Guide to Brownsea Island Campsite

• Book in advance online. Please don't travel to the campsite without a booking, as we may be full.

• The maximum number of adults allowed in a group is six, whether you book together or separately. This is to help preserve the tranquility at the campsite, which isn't suited to larger gatherings.

• If you have special requests, including for a particular pitch or to camp next to friends or family, please let us know when booking and we'll do our best to help although we can't always guarantee requested or adjacent pitches. If you are pitching next to friends or family, there should be no more than six adults in your combined group.

• Group bookings are solely for Scouting and Guiding groups, in an allocated area for up to 60 tents. To make an enquiry for your Scout or Guide group, please complete the group bookings enquiry form and we'll get back to you.

• Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult, with at least one adult included in each booking.

• The minimum stay is two nights at weekends and in holiday periods, one night at other times.

• You don't have to be a member of the National Trust to camp and we are unable to offer member discounts due to the regulations we are governed by as a charity. If you'd like to be a member and support our work, you can join online.

• Here's our packing guide.
• As you'll be carrying your baggage on and off the ferry and to and from the campsite, a 20-25 minute walk, we suggest packing light. Make sure you can carry your things together in one go. Backpacks are recommended as wheeled cases or bags are not suitable for the island's rough tracks. Bags should be closed; please avoid putting your camping gear in totes or shopping bags.
• When you land on the island, you can drop your luggage in the campsite's shared luggage trailer at the start of the woodland walk. We'll deliver it to campsite reception by 5.30pm, but if you'd like to set up camp earlier than that, you'll need to carry it yourself. The luggage trailer is not secured so your bag is left at your own risk, and we can't accept any responsibility for loss or damage of belongings.
• If you're staying in a tree tent although you won't need to being your tent, remember you'll still need to bring a roll mat (to help keep you warm) and your sleeping bag.
• If you're staying in a bell tent, remember bedding and linen is only provided for two guests. You'll need to bring bedding and linen for a third and fourth guest.
• We'll provide you with cooking and food preparation equipment to use in the camp kitchen when you check in, but you'll need to bring your own cup, plate/bowl and cutlery.
• You should pack the food you need for your stay. We do sell a small selection of snacks and staples, and there is also a café and snack van on the island.
• You'll have access to a shared field kitchen where you can cook your meals. It is not permissible to carry camp cookers and fuel on our boats so please don't bring these with you.

Plan your trip to check in at the campsite between 2.30pm and 5.30pm. You can arrive on the island earlier to explore.

Access is by passenger ferry from Poole, or your own boat or watercraft. There is no vehicle access to Brownsea Island.

Parking in Poole

The nearest parking is the Quay visitors multi-story car park or the car park behind the Poole Quay Hotel (the hotel has recently closed but the car park remains open). They both have overnight options and are around a 10-minute walk to the ferry. You'll find more parking information on the Borough of Poole website.

Taking the ferry from Poole

You'll find lots of information about travelling to the island on the Brownsea Island page, including parking guidance and ferry information. Book your ferry crossing in advance; it is not included in your campsite booking.

Walking to the campsite from the ferry landing

On arrival, you'll make your own way to the campsite which is a 20 or 25-minute walk on a rough track from where the ferries land. Here's a map of the island. You can carry your things if you'd like to pitch right away, or leave them in the shared luggage trailer at the start of the woodland walk (by 4pm) which will be brought to the campsite by 5.30pm. Please note, luggage storage is not secured and so your bag is left at your own risk. We cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage of belongings.

Groups will have to carry all luggage to and from the campsite, so please choose tents and equipment to pack carefully.

Arriving on your own boat, kayak or stand-up paddleboard

Take a look at the map to see where you can and can’t land on the island. The easiest place to land to access the campsite is on the South Shore. Please look for two small gates on the west of the South Shore. Use What3Words vanish.duck.thick. Find more information on the Brownsea Island page. Campers can use the slipway to haul canoes and kayaks up from the beach to the campsite. Please be advised that boats are kept on site at your own risk.

