Where did we go?
Bloomfields Camping in Little Okeford
Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8QY
Telephone: 07766 292732
Glamping starts at £190 per weekend, Find out more.
What did we think?
Bloomfields Camping is a small site located in North Dorset, set in a tranquil nature reserve and small holding. There are 4 spacious yurts on the site with their own separate kitchen and eating areas. Oak, Willow, Beech, and our yurt, Poplar, are the only plots on the whole site, in-keeping with the Bloomfield vision of peaceful camping.
Matt and I arrived at different times to be greeted by John, the owner and visionary of Bloomfields. I myself had to commute from London and catch a cab from Gillingham station to reach the secluded Bloomfields. Unfortunately cabs are hard to come by and my original booked taxi didn’t turn up at the station. I was soon rescued by John who runs an accessible cab company, meaning there was plenty of room in the back for my rucksack!
Upon arrival, John who took extra time to explain the facilities and make recommendations for the local area, escorted us both to our yurt carting our belongings in a trailer attached to his lawn mower- a quirk that we quickly discovered the children who come to Bloomfields, love. Although the spacious carpark is well within walking distance of the yurts, it’s nice to have as quirky addition to the experience.
Inside our yurt
Inside the yurt we were stunned by the beauty and romanticism that had been carefully crafted into the décor. Nothing seemed out of place and it gave off the perfect peaceful vibe for a young(ish) couple out adventuring together. The space really felt as if it was our own and really appealed to our own sense of style, and storage! There was also ample room to tuck everything away for a clutter free, zen atmosphere.
The bed was the focal piece of the yurt, standing in the middle, covered with eastern style peacock linen. It also looked directly up to the skylight in the ceiling of the yurt, meaning the stars were visible at night, and the dawn rose to greet us in the morning.
Outside the yurt on our pitch, was also a great little kitchen tucked away. It included everything you’d need for food prep and storage. Ice box, full gas cooker, all utensils and crockery along with any extras that you never thought you’d need! There were also dish washing facilities inside the kitchen shed although most glampers seemed to prefer the shower block sink for this.
The kitchen joined a small covered area lit at night by solar powered fairy lights, with a picnic bench. Further off was the fire pit which was supplied with a rack for cooking and plenty of fire wood. Matt and I always seem to get through a lot of firewood as we like to burn through the night and cosy up together, but we had more than enough here. The cooking rack was the perfect height off the ground for our veggie dinner, and large enough to feed a family of 20!
Site facilities
The shower block was a delight. Open all hours, and regularly visited by the site peacocks (all called Dave), the building consisted of 2 toilets, 2 showers, 2 washrooms and hair dryer and straighteners. There were also two extra sinks outside these cubicles for washing up and brushing teeth. One thing I must note is that the mirror height is designed for someone about 6 foot 5. I’m average height for a woman and I had to get a stool to be able to use the mirrors. I spoke to other women campers and they said they had exactly the same problem. But the great part about the shower block, in my opinion was the fact the radio was on during the day. It got me dancing in my morning showers – I’m easily impressed clearly.
The shower block was also home to a notice board with relevant info, along with local information, freezers allocated to each yurt, and most importantly, a few lock ups with phone charging outlets. This provides great relief for anyone planning to Instagram all their pictures of Dave.
A beautiful site teeming with wildlife
The site itself is teeming with wildlife which is a massive draw for me. Butterflies that can be seen at Bloomfields during the summer are Red Admirals, Painted Ladies, Small Tortoiseshells, Commas, Peacocks (butterfly not Dave), Gatekeepers, Speckled Woods, Large Whites as well as Small White along with the meadow loving Brimstone butterfly. Other species include badgers, bats, pheasants, foxes, buzzards and a great variety of insects. Everywhere you look there’s wildlife, which is great for those who have an interest or want to teach their children about nature.
Out and about in the local area
The local village is a beautiful walk through flecks of woodland, farmland, and hedgerow and only takes 10 minutes. We visited the Gold Hill organic farm shop and café which is a welcoming establishment where we were even allowed to walk around crops and see how everything is grown. Needless to say, we made our way back to Bloomfields armed with a box of fresh veg and produce. We also had the honour of purchasing the best cheese we’ve ever eaten, produced onsite by James who makes delicious and award winning washed rind cheeses.
We finished our trip to Dorset with a long-awaited outing to the primate rescue centre, Monkey World. It had been a dream of mine to go there as a huge wildlife supporter and it was no disappointment. The lemurs, capuchins and orang-utans stole our hearts with their monkeying around, despite the heat of the day. Monkey World is a great place to learn about our cousins and all about the work Alison Cronin does for the conservation of these creatures. It did bring a tear to our eyes a few times hearing how these animals have been mistreated and brought to Monkey World as rescues. This is a must see for families and those interested in zoology.
The verdict?
We recently experienced the most private camping experience whilst staying in Devon, where we were the only people in the entire camping field and it was the most fairy-tale weekend yet. Bloomfields was a close second but we felt as though it wasn’t as private as we’d like as a couple. We did however, feel that it is the most magical place for a young family. We met a few lovely people who felt the site was great to allow their children the freedom to run around and not have to worry about them too much. The animals on the site, kid’s sports area, and the expansive grassland makes Bloomfields an incredible place for a child to experience a world without screens and controllers.
Highlights
- Stunning, spacious yurts that give off the most romantic candle lit vibe in the quiet of the night.
- Location is great to experience small village England and visit nearby Monkey World.
- Close to Hendon hill for hikes and fantastic view.
- Tons of helpful information on ty.
- The region with recommendations which really brings visitors into the local area and adds to the local economy.
- Well equipped in all aspects with things you probably have forgotten you needed!
- Excellent choice to add radio to the shower blocks which gave us a heightened sense of the holiday feeling.
- Great countryside walks and spectacular wildlife for those with vast zoological knowledge as well as those who just want to learn.
- John and Amanda are great hosts and even brought us some freshly laid eggs from their beautiful speckled hens.
A big thank you to John and Amanda at Bloomfields Camping for our stay.
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