The Great Dorset Steam Fair
The Great Dorset Steam Fair  
Main GDSF Sponsor - Courage Best Bitter
Main GDSF Sponsor - Courage Best Bitter

The Great Dorset Steam Fair Official DVDs


Camping

Please note: There will be no Pay on Arrival Campsites available, apart from short stay camping for tents only. All other camping must be booked in advance.

Click to...

Buy GDSF Enterance Tickets Online

Pre-Paid Camping




Tent & Caravan Hire



Tent Hire

Pre-paid Camping

The Great Dorset Steam Fair is a camper’s paradise, enough entertainment to last the duration of the show without doing the same thing more than once! It is almost a self-contained town, so camping on site is brilliant. There are over 170 acres allocated for pre-paid public camping that will accommodate a staggering 5,000 individual units (caravans and tents etc.) This includes disabled camping (for badge holders only) and, of course, dogs on leads are allowed in all the campsites as well as the show field. At the busiest time of Steam Fair week there will be between 15,000 and 20,000 show visitors camping on site! As previously mentioned all public campsites will be managed on a pre-paid basis only this year except for short stay "pay on arrival" camping (see below). All pre-paid bookings and payments to be received before 13th August 2010 and are subject to availability.

All the campsites will be serviced with drinking water and will have access to showers and there will be toilet and Elsan facilities for the campers. Some campsites will also have shops for general groceries and goods such as bread, milk, fruit and vegetables, newspapers, soaps, shampoos and general vitals etc. There will also be shops on the main show field. There is also a Calor Gas store on site, but sadly due to fire restrictions no barbeques of any kind are allowed. Regrettably, we are unable to