• Check in is 2.30pm - 5.30pm at the campsite, but you're welcome to arrive on the island earlier to explore.
• If you miss the last ferry to the island from Poole, let us know using the information provided in your booking confirmation.
• You can carry your things from the ferry landing to the campsite if you'd like to pitch right away, or leave them in the shared luggage trailer at the start of the woodland walk (by 4pm) which will be brought to the campsite by 5.30pm. Please note, luggage storage is not secured and so your bag is left at your own risk. We cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage of belongings.
• When you check in, we'll give you equipment for food preparation and cooking. Please return it to reception when you leave.
• On your day of departure, please leave your pitch by 10.30am. Stay on the island for as much of the day as you like, departing on any of the return ferries.
• If you'd like us to drop your luggage back to the start of the woodland walk near the ferry, leave it at reception by 9.50am, and it will be taken there at 10am. You can then collect it when you are ready to leave the island.

• The pitches are simple, grass pitches without hook-up.
• We'll allocate your pitch on arrival from those available.
• You may be able to pitch next to family or friends if neighbouring pitches are available, but there should be no more than six adults in your combined group and there must be 6 metres between tents.
• You'll have access to a shared camp kitchen and we'll give you the equipment you need to prepare and cook food when you arrive. Please bring your own cup, plate/bowl, cutlery and refillable water bottle.

• Pre-pitched tree tents are suspended between the trees and sleep two or three people. Children must be at least three years old .
• They have built-in mosquito nets and are made with durable waterproof material.
• We recommend packing a roll mat as this will help keep you warm on colder nights. You'll place your roll mat and sleeping bag inside.
• You'll store your other gear in a hammock below the tree tent.
• You'll have access to a shared camp kitchen and we'll give you the equipment you need to prepare and cook food when you arrive. Please bring your own cup, plate/bowl, cutlery and refillable water bottle.
• All stays in tree tents are subject to wind conditions. If the weather forecast for your stay is due to exceed gusts of 38mph (61.5km) or Force 7 (moderate gale), we'll need to cancel your booking at short notice. In this instance, we will offer a refund, alternative accommodation type if available, or transfer your booking to another date.

• The bell tents are traditional, pre-pitched tents on wooden platforms.
• The smaller (4m) bell tents sleep two people, and the larger (5m) bell tents sleep up to four people.
• They have a double futon-style mattress with bedding and linen for two people. In addition, the 5m tents have two foam futons to make beds for two more guests, although you'll need to bring the bedding and linen for these.
• There's also a table with two camping chairs in each of the tents.
• We'll provide cooking equipment, a cool box with frozen cool packs (can be refrozen during your stay), a washing-up bowl and access to a shared field kitchen.
• Please bring your own cup, plate/bowl, cutlery and refillable water bottle, as well as your food.
• Bring towels, and we recommend extra lighting like a wind-up lantern or extra torch.

• Group camping is for Scouting and Guiding groups of between 15 and 60 people.
• There is a designated group camping area with a pre-pitched and equipped camp kitchen, near the facilities.
• You'll need to carry your tents and all other luggage between the ferry and campsite, so bear this in mind when deciding what to bring.
• You'll have access to an open-sided outdoor camp kitchen, and we'll provide the equipment you need for preparing and cooking food. You'll need to bring your own cups, plates/bowls/mess-tins, cutlery and refillable water bottles.
• Find out more about group camping.

Check in at reception between 2.30pm and 5.30pm, to be shown your allocated pitch. We'll give you food preparation and cooking items to use during your stay. If you choose to put your luggage in the trailer near the ferry for us to bring to the campsite, it will arrive at reception by 5.30pm. You can drop it off at 9.50am if you'd like us to take it back to the point near the ferry when it's time for you to leave.

The campsite shop sells snacks and some basic food and drink supplies, but we recommend you bring the things you need with you. The volunteer-run Trading Post sells scouting items and island souvenirs.

The island has a café and snack van which is open during day-visiting hours, but there are no other food shops on the island.

Toilets and showers: There are toilets and free hot showers.

Water: There's drinking water at the campsite. Please bring your own refillable bootles.

