Studland

[Dubber Dan]

Right down at Studland there's a long road that leads to a little ferry terminal. You can park anywhere along that road for free, but be warned it can get very busy with others parked up for the night and gets busy during the day with tourists.

We were down there last year for the summer solstice and were rewarded with a beach to ourselves and this sunrise B)

[starblazer]

Hello and thank you for the enquiry.
looks like ferry rd. parking is coming to the end. the ferry company have applied fpr planning permission to erect signs banning overnight parking. this is a copy of the reply the sent me


Due to the ever increasing number of caravans and motor-homes parking on the verges of Ferry Road for extended periods and the associated problems that arise because of this (e.g accumulations of rubbish, litter, sewage being disposed of on heath land, grey water running directly onto heath land, complaints from members of the public about the visual impact in an environmentally sensitive area, complaints from official organisations including the emergency services etc.) it has become necessary to actively stop overnight parking on Ferry Company land. There are a number of official camp sites in the Purbeck area who have the facilities and space to accommodate campers and caravans and we would strongly recommend these sites as an alternative. We will be advising people that we will no longer accept overnight parking on our land between midnight and 6.30 am by means of signs and leaflets initially. A traffic regulation order has been applied for which, if successful, will be enforced by Dorset County Council.

We have been told that the road leading tothe ferry is not owned by the ferry company nor the national trust but by an elderly lady who lives either in the isle of man or isle of wight, as far as i know you can continue to camp alongside the road

In response to the post re Studland road to ferry. At the beginning of the summer 2005 Dorset CC erected signs prohibiting the overnight use of motorhomes on the County owned road to the Sandbanks Ferry. There is no access to National Trust land with any motor vehicle but once again signs prohibit camping. Both of these restrictions are activly enforced by all accounts. HOWEVER (there is always one however) just before the ferry there are a number of motorhomes and caravans some with generators that appear to be set for the duration, with awnings and prefab out buildings attached, they are either twin axle caravans or Winibago type campers of various conditions-- draw your own conclusions, these are not moved on, but casual parker such as us who are touring would be. Very sad as this was a superb location for a couple of days every now and then.

I echo triana's sentiment ...... a handful of people staying for the summer are spoiling it for the rest. We had a night there over Easter though, along with a half dozen other overnighters, and were pleased not to be pestered by officialdom ..... we had the obligatory "toots" from passing locals though. I'm not sure what the next move might be to prevent such overnighting, but there was a planning application posted near the toilets for the construction of a ditch. Does anyone know the full detail ??? (plans are available for inspection ..... but not by me on a weekends R&R )

Oh! and casual chatter with fellow campers threw up the spectre of "parking meters" !!! One thing for sure ..... it's not what it used to be

Further to my post in March 06 the "Itinerant type" motorhomes and caravans have been removed from Ferry Road Studland and I am reliably informed that the overnight ban supported by a Clearway between 11pm and 06,30 am is rigidly enforced
Back to the howevers though (good ones that is) as you return to Corfe castle from Studland about a mile outside the village there is a Lay By that overlooks Poole Harbour, there is no notice prohibiting motorhome parking overnight and is a fantastic view to wake to but a little slopeing. Also to the north of rthe castle at Corfe there is a small road that goes to Church Knowle, as you turn in there is a road side parking area regularly used by motorhomes me being one it is flat and so far free and undisturbed, there is a rubbish bin but thats all there are toilets at the near by National trust info centre, but they prohibit overnight parking. Very easy walk to village and steam railway station to Swanage. I used it in the end of May 06 so this info is pretty up to date..
More locals soon I hope, enjoy for now. h34r:

[Nosha]

Although the signs have gone up, to my mind they are not 'red circle official' signs. Anyway we had a single night with another motorhome, by 10.00pm there was 4 motorhomes, 1 red van and a car with a couple in sleeping bags. We all had an undisturbed night, just one early tooter. When the litter pickers came along we showed them the half a black bag that we picked up inc 3 tins of Butchers dog food - they could see we didn't have a dog! They thanked us and went on their way.

I think if people don't abuse it i.e. only stay for the odd night then there won't be a problem - I hope!!

[GARY ENGLISH]

stopped over night back in june got 30pound parking ticket at six oclock in morning on the ferry road with several other people bit late just joined site

Originally Posted by Glastospirit

I echo triana's sentiment ...... a handful of people staying for the summer are spoiling it for the rest. We had a night there over Easter though, along with a half dozen other overnighters, and were pleased not to be pestered by officialdom ..... we had the obligatory "toots" from passing locals though. I'm not sure what the next move might be to prevent such overnighting, but there was a planning application posted near the toilets for the construction of a ditch. Does anyone know the full detail ??? (plans are available for inspection ..... but not by me on a weekends R&R )

Oh! and casual chatter with fellow campers threw up the spectre of "parking meters" !!! One thing for sure ..... it's not what it used to be

They have put a ditch along the road for about a hundred yards there is just about enough room to park never tried staying overnight during the day it was O.K.Not sure about the law and can stay at a C.L for quite few nights for £60 better to give my money to a C.L than the N.T who do not like motorhome owners

We have a new post on wild camping at Studland on Campr

Sounds like they're cracking down on things though? It was last summer we went but as we were tenting we could hide in the undergrowth!



After a bit of post-camp research it seems Studland bay is a “a haven for rare birds” and more interestingly a haven for some other rare birds as “the Trust’s only designated naturist beach at Knoll Beach” (see The National Trust).

But feathered or not it wasn’t rare birds we were seeking when we headed For Studland Bay (even the name is a little risque) but somewhere to spend a night wild camping. Nestled a few miles along the coast from Poole, Studland Bay is a beautiful stretch of National Trust managed coastline with blue sea and three beaches to explore. You can get here by car ferry from Sandbanks, Poole adding nicely to the sense of adventure. As soon as you alight you’ll see signs warning no overnight parking that are almost obscured by the number of motor homes parked along the Ferry Road.

Being canvas lovers we could afford to be a little more discreet, so after driving up and down the road a few times we found a nicely secluded spot overlooking some kind of bay (or so we thought). After a peaceful night we woke to find we’d camped opposite some kind of ‘inlet’ that smelled a little ‘fresh’ in the morning sun. But it was still nice enough to start a little fire and cook some breakfast.

After packing up we headed over to the other side of the peninsula to enjoy the real beach before heading down the Ferry Road and found a pub for some plaque stripping local cider.

Studland Bay is thoroughly recommended for wild camping or a day out, just be mindful of the no parking signs, reading Wild Camping it seems the authorities like to issue the occasional parking ticket.