Reviews of Back of Beyond Touring Park,
Review by pat&mick on 17th May, 2014
Add your review Date visited: 9th may for 1week 2014
Yes the dirt road was bumpy, but have been down worse,we have found a gem of a place,everyone was very friendly and helpful, the owners were very welcoming. the site very clean, plenty of room for everyone.basic shop, wide range of papers daily home baked baguettes daily to order,very helpful with local info ,can,t wait to return later in year,if your looking for a peaceful break could highly recommend.
Review by Lynda Marper on 19th September, 2012
Add your review Date visited: October 2009
We were very lucky and had our caravan sited here for several years, I guess we were one of those people who someone pointed out had infantile nick nakcs outside! We left the park for family reasons, but are hoping that come the Spring we can return. I have read many of the negative comments and to be honest I just think some people cannot be pleased. The site is lovely and for those of you with dogs - pure heaven, our Irish Terrier adored it there. The road noise is hardly audible, the owners cannot do enough to help you and yes there is a slightly bump road - but come on - shift a gear and take it steady, believe me any negatives are outweighed by loads of positives. Roll on Spring cannot wait to go back....
Review by Linda Hayward on 11th June, 2012
Add your review Date visited: June 2012
I can only assume from all the other reviews that this campsite has changed owners because the couple that greeted us on arrival couldn't have been more helpful and friendly if they tried. This was our first trip away caravanning and I am so glad we picked this site to go to first. The site was immaculate. The caravans and tents were well spaced apart. The shower units and toilets were always clean and well maintained, although I felt the water in the shower didn't run long enough so you kept having to push the button for more water. The shop sold the main essentials and our newspapers were always ready for collection early in the morning. This is a very dog friendly site and very quiet and peaceful. The road to the site from the A31 is a bit bumpy but not as bad as some of the reports I have read. I certainly couldn't hear the traffic from the road. This site is very well positioned to explore the New Forest/Bournemouth/Southampton, it is just a shame that no local pubs are within walking distance, although you are able to use all the facilities at Shamba, the family friendly park next door that has a swimming pool, well stocked shop, restaurant and bar, even entertainment on saturday evenings. I would not hesitate to recommend this site and can't wait to visit again.
Review by patricia on 4th October, 2010
Add your review Date visited: August 2010
The only good thing about this site is its location-perfect for visiting many places of interest.
The approach road is half a mile long, very narrow and full of pot holes you just pray that you do not meet any vehicles
the caravans on the site were all touring vans but they seem to be permanent as many had small sheds and infantile decorations and flags outside .
The showers and toilets are very dated-the shower floor is treacherous, I had a very nasty fall, I complained but this had no effect-surely grab handles would be a good idea rather than nothing-also there was no where to put your clothes.
The chemical toilet disposal is situated near the toilet block and the very strong small drifts over the site.
In all a terrible site and will never go again.
Review by Smokin Beats on 5th August, 2010
Add your review Date visited: August 2010
Just visited this site, we enjoyed it very much despite a few issues which could have been attended to.
- 1. Site owner is a grumpy and sarcastic fellow who has quite an attitude. Not the best customer service to be welcomed with, i would deal with his wife who is much nicer.
- 2. Chemical toilet disposal unit gets propped open sometimes and we often got a waft of faeces when the wind blew in our direction..not the best smell when your eating or at any time! Not acceptable!
- 3. No night wardens, you press the bell..no answer, despite 24/7 sign. Had a problem with noisy couple one night, reported it in the morning to male owner (big mistake). He came down on his bike, bottled it when he saw them and rode off again..bizarre.
Despite all this, i would probably look for somewhere new now. We did have a great time but we felt the prices were a little steep despite the poor customer service and the lovely organic smell of last nights dinner wafting through the fields...yuck!! not acceptable!!!
Review by John and Ange Fowler on 1st July, 2010
Add your review Date visited: 17/06/10
what a fantastic site! (and we've been to a few!) The place is in a stunning location, and you actually "feel" as if you are in the "back of beyond" but are so close to the "A" road that it is easily accessible, and all local amenities are close at hand. The road to the site isn't bad at all, by some of the reviews, you'd think you'd need a 4 wheel drive to get there!! It is just an unmetalled road, and in my mind actually ADDS to the feeling that you are "getting away from it all", when in fact civilisation, isn't that far away. I really can't fault this site. It is obviously loved dearly by it's owners and the place is spotless, thanks to relentlessly hard work by the owners. If more people were half as dedicated as this family, then there would be SO many more people interested in the camping experience. best I've found so far!
John Fowler
Review by Tamsin on 6th April, 2010
Add your review Date visited: 2nd May 2009
I felt I must include my review as I was quite shocked at all the bad reviews here of this campsite.
Yes it is true that the road up to it is a little holey and bumpy, the pitch and putt does need a bit of attention but other than that when we stayed for the bank holiday last May we loved it so much we are returning again in late May.
Now it is possible that the toilet/shower facilities have been updated since some of the reviews but we found them to work well, have plenty of hot water 24 hours a day. Yes the floors get a bit slippy but there is a mop there and it only takes a minute to wipe the shower hall down when your done.
