle countryside of Dorset, and coast which is about an hour’s drive away.
Please note Parsons Camp normally sleeps 12, but 2 more people may bring an extra tent at the additional cost of £30 per person per stay, bringing the overall capacity to 14. Please call 0117 204 7830 to enquire and book.
Read more
-
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: 4 PM
- Check out: 10 AM
- Please bring a torch, towels, wellies, and walking boots
- The camp is consists of a double-decker bus, bunkhouse and a bell tent
- Initial firewood and a starter pack of charcoal is provided
- Private car park next to the camp for up to four cars
- No Wifi
- Bring portable charges for phones charging
- Phone signal available depending on network
- Dogs are welcome. Please bring your own dog bed and keep dogs off the furniture
- This space is accessible by public transport
Sleeping arrangements
- Bus sleeps 4 (4 singles), bell tent sleeps 4 (1 double and 2 singles), bunkhouse sleeps 4 (1 double and 2 singles)
Extra space available
Space for 1 baby no charge.
Space for 2 pets no charge. Please keep dogs off the furniture and out of the bell tent and bunk house
Kids & Pets
Children and dogs are welcome
Cooking
- Kitchenette on the top deck of the bus equipped with a gas oven, hob and sink
- Cooking utensils, crockery and glassware provided
- Solar-powered undercounter fridge
- Charcoal BBQ
- Firepit BBQ with cooking equipment
Washing
- Separate compost loo with a sink
- Separate gas-heated shower
- Wood-fired bath tub and sink in the horsebox
Heating, lighting & bedding
- Bed linen provided but please bring your own towels
- Gas heaters available
- Solar-powered lighting
Entertainment
- Firepit area
- Open garden
- Books
- Cards
- Board games
-
Location
Getting there
Stock Gaylard, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 2BG
By public transport
The nearest train station is Sherborne (7 miles). From here, you can book a taxi to the space (15-minutes).
The closest EV charger is in DRC Coldharbour Car Park, a 15-minute drive away.
By car
Stock Gaylard is 13 miles from Yeovil to the west and Shaftesbury to the east. Your hosts will send you detailed directions to your camp upon booking.
-
Food & Drink
At Stock Gaylard
Local shops
Woodbridge Farm (1.4 miles) - has a vending machine where you can buy fresh milk.
Dike & Son (3.5 miles) - a highly recommended family-run independent supermarket.
Gold Hill Organic Farm shop (8.5 miles) - providing organic Dorset vegetables, fresh from the ground, all year round.
The Udder Farm Shop & Café (10 miles) - this farm shop also has a butchers, deli and fishmongers offering their own meats, local produce, drinks, store cupboard essentials and frozen foods.
Sturminster Newton (3.5 miles) - there's a co-op, greengrocer, butcher, bakery and much more.
Major supermarkets offer food deliveries. Please book your slot in advanced.
Pubs & Restaurants
The Green Man (1.5 miles) - beer garden and restaurant with daily specials showcasing the best local produce including local meat and game from Stock Estate as well as dairy produce from Woodbridge Farm.
The Antelope Inn (3.2 miles) - serving your classic pub favourites, home made by their team of talented chefs and using local suppliers to ensure fresh, quality, local ingredients every time.
The White Hart (4.5 miles) - traditional alehouse with a twist of contemporary comfort that also serve fresh local food.
Trooper Inn - dine in comfort with our wholesome meals, freshly-prepared in The Trooper Kitchen. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available.
Plumber Manor Hotel (5.2 miles) - offering a delicious dinner menu that changes daily and ‘a la carte’ supplements accompany the set price menu.
The Green Restaurant (8.3 miles) - a warm friendly place to meet, relax and enjoy delicious food with friends and family. For lunch you can choose from the daily menu or our à la carte menu offers a variety of options to suit your appetite, from three courses to lighter bites. The evening à la carte allows you to select your favourite dishes for a perfect dinner.
-
Experiences
At Stock Gaylard
There are 1800 acres of land to explore at Stock Gaylard, with each camp enjoying its own privacy, with lovely walks and woods on the doorstep.
Places to Visit
Sturminster Mill (4.5 miles) - an attractive, small market town in North Dorset, located at a bridging point across a sweeping meander in the River Stour.
