Glebe Field, Pimperne (Fri 16 August - Sun 8 September)
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We have been providing camping in support of the Great Dorset Steam Fair for over 40 years. There is a regular bus service from our entrance into the Steam fair site. We also offer discounted entry tickets for the Steam Fair.
The field is a very large, with good views, much of which is flat, but with some parts slightly sloping. It is situated 2m north east of Blandford Forum – an historic Georgian town with good shopping facilities. The village of Pimperne is within walking distance and has a small village shop, post office, church and pubs.
Price: £7.00 per unit night. Extra adults £3.00 p.p. |
16 AUGUST - 8 SEPTEMBER 2013
Glebe Field, Pimperne, Blandford Forum, Dorset. At roundabout north of Blandford on A350, Blandford by-pass, take exit signpost. Sunrise Business Park. In approx. 1 mile. Turn right. towards. Pimperne. Site entrance approx. ¾ mile. On right. From Salisbury direction PLEASE DO NOT APPROACH SITE VIA MINOR ROADS OF PIMPERNE VILLAGE continue on A 354 to roundabout on Blandford by-pass, turn right onto A350 towards Shaftsbury and follow above directions. There are a number of turns in the village which are impassable for motorhomes or caravans, especially when there are parked cars.
| Decimal | Degrees, Mins & Secs | GPS | |
| Lat | 50.88392 | N50 53 02 | N 50 53.035 |
| Lon | -2.14335 | W2 08 36 | W 2 08.601 |
BLANDFORD FORUM
The nearest town to the site was almost completely destroyed by fire in the 18th. century. A monument in the town centre commemorates this event. A small open-air market is held in the market place on Saturdays and supermarkets in the town are complemented by a large Tesco store at the southern end of the by-pass. In the town is also a Morrisons Supermarket. The nearby army camp is home to the Royal Corps. of Signals and houses the Royal Corps of Signals museum. Many attractive villages lie along the banks of the River Stour and its tributary the River Tarrant, with a number of them taking their names from the Tarrant, as it wends its way through Wimborne and, eventually, to the sea at Christchurch.
SHAFTESBURY
North of Blandford is the picturesque town of Shaftesbury, the “Shaston” of Thomas Hardy’s novels. A walk down the cobbled Gold Hill, made famous by the Hovis adverts, is an experience not to be missed (coming back up is not so easy!) and in the centre of the town is the 18th Century Grosvenor Hotel.
WIMBORNE MINSTER
Travelling east from Blandford the B3082 will take you past the earthworks at Badbury Rings, now owned by the National Trust. This is a favourite spot for walks and picnics. On each side of the road here is an avenue of beech trees, one for each day of the year. Some were destroyed by the severe gales in 1987, but the National Trust has planted a second row behind the first, eventually to replace them. Many of these new trees were sponsored by local organisations and New Forest D.A. is proud to have its name alongside one of them. Kingston Lacy, also owned by the National Trust, is nearby. The house has many fine and valuable paintings and stands in beautiful grounds. Wimborne is a small market town. It has a small but very interesting museum in the High Street and the Minster houses a rare chained library and an astronomical clock. Outside, on the wall of the Minster, the Quarterjack clock strikes every ¼ hour. On the outskirts of the town weekly markets are held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
POOLE
South from Wimborne the port of Poole caters for a variety of interests. Passenger and cargo ferries ply from the harbour to the Channel Islands, France and beyond. The Quay is a hive of activity in the summer months with sightseeing trips, fishing trips, ferries to Brownsea Island (National Trust). The main shopping area is inside and on two levels; some of the best-known stores are in here. Outside, most of the High Street has been pedestrianised.
BOURNEMOUTH
Just along the coast from Poole, the popular resort of Bournemouth offers safe, sandy beaches, promenades, gardens, shops, cinemas and a theatre. Again, the main shopping streets have been pedestrianised and the “Square” is now a popular meeting place.
DORCHESTER
West from Blandford, Dorset’s county town is easily reached from the site and has a variety of things to interest. It is proud of its most famous resident – the author Thomas Hardy, who gave it the name “Casterbridge”. At nearby Stinsford is his birthplace, Max Gate (the home he designed and now owned by the National Trust) is on the outskirts of the town, a reconstruction of his study is in the museum and a bronze statue of him is prominently positioned at the top of the town. The main shopping street is pedestrianised and there are tree-lined “walks” bordering the town. There are also Roman relics around the town and a large hill fort at Maiden Castle, just outside the town. A trip out through Martinstown will bring you to Hardy’s monument (dedicated to Thomas Masterman Hardy – the sailor who served with Admiral Nelson, and in whose arms the Admiral is said to have died) – this is the highest point around and offers wonderful views.
WAREHAM, WOOL & THE PURBECKS
South from Blandford, Wareham is the gateway to the Isle of Purbeck (not really an island). This is an excellent area for keen walkers and some places have spectacular views. There are a number of places of interest in this area – Monkey World and Bovington Tank Museum (Nr. Wool), Corfe Castle, Swanage (with its restored Steam Railway) and Studland.
SALISBURY
North Easterly the A354 takes you to Salisbury - a city made famous by its well-known cathedral (it has the tallest spire in Britain), is also a good shopping centre. A Saturday market is held weekly in the market place.
BLANDFORD CARNIVAL
This year we have extended the meet so that we can attend the Blandford Carnival on Saturday 7th September.
GREAT DORSET STEAM FAIR
The world famous steam fair must be one of the biggest in the country. There is a free bus which makes regular runs to and from our H.S. site to the Steam Fair or Blandford. Discounted fair tickets can be purchased from the stewards. The bus drops you inside the entrance – so no worries about parking! There is so much to see at the Steam Fair that you will probably need to make time for a second (or even third) visit – comfortable shoes are a must! The Steam engines and organs are spectacular in the evenings, when they are all lit up, so make sure you reserve enough energy for an evening visit. See their website at www.steam-fair.co.uk The dates for the fair this year are Wednesday 28th August – Sunday 1st September inclusive
Great Dorset Steam Fair - 28th August - 1st September 2013