As for the road noise we never noticed it at all, in fact it seems a way from the road the other camp sites further down the track are far nearer.
The joy of not having kids to deal with, we stayed at another site and were woken up by mothers singing to their youngsters at 6am each morning, here it is quiet and beautiful. We did have electric hook up, the pitches were large and the owners both seemed fine to us, regularly around fixing and sorting things.
Hopefully others who ahve had a good visit can post here too so it gets a more balanced review, check out other places for reviews on this site there are lots of great ones.
Review by N and M on 15th June, 2009
Add your review Date visited: September 2008
I agree with the previous reviews that this site is best avoided. All what has been stated previously is correct, poor facilities that were dirty and seldom checked, on top of this the chemical disposal point is beside the tent pitches and the owner wedges the door open thus sitting outside your tent/caravan is not really an option.
There is no welcome on arrival just a grumpy individual - who I later found out to be the owner. We were given a whimsical style drawing of the site and told 'pitch where you like'.
There towns and villages around the area are nice to visit with plenty to do and see. I would not hesitate to visit this part of the UK again but next time I will find another site.
Review by Berks Camper on 25th May, 2009
Add your review Date visited: May 2009
Having read some positive reviews of this site I decided recently to pay it a visit (pre-booked of course!).
I choose this site as I could only get away during half term week but wanted a bit of peace and quiet.
The owners were an odd couple, not at all welcoming. I felt I was being spied on by them throughout my stay there. They also had an 'Out of Service' but marked up police car parked outside reception the whole time.. odd.
I didn't feel that I was being treated like an adult despite the premise of the site, rules and regulations about everything - additional charges abound.
The toilet block was poor and dirty, washing up facilities very restrictive.
As for peace and quiet, the adjacent field was a different campsite full of screaming kids (though i'd probably have prefered that atmosphere in hindsight)
I'll never go back and wouldn't recommend it.
Review by Allie & Buzz Banbury on 9th September, 2008
Add your review Date visited: 22nd August 2008
I cannot help but agree with all the negative reviews that have been written about this place. We drove up the most dreadful pot holed, half dug up road and, although arriving late, were met by the most obnoxious man ever, later identified as the owner. He has the attitude from hell!! He was extrememly rude to my husband and I couldn't believe that he was supposed to be offering a customer service. As for the facilities, the pitch and putt is overgrown, the country walk is a traipse in a overgrown field, the showers were cold unless you wanted an very early morning queue and toilet faclities could do with updating and cleaning more regularly. To top it all there had been a drain pipe burst the week before so all the water was turned off every night at 11.00pm, including the toilet flush!! Ok if you don't need the loo at night:-(
As for this area of England it is beautiful and tranquil with lots to do especially if you have a dog or children and I would never discourage anyone from visiting this part of the country; however the Back of Beyond is one place I will never recommend and it is not somewhere we will be visiting again.
Review by tasha on 8th July, 2008
Add your review Date visited: 4/7/08
Never stay here. The reson we booked this place was becuase it said over 18's only. When some friends of mine arrived before us (we were on a hen do) the sad anal man who owned the camp said they will have to arrive by 7. We tried our best and we were 15 minutes late. He then said "I have never had a same sex group off people stay here before". Rubbish. Very rude man to my friends. Then about 10 o clock when we were going out to hit the town of bournemouth he said "do you mind telling me where you are going?" we was like "out". Then the next day when we went to have our showers we asked him nicely if he could open the shower room as there was only one in the toilets. He said no but as soon as we mentioned there was abit of a queue and a lady from another caravan was also waiting, he hurried up and got the keys. I think he just had it in for us. Luckily for me I didnt have to deal with him much but my friends were not happy and he kind off put a downer on my friends hen do. NEVER STAY HERE IF THERE IS A GROUP OF YOU!
Review by Gillian Welsh/christine neal on 22nd October, 2007
Add your review Date visited: August Bank Holiday Weekend 2007
I certainly cannot recommend this campsite, and will never go back, neither will several of the campers I spoke to whilst there. I have been camping for over thirty years, and have stayed at several adult only campsites, which was the main attraction of this one. I have never come across an experience such as this. The reasons for not recommending this site are as follows:-
* The site is run by an unwelcoming, dictatorial jobsworth who has no understanding that he is meant to be providing a service to his customers.
* Friends who were joining us for a couple of hours were not allowed past the barrier onto the site. This led to a wasted one and a half hour journey on their part, and a large dinner bill for me in a local restaurant. When asking the owner politely to let them in, he was completely unreasonable, saying the site was full (it patently was not) and visitors were not allowed that weekend. However, charges for visitors were displayed. Had the owner not demanded full payment for our stay on arrival, I would have left that evening. The same thing happened to our neighbours too. It completely spoilt our weekend. One couple who did not declare their visitors, but let them in on the quiet got away with it. Hurrah for them - at least they got one over on him.