The Tank Museum (19 miles) - The museum houses 300 military machines, representing the key battles of every major conflict since the First World War. Tehir moving exhibitions tell the story of this British invention; from the mud of the Somme to the beaches of Normandy and the deserts of Iraq – featuring powerful stories from the soldiers that fought in them.
Monkey World (19.9 miles) - the perfect place to learn about our primates and support their safety.
Longleat Safari Park & House - did you know that Longleat was the first Safari Park to open outside of Africa in 1966? Home to over 120 species, you can see our amazing animals by car, foot, train, bus and boat.
Cerne Giant (9.7 miles) - ancient naked figure sculpted into the chalk hillside above Cerne Abbas.
Kingston Lacy (19.8 miles) - a lavish family home re-imagined as a Venetian Palace in the rural Dorset countryside.
Outdoor & Active
Gorcombe Sports (17.2 miles) - Offering a wide range of activities including clay pigeon shooting, archery and quad biking.
Paintball Matrix (9.2 miles) - hosts a number of varied game fields including a fort with an electronic drawbridge. Night games are also run as we have on-site power and field lighting.
Youvil Golf Club (11.2 miles) - offering an an all weather 15 bay Driving Range and Practice Area as well as a very popular clubhouse with full bar and catering facilities available, along with extensive changing room areas and one of the largest professional shops in the South of England.
-
Your Hosts
Meet Andrew and Josie
Stock Gaylard Estate is a small, traditional estate of about 1800 acres, including 300 acres of oak woodland, 80 acres of common land and an 80 acre deer park with a small lake. Owners Andrew and Josie lived for a number of years in East Africa where they first discovered that camping can actually be comfortable! This inspired them to create a place where two families could camp together in comfort, in the beautiful surroundings at Stock Gaylard.
Wildlife & environment
Conservation and preservation are at the heart of everything done at Stock Gaylard, and the unspoilt environment you see today combines modern dairy farming with a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest. There are a number of conservation projects running on the estate including the habitat restoration of Lydlinch Common in order to promote both the nightingales and marsh fritillary butterfly. The estate has a number of barn and tawny owls and up to 20 species of butterflies can be spotted over the summer months on the many conservation headlands, fields and hedgerows around the farms.
-
Reviews
Our guests say...
Rebecca
We booked Parsons Camp for my hen do and had the BEST time. It was a beautiful, remote location (driving down a track for ages, and then this bus just appeared out of the trees in a picturesque clearing - perfect). 8 of us split between the converted double decker and the surrounding shepherds huts (all included in the camp) with a compost loo and a wood fired bath, but also gas shower and solar powered fridge meant this off-grid retreat had all the amenities we needed. We spent a lot of time hanging out on the sun deck, which was filled with endless laughter, and the more active (and less hungover) of us took to the surrounding trails in the morning for a run. We were blessed with stunning weather and clear night skies full of stars, and they provided marshmallows for toasting but we didn’t get around to lighting the fire pit in the end - partly because the ticks in the grass were holding us hostage
23/06/2023Nicola
Parsons camp was the perfect escape for our group of friends to get together. It is private and surrounded by lovely views and wildlife. The bus itself was spacious and had everything we needed. When you are not all aboard, there is a lot of space to hang out together including a great fire pit. The shower in the horse box was lovely and everyone including the adults, children and dogs had a lot of fun singing and playing games without worrying we were disturbing anyone else. Oh and make sure you get some goodies from the Woodbridge farm vending machine!
14/07/2022Jo
We went with our children, some of their friends and the dog. The camp was perfect for this. Plenty of sleeping spaces and space for all to run around and enjoy nature. The youngest loved the bus, the teenagers enjoyed the large fire pit, the dog made friends with the cows next door and we got some peace and quiet. Perfect family holiday!
30/05/2022Sylvia
Cool, funky and unique spaces which are great for kids and adults alike, within your own little corner of nature to explore and enjoy.
12/05/2022Chloe
We had the most amazing time at Parsons Camp. Being woken up to bird song, having Roe Deer sightings in the wood, having access to acres of land and laughter around the camp fire. We emailed ahead to ask if they could decorate the bus with balloons, as we had a birthday we were celebrating. After we sent the decorations, on our arrival the bus was decorated beautifully. Thank you to everyone involved in the preparation for our stay!
