Caalm Camp review: luxury glamping in Dorset whatever the season
Camping in sub zero temperatures…would you? That’s exactly what we did in Dorset this winter and we can’t recommend it enough. We were invited to stay at Caalm Camp near Shaftesbury – a former dairy farm turned luxury glamping site with views of the rolling hills by day and a dazzling canopy of stars by night. Here’s our Caalm Camp review:
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Not only is the natural setting beautiful, the owners have worked hard to make this a premier glamping experience. Set aside thoughts of dripping canvas and long walks to muddy toilet blocks. Caalm Camp claims to put the ‘glam’ in glamping and we believe it hits its mark.
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Glamping in winter
The top question we’ve been asked since returning from Caalm Camp has been: were you cold? And we can honestly say we were not!
Caalm Camp has created a camping scenario where cold does not have to feature, even during one of of the chilliest Decembers I can remember.
If you’ve not tried luxury camping and fancy giving it a go here’s a guide to glamping with kids.
We arrived as the sun was setting and the outside temperature was dropping. The friendly owner, Mark, saw us pull up outside the farm house and came to greet us.
The camp has been family-run for six years, offering a rural retreat close to the borders of Somerset and Wiltshire.
Staying in a Mongolian yurt
Our accommodation was a traditionally built and hand-painted Mongolian yurt with a wood burning stove to keep us toasty warm.
The wooden lattice structure was held together with camel hide ties and horse hair string, and the beams were intricately decorated. It was beautiful.
Your stay at Caalm Camp includes all the chopped fire wood you can burn, so there’s never any need to let the fire go out. And if you’re really keen to keep the flames burning all night you can buy a bucket of coal (£3) to avoid having to stoke the fire in the early hours.
Each yurt sleeps up to six people in two day beds and a double. These beds were as comfy as at a hotel and there was no need for extra bedding. Speaking of hotels, there was more space and plug sockets in our yurt than in some hotels we’ve stayed in.
The free wifi was also in good supply. ‘Daisy’ is the closest yurt to the Old Hay Barn where the wifi signal is guaranteed. Mark explained it was less likely to reach to other parts of the site, so ask for Daisy if you prefer to stay connected during your break.
We also had a small kitchenette with an induction hob and kettle to make hot drinks, a washing up bowl and barbecuing utensils.
A feature we loved, but that could be a pain for kids and light sleepers in the summer months, was the skylight. It was not an issue for us in December but don’t forget your eye masks if daylight could play havoc with your holiday lay ins.
Outside we had a picnic table, water tap and our own fire pit that we sat around at night toasting marshmallows and spotting shooting stars in the glittering skies above.
Once the girls were in bed Mr Tin Box and I took great pleasure in cuddling up under some blankets where we did our best to name the constellations. Every now and again we’d be distracted by the ghostly shiloette of a barn owl or bats winging their way to roost.
In among the yurts there are shared social and play areas including deck chair seating which is covered by a sail canopy in the summer, a communal fire pit, and small wooden play area with trampoline.
Shared facilities
Each of Caalm Camp’s yurts has its own private wet room in the Old Hay Barn, which is also equipped with a shared kitchen and dining/living room. Perfect for a winter camping break with all the frills!
In the communal kitchen we had our own fridge and food cupboard, crockery, utensils, cutlery and cups. There were two shared hobs and ovens, and a microwave.
In the other cupboards there were plenty of pots, pans and cooking dishes. In the summer I expect the kitchen gets used for little other than food preparation and washing up as each yurt has its own charcoal barbecue. There’s also a pizza oven that the owners hire out for pizza nights.
The indoors dining and living area has six sets of dining tables and chairs, two sofas, books, DVDs and two baskets of toys. We used this space to keep the kids entertained while we prepared food and had showers.
We also had use of a well-stocked utility cupboard with a washing machine (pay a few pounds using the honesty box), dust pan, brushes, pegs and a baby bath.
The private wet rooms are genius. It’s never really occurred to us that trips to the toilet block could be made easier if we had our own bathroom where we could leave towels and toiletries. It’s such a simple but brilliant idea for a glamping experience.
Each wet room as a sink, shower, toilet, heated hand rail, underfloor heating and hand dryer. Towels, hand wash and a couple of toilet rolls are also supplied.
A bonus feature in the Old Hay Barn is a covered games area with table tennis, pool table and two friendly goats to pet. It’s a good space for older kids to hang out.
Other family-friendly features
- There are no cars around the yurts or Old Hay Barn so kids can run around safely. A wheel barrow is available to move belongings from the car park to your yurt
- Cot beds are available
- There are highchairs in the dining space.
Things to do with kids in and around Dorset
There’s a handy guide to local attractions in the Old Hay Barn. We visited the Haynes International Motor Museum, Fleet Air Arm Museum and Longleat Safari Park, which were all within an hour’s drive.
If we’d been staying longer we could have easily filled several more days with sightseeing. Stourhead Park, the Tank Museum, Swanage Railway, Lulworth Castle, Monkey World and Wookey Hole are all great attractions close by.
Read my guide to things to do in Dorset with kids.
Caalm Camp review: our verdict
We had a very special winter break at Caalm Camp but can see it would be a perfect luxury glamping experience whatever the season. The combination of the beautiful yurts, quiet countryside location and extremely well thought out facilities made it a winner for us.
If you enjoy camping and outdoor holidays and are looking for a five star experience or want to give glamping a go for the first time, Caalm Camp is the ideal place to book.
Find out more about prices and availability on the Caalm Camp website.
Have you even been glamping in winter? What was your experience?
