Staying in a luxury lodge, in woodland within the heart of Purbeck, Dorset. What more could you want? Burnbake Forest Lodges & Campsite offers all of this and a whole lot more.
Located near Corfe Castle and set amongst the trees of the forest you are in a place that really does take you away from it all, a true wildlife oasis.
I spent a long weekend in one of their luxury lodges with the 2 dogs – yes it is very dog friendly – and the choices of things to do and places to explore here are staggering.
It’s not just a place for luxury lodges, no, it also has huge spaces for camping which makes it a wonderful place for all kinds of people wanting a trip away in Dorset.
The Lodge
There are 22 luxury lodges in total here and they are nicely spaced out to provide a personal retreat in the woods feel.
As I pulled up at my lodge I could see so much nature straight away. The birdsong was everywhere to be heard with squirrels and rabbits certainly catching the dogs’ attention!
Each lodge is bespoke and as soon as you walk in you get a great feel from the big open plan rooms with large top to bottom windows. The light is fabulous and it certainly relaxes you when you have the wood burner going, sat in the living space and looking out into the trees while watching the wildlife flutter around. Bliss.
My lodge had 2 bedrooms, one double and one twin, each with its own en suite bathroom and shower. Again, both big rooms had top to bottom windows. Lots of room for everything you have brought with you and plenty of clothing space.
The whole lodge had a luxury home away from home feel to it. The decor and lighting has been superbly thought out, and beyond the living and sleeping spaces, the kitchen and dining areas have definitely not been left out.
Oak furniture goes along with a big comfortable sofa area that is lovely to wind down in after a day exploring Purbeck and beyond.
The treats in store were not only for me, but the dogs had been thought of too with their very own welcome pack.
A cute little box filled with all you need from ceramic bowls to chewy treats and bespoke local dog soaps.
The inside was glorious, but out the rear doors there was also a large private wooden terrace. A BBQ in place for you to use, but a lot of people would be even more interested in…
The Hot Tub
Yes, each lodge has its own private hot tub, and what a gorgeous setting to be able to wind down in the bubbling water.
A good day’s walking followed by a glass of bubbly in your hot tub in the woods.
Dog Friendly
6 of the lodges are completely dog friendly like mine was. There is never a worry about where to walk them here during the day as you can tell by the setting.
Within a couple of minutes you can be out and onto the trails within the woodland. The dogs’ senses were running wild and they were having their own Purbeck adventures.
Of course, being here you are not restricted to the local area with dogs as they will want to explore Dorset with you. You are not far from some dog friendly beaches and even open hills as I shall talk about soon.
Reception and Shopping
The staff at the reception lodge are a joy and always ready to greet you with a smile; happy to help with any query.
Malc and Pete liked visiting reception because of the huge fuss they got!
Any question you have about your stay or about the local area can be answered here. This is where I found maps and expert info for walks that take you from right out the door.
Near reception is a very well stocked shop that caters to every need you may have or for anything you forgot to bring.
There is a coffee machine in the shop too so you can grab a nice warm cuppa and sit and enjoy the sunshine outside.
With regards shopping there is another big bonus: the local supermarkets will deliver any shopping orders right to your lodge. You may feel miles from anywhere but you are always able to get anything you need, that is for sure.
Local Walks
Whilst I was there, the site and I opened up a group walk from the campsite that people could join me and the dogs on.
It was fantastic to walk in a new area and make some new friends whilst doing so. From the reception we walked up straight onto the Purbeck hills and along to the glorious Corfe Castle which made for a perfect day’s walk.
Fresh air and great people n a great area. What more could you ask for?
The walking destinations from Burnbake Forest Lodges are many and varied. I shall be showing some separately in their own upcoming posts.
Conclusion
If you love nature and luxury combined together within one of the most beautiful parts of the country then you need to check out Burnbake Forest Lodges and Camping.
Dorset is so much more than coastline, and as you step away from the cliffs and beaches you can enter the forest here and be in tranquility. Nature, wildlife and history, plus some joyful Dorset hospitality to go along with it.