Camp kitchens: There are open-sided, pre-pitched camp kitchens for communal use, equipped with the things you need to prepare and cook food. They are a simple set-up, with tables for food preparation and cooking. They have gas ring stoves and gas bottles. Cooking inside enclosed tents is NOT permitted and can be lethal due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Only the cooking equipment provided by the campsite can be used on the island as safety checks have been completed on all items prior to use. It is not permissible to carry camp cookers and fuel on our boats so please do not bring these with you for your stay. Please wash up everything you use and return it to us in a clean and complete condition. Please bring your own cup, plate/bowl and cutlery.

Washing-up area: We'll provide you with a washing-up bowl so you can clean your dishes in the washing-up area.

Waste: There are general waste and recycling facilities at the campsite.

Wi-Fi: There's no Wi-Fi.

There are no laundry or drying facilities on Brownsea Island.

Café and kisok: The island café and kiosk is open during visitor hours.

Dogs and other pets are not permitted on the island, other than assistance dogs. If you are bringing an assistance dog with you, let us know in your booking.

Due to the sensitive nature of Brownsea Island (being an area of high fire risk), we do not permit open flames of any kind including open fires, coal barbecues, liquid or solid fuel cookers/trangias. Shared field kitchens with gas cookers are provided for all campers. It is not permissible to carry camp cookers and fuel on our boats so please don't bring these with you. Any liquid fuels are prohibited and will be confiscated if discovered. Please do not bring candles, sparklers/fireworks or candle lanterns of any kind.

We encourage you to bring battery lamps and torches to use over night as there is no street lighting on Brownsea Island.

Quiet time: Please think of your neighbours and help us protect the peace and tranquility Brownsea Island at all times. No noise 10pm - 7.30am please.

No open flame policy: No campfires, barbecues or candles are allowed on the island.

Cooking inside tents is not permitted and can be lethal due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Cooking shelters with open sides are provided for all campers. All cooking and heating equipment must be hired from us as safety checks have been completed on all items prior to use.

In case of bad weather: All stays in tree tents are subject to wind conditions. If the weather forecast for your stay is due to exceed gusts of 38mph (61.5km) or Force 7 (moderate gale), we'll need to cancel your booking at short notice. In this instance, we will offer a refund, alternative accommodation type if available, or transfer your booking to another date. For all other campsite bookings, if the weather forecast for your stay is due to exceed gusts of 44mph, the island and the campsite will need to close for your safety. You will be offered a refund, or we will look to transfer your booking to another date.

No smoking inside tents or in cooking areas as it can be lethal. Cigarette butts must be fully extinguished and placed into a bin.

Lost property: If you leave any of your possessions behind at the campsite, please contact us as soon as possible.

We reserve the right to charge you for any storage and delivery costs that we incur in relation to your lost property. We charge a lost property charge of £10 to cover our administrative costs and standard Royal Mail delivery up to 2kgs in the UK to return your items to you. If a request to return your items deviates from these conditions, then we reserve the right to charge you any additional costs.

Where possible, we’ll hold lost property for three months after which it’ll be disposed of. Perishables will be disposed of immediately and are therefore unreturnable. In addition, we will only be able to return items permissible by Royal Mail.

Problem or complaint: Every reasonable care will be taken to ensure that the camping pitch, pod or bothy and also site amenities are presented to a high standard. Should you find any cause for complaint, please immediately contact one of the campsite staff, so that reasonable steps can then be taken to rectify the problem. National Trust will not normally make any refunds in respect of complaints made after the Visitor’s departure from the campsite if the Visitor did not make the problem or complaint known to staff during the Visitor’s stay. If you supplied an email address at the time of booking, a survey will be emailed to you for your comments after your stay. Alternatively, a comment form may be completed and left at the campsite reception. All complaints made after the Visitor’s departure should be made in writing by post or email to:

Guest Relations Manager

National Trust Holidays, Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon, SN2 2NA

Email: guestrelations@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Small print: In addition to the site rules in this campsite guide, there are terms and conditions that apply to your booking.

The closest town on the mainland is Poole.

Facilities on the island are the café, kiosk, second-hand bookshop and Trading Post for island goodies and Scouting and Guiding-themed souvenirs, as well as the campsite reception and basic shop.

The campsite is nestled on the south side of Brownsea Island. There are views all the way to the rolling Purbeck hills.

There's lots of information online about Brownsea Island including history, conservation, trails and events.