*The half mile dusty, dirty, bumpy drive from the main road along an extremely potholed dirt track with wrecked lorries,cars etc on either side certainly gives the impression you are in the back of beyond in a most unpleasant way.
* The "pitch and putt golf course" is a joke. You cannot play on rough, weed strewn ground.
* The "country walk" is also a joke, over in about 5 min.
* The "shop" is a joke too. Bare minimum here.
* The "Boules Court" is extremely small and made of sand! Say no more.
* The site is not "tranquil" It is half a mile from one of the busiest main roads in Dorset and you cannot get away from the ever present traffic noise.
"The site is not particularly attractive or landscaped,unless you think staring at someone elses tent/caravan is a good view.
* The toilet/washing facilities are not up to usual adult only standards. The womens washroom/toilet floor was constantly wet, like a skating rink. An old fashioned string mop left out for us to use instead of the usual squeegee -about as useful as a ...... However, jobsworth had made sure there were "slippery floor beware" signs permanently attached to the walls.
* The toilets were not inspected regularly, toilet paper ran out one evening and not replaced for 36 hours when a camper complained.
* There is only one outside washing up sink, with taps fitted so close to the edge of the sink that you cannot get a bowl underneath. The water was not hot when i attempted to use it.
The indoor washing up sink is in a pitch black cubbyhole where you cannot wash up without a light on - the bulb failed.
Maybe this was just a bad weekend, but on talking to other camnpers, and watching the manner in which other campers were turned away at the barrier, the hospitality of the owner leaves a lot to be desired. It would appear from other campers that this site changed hands in 2006. Good Luck.
Review by Gill Brackett on 15th August, 2007
Add your review Date visited: 2 - 10th August 2007
What a beautiful and peaceful site! We've camped for many years but this is the first time we'd stayed at an 'Adults only' site and it did make a difference! The showers and toilets were so clean and how lovely to have soap provided at the hand basins. Good facilities for washing up too.
Fabulous weather all week helped to make it a brilliant holiday.
The only negative point was the smell of sewage from the area where the porta-loos were emptied which you could smell as you walked back and forth to the showers or shop.
Thank you for a great week and I'm sure we'll be returning in the near future.
Review by A on 4th June, 2007
Add your review Date visited: June 2007
We have just had a long weekend at this site, and throughly enjoyed it.! The toilets and shower block were very clean, and modern. The site was very quite and relaxing. I would definately recommend this site.
Review by Steven&Suzy on 25th September, 2006
Add your review Date visited: September 2006
We were extremely disappointed with this campsite and would never recommend it to anyone else. The facilities were extremely poor especially for an adults only site, the shower/toilet facilities were very old and poorly maintained, the pitch and putt field was overgrown and unplayable, the woodland walk was very short and the shop was not very well stocked. The site is just off a major road to Dorset and therefore very noisy. The drive up to the site is very unwelcoming and full of pot holes.
The tent pitches are next to the chemical waste disposal which continually smells and the pitches themselves are uneven and stony.
We also had a confrontation with the owner and left the site after just one night. We chose this site as it was close to some elderly relatives who we informed the owner would be visiting each day. On day 1 they came and introduced themselves to the owner. On day 2 they came back with us after a morning out. After about 10 mins the owner came over and told them to leave as they were trespassing! Our elderly relatives were very upset and we were very embarrassed as we have never been treated like this before. We are extremely well behaved and quiet campers and always read the site rules.
Review by G Johnson on 14th August, 2006
Add your review Date visited: July/August 2006
The campsite was actually very quiet and peaceful. The toilets/showers were immaculate but..... we won't be visiting again for the simple reason that:-
A) Nobody mentioned anything about the 1/2 mile drive/road?? to the campsite which was horrendous with huge potholls everywhere (watch out for your exhausts and jockey wheels).
B) The terrible smell coming from the waste treatment unit behind the chemical disposal point - really off-putting when you are trying to eat your meals.
C) The not so welcoming reception when we arrived an hour or so early - there are no fascilities/pull ins for early/late arrivals.
Not what you would expect from a 4* site.
Review by The Willoughby on 6th June, 2006
Add your review Date visited: end of May
Brilliant.Fantastic site,owners,toilets,showers and especially the peace and quiet! Loved the 4am dawn chorus and the baby rabbits outside the tent!Had a brilliant laugh playing free pitch and putt.Took nearly 3hrs due to the rabbit holes but was great fun.Myself my husband and dogs cant wait to go back.
Review by peter dunn on 31st October, 2005
Add your review Date visited: 06/08/05
needs to be seen.First class shower and toilet facilities [new and very clean], pitches give plenty of room and outlook,and location you can feel miles from any where but know that you are only 20 min from Bournmouth beeches or 35 min from Salisbury city .The hospitality shown by the owners and their staff was realy first class thank you.
Review by Lynda & Graham Marper on 12th July, 2005
Add your review Date visited: July & August 2005
We enjoyed our two holidays at this special site last year, so much so we intend to visit again this August. Close by to all the popular amenities yet the site is a haven of tranquillity with an abundance of wildlife around you.