More places to stay in Dorset
Take a look at our reviews of these other family-friendly places to stay in Dorset:
- South Lychett Manor Caravan and Camping Park
- Verwood Camping & Caravanning Club site
- Bournemouth Beach Lodges
- Hotel Collingwood in Bournemouth
Disclosure: we were invited guests of Caalm Camp. We were asked to stay in return for a review on the blog. All opinions are my own and those of my family.
Searching for luxury glamping in Dorset? Why not save this Caalm Camp review for later.
The thought of being cold and having to share a shower block are two of the things that put me off of camping most! This looks like the perfect solution for me – the individual wet rooms is a genius idea!
I’ve done lots of camping, but no glamping! Never been to Dorset either. Two facts which I shall have to rectify soon! Lovely post x
Glad you found it useful and yes, you must do both!
It seems like incredibly luxurious camping although I’ll believe it when I see it, with Sarah camping!
LOL! Honestly, it was luxury Karen. And I always thought you were hardy 🙂
Ooh I can do this I have a phobia about toilet block so that totally sells it for me, this seems like the luxury option for camping x
We stayed in a really similar Mongolian Yurt in Somerset and it was magical and warm! Love your video tour.
Thanks Penny. They are wonderfully warm aren’t they. We’ll definitely be staying in a yurt again!
Great to hear you found it useful. Do your research as not all yurts are the same in terms of what they offer. Some can be much more basic.
That yurt is beautiful! Sounds like a special vacation, and I’m glad it’s so family friendly. I love a canopy of stars when falling asleep. we live too close to the city to see many stars unless we are away. I think you’ve encouraged me to try glamping! #mondayescapes
Glad to hear it Maggie!
Looks brilliant! Reading this reminds me that I need to book a glamping trip for Feb half term. #Mondayescapes
Ohh, now I’m jealous! You’ll have a great time 🙂
Totally agree! Snuggling down in a yurt is an experience I think every young family should have. These look SO glam too!
It was the most glamorous camping I’ve ever done, aside from staying in our own Tin Box of course 🙂
It was super glam. Imagine charging your phone and camera at the same time in a tent! That has to be luxury 😉
Ohh.. I love this. I really have the itch to go camping but I’m not brave enough to deal with the weather right now. This looks like a perfect solution & I love all the little details like the skylight and painting. What a fun experience.
I don’t think it would matter what the weather was doing while you were staying here. It’s an all-year-round winner 🙂
I was following along with your instagram stories and couldn’t believe you could still glamp in December – I hadn’t even considered that they could be heated up enough, but it seems you had a really cosy time. You have inspired me to seek out some glamping for our family next winter – thanks! #mondayescapes
Not everywhere is like this so do your research. This is definitely somewhere we can recommend as being snugly warm in the winter!
Determined to do this. Have pinned with a view to booking sometime this year #MondayEscapes
Nicky @GoLiveYoung recently posted…Our Top Fourteen Travel Highlights of 2017…
That’s great to hear Nicky. I think you and the boys would love it! There’s loads to do in the area too 🙂
I do like that skylight. Great for star-spotting! I hate the cold, but I have to admit I’m tempted by this. It’s great to be outdoors, even in the chillier months, and glamping’s great for that. #MondayEscapes
Nell (Pigeon Pair and Me) recently posted…A fabulous family ski trip to Passo Tonale, Italy with Crystal Ski
Cold didn’t factor in our weekend, apart from when we chose to step outside. It was great! And the star-spotting was lovely 🙂
OOh these look so cosy!! I love places that don’t allow cars onsite and kids can just run around safely. Its great to be able to give them some freedom isn’t it!
Absolutely! That’s something that they’d thought a lot about. There’s only one gate into and out of the yurt complex so unless the kids go through that you know they are around somewhere. It makes for a proper break for everyone, not having to keep a constant eye on kids who want to explore!
Looks like a unique experience, we stayed in a tippee in Germany once the kids loved it. The playground and wide open spaces make it look perfect for the kids to have a play while still very comfortable on the inside for all. I am intrigued by the wet room, why it called that and not a bathroom or an ensuite? I know its an English thing but are all places like such referred to as a wet room
Ah, I love localisms 🙂 The wet room doesn’t have a shower tray so the water could potentially go all over the floor if you splashed around – that’s why it’s called a wet room rather than a bath room (or a room with a bath). It was also in a block separate from the yurt so it couldn’t be called an ensuite 😉
It looks gorgeous – we’ve stayed in a Yurt before and agree, they really are fab. I love that there’s your own private wet room rather than communal – definitely a selling point for me! Plus there seems to be plenty to keep the kids entertained too x
Sam | North East Family Fun Travel Blog recently posted…10 Child-Friendly UK Short Breaks to try this February Half Term
High five for yurts! There was loads for keep the kids happy while we made breakfast and showered. It made get up time really chilled out 🙂
Wow the yurts look absolutely beautiful, and they have absolutely thought of everything. I love the fact that there is a bed, and electric as we have stayed in some yurts where we have tea lights which can be difficult with crawling babies. I think the barn is a really bonus too with a kitchen and private wet room. What a gem of a find xx
Katy recently posted…Our adventures and travel – the best of 2017
This was really baby-friendly, aside from the potential they could get to the log burner but you can put things in front of that. I couldn’t believe the amount of power points! It was a true glamping experience!
don’t do shared bathrooms but would like to try glamping. I think you’ve solved my problem
Leona recently posted…Our most popular posts of 2017 and what to expect in 2018!
We don’t usually mind too much – its just part of camping. But it was a revelation to us to have our own bathroom space. A huge bonus!
I don’t do shared bathrooms but would like to find clamping. I think you’ve solved my problem
Leona recently posted…Our most popular posts of 2017 and what to expect in 2018!