11/04/2022Sam
We had a amazing 4 night stay at parson camp with friends, didn't want to leave
31/05/2021Louisa
3 night staybat parsons camp . Weather was kind . Seculded spot. Kids loved it.
14/05/2021Ceri
Parsons camp is a wonderful place, away from the world , just you and the wildlife.. from when you first drive through the forest to your own little space behind gates ..everything was spotless and to a really high standard. Luxury bedding and everything you will ever need.. we ordered a starter hamper from dikes and son which was waiting on arrival. We all had a lovely time.. from sat around the campfire to having a bbq and just relaxing.. didn’t want to leave.. prior to arrival loads of contact from the owners and were so helpful..
03/07/2020Steve
Wanted a place to stay as a group that was a but unusual.
23/08/2019Janice
Fantastic thank you.
02/08/2019Sarah
We booked Parsons Camp to gather the family together for a 60th birthday celebration weekend . The weather was perfect and it proved an ideal spot for real family time together. We had 7 adults and 2 dogs in our party and everyone had a great time - the dogs loved it too !
28/06/2019Kerry
Brilliant! Such a quirky and fantastic location for a Hen Do - we had a fantastic time.
31/05/2019Clare
Wow, what a place. It was more than initially expected. The attention to detail was incredible from the fresh picked flowers and chocolate cake on arrival to everything we needed for the whole stay, logs that lasted the duration of our stay, BBQ coal, solar powered lanterns and stuff to keep the kids entertained and a hole lot more. Literally all you need to bring is towels clothes toiletries and food. Over the 5 days we stayed, there was not one think I would of changed. Best campsite we have ever stayed at, well worth the money. We are already looking in to going back again. Thanks to Parsons Camp for the amazing experience.
20/05/2019Matthew
After arriving at Parsons Camp we were immediately impressed by both the accommodation and it surroundings. The bus was quirky, there was lots of room, great seating areas and in such a peaceful environment. Leading up to and including the stay the hosts, Andrew and Josie were very helpful and accommodating. 8 of us stayed in total and it was such a great weekend away, very clean and you have everything you need on site. Would highly recommend for anyone looking for something a little different and an exciting get away. Definitely looking to return again at some point. 5*!
29/06/2018Hayden
It really is a wonderfully surreal experience eating your lunch on the open top deck of a double decker bus, such a man made, city dwelling thing, given a new lease of life and nestled in it’s own patch of countryside with not another soul for miles around. You feel completely at one with nature, enjoying a height and a view usually only accessible to the birds – there is something very thrilling and playful about the whole experience. The bus itself has been lovingly transformed, and as many of the original features preserved, for example the bus seats and various buttons. It really brings out the excited child in you, I defy you to not instantly want to sit in the front seat and pretend to be the driver. The attention to detail is marvelous, and as always with Josie and Andrew’s spaces, the hospitality is second to none.
14/07/2017Nina, Canopy & Stars
Reviews
We stayed here for a relaxed hen party weekend & the site made the most beautiful place to host a hen party. Surrounded by nature we saw deer, buzzards and bats. The facilities were high quality and the kitchen was well equipped. Would definitely come back!
31/05/2024Rebecca
We booked Parsons Camp for my hen do and had the BEST time. It was a beautiful, remote location (driving down a track for ages, and then this bus just appeared out of the trees in a picturesque clearing - perfect). 8 of us split between the converted double decker and the surrounding shepherds huts (all included in the camp) with a compost loo and a wood fired bath, but also gas shower and solar powered fridge meant this off-grid retreat had all the amenities we needed. We spent a lot of time hanging out on the sun deck, which was filled with endless laughter, and the more active (and less hungover) of us took to the surrounding trails in the morning for a run. We were blessed with stunning weather and clear night skies full of stars, and they provided marshmallows for toasting but we didn’t get around to lighting the fire pit in the end - partly because the ticks in the grass were holding us hostage
23/06/2023Nicola
Parsons camp was the perfect escape for our group of friends to get together. It is private and surrounded by lovely views and wildlife. The bus itself was spacious and had everything we needed. When you are not all aboard, there is a lot of space to hang out together including a great fire pit. The shower in the horse box was lovely and everyone including the adults, children and dogs had a lot of fun singing and playing games without worrying we were disturbing anyone else. Oh and make sure you get some goodies from the Woodbridge farm vending machine!
14/07/2022Jo
We went with our children, some of their friends and the dog. The camp was perfect for this. Plenty of sleeping spaces and space for all to run around and enjoy nature. The youngest loved the bus, the teenagers enjoyed the large fire pit, the dog made friends with the cows next door and we got some peace and quiet. Perfect family holiday!
30/05/2022Sylvia
Cool, funky and unique spaces which are great for kids and adults alike, within your own little corner of nature to explore and enjoy.
12/05/2022Chloe
We had the most amazing time at Parsons Camp. Being woken up to bird song, having Roe Deer sightings in the wood, having access to acres of land and laughter around the camp fire. We emailed ahead to ask if they could decorate the bus with balloons, as we had a birthday we were celebrating. After we sent the decorations, on our arrival the bus was decorated beautifully. Thank you to everyone involved in the preparation for our stay!
11/04/2022Sam
We had a amazing 4 night stay at parson camp with friends, didn't want to leave
31/05/2021Louisa
3 night staybat parsons camp . Weather was kind . Seculded spot. Kids loved it.
14/05/2021Ceri
Parsons camp is a wonderful place, away from the world , just you and the wildlife.. from when you first drive through the forest to your own little space behind gates ..everything was spotless and to a really high standard. Luxury bedding and everything you will ever need.. we ordered a starter hamper from dikes and son which was waiting on arrival. We all had a lovely time.. from sat around the campfire to having a bbq and just relaxing.. didn’t want to leave.. prior to arrival loads of contact from the owners and were so helpful..
03/07/2020Steve
Wanted a place to stay as a group that was a but unusual.
23/08/2019Janice
Fantastic thank you.
02/08/2019Sarah
We booked Parsons Camp to gather the family together for a 60th birthday celebration weekend . The weather was perfect and it proved an ideal spot for real family time together. We had 7 adults and 2 dogs in our party and everyone had a great time - the dogs loved it too !
28/06/2019Kerry
Brilliant! Such a quirky and fantastic location for a Hen Do - we had a fantastic time.
31/05/2019Clare
Wow, what a place. It was more than initially expected. The attention to detail was incredible from the fresh picked flowers and chocolate cake on arrival to everything we needed for the whole stay, logs that lasted the duration of our stay, BBQ coal, solar powered lanterns and stuff to keep the kids entertained and a hole lot more. Literally all you need to bring is towels clothes toiletries and food. Over the 5 days we stayed, there was not one think I would of changed. Best campsite we have ever stayed at, well worth the money. We are already looking in to going back again. Thanks to Parsons Camp for the amazing experience.
20/05/2019Matthew
After arriving at Parsons Camp we were immediately impressed by both the accommodation and it surroundings. The bus was quirky, there was lots of room, great seating areas and in such a peaceful environment. Leading up to and including the stay the hosts, Andrew and Josie were very helpful and accommodating. 8 of us stayed in total and it was such a great weekend away, very clean and you have everything you need on site. Would highly recommend for anyone looking for something a little different and an exciting get away. Definitely looking to return again at some point. 5*!
29/06/2018Hayden
It really is a wonderfully surreal experience eating your lunch on the open top deck of a double decker bus, such a man made, city dwelling thing, given a new lease of life and nestled in it’s own patch of countryside with not another soul for miles around. You feel completely at one with nature, enjoying a height and a view usually only accessible to the birds – there is something very thrilling and playful about the whole experience. The bus itself has been lovingly transformed, and as many of the original features preserved, for example the bus seats and various buttons. It really brings out the excited child in you, I defy you to not instantly want to sit in the front seat and pretend to be the driver. The attention to detail is marvelous, and as always with Josie and Andrew’s spaces, the hospitality is second to none.
14/07/2017Nina, Canopy & Stars
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We stayed here for a relaxed hen party weekend & the site made the most beautiful place to host a hen party. Surrounded by nature we saw deer, buzzards and bats. The facilities were high quality and the kitchen was well equipped. Would definitely come back!
31/05/2024