Happyard

Dorchester, Dorset, England

Welcome to Happyard at Bride Valley Farm, Higher Kingston Russell near Dorchester — an off-grid eco farm and alpaca centre deep in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Licence 8213; hosted by Tina Hardiman. It’s all about animals and the countryside here. A herd of friendly woolly alpacas call Happyard home, alongside horses, ponies, guinea pigs and more. Guests can meet the herd, book guided alpaca walks (lesson, walk, feed and light refreshments — picnic welcome), shorter meet-and-greets aimed at younger children, or bookable alpaca therapy sessions (up to two people, up to three hours in a quiet paddock). Some feeding/meet activities are free for campers on set weekdays — book with Tina on the number in your confirmation. Walks, parties and therapy are typically bookable extras. The camping field is roomy and rural, with green views toward the Hardy Monument. Pitch your own tent or trailer tent on non-electric grass (no touring caravans or motorhomes), or stay in a pre-erected 5m bell tent — choose a basic shell or the cozy set-up with airbeds, firepit kit, camping stove and welcome pack. Firepits and barbecues are allowed when weather permits (never inside hired tents). One gazebo/awning and picnic space by the pitch keep outdoor living easy. Facilities are intentionally simple and shared: toilets (including portaloos), showers and a washing-up area in the main yard. Communal plates, cups and cutlery are usually available at the washing-up area for glampers. Because Happyard is fully off-grid, please bring drinking water and a strong torch — parts of the field are unlit after dark. Parking is by your pitch (two cars included on seeded rates). You’re brilliantly placed for Dorset days out: Bridport about 10–13 minutes, Dorchester ~15 minutes, Weymouth ~25 minutes, and Jurassic Coast favourites Charmouth, Lyme Regis and West Bay within roughly 30–35 minutes. Abbotsbury Swannery and the Cerne Abbas Giant are nearby; the site sits just after Winterbourne Abbas, minutes from the A35 — a handy overnight stop en route to Devon or Cornwall. Season typically runs early April to end of August (confirm current-year dates with Tina). Teachers, frontline staff and DT2 residents may qualify for a direct-book discount — ask Tina with ID. Quiet, family-friendly farm camping with real animal encounters rather than a holiday-park atmosphere.

Contact: +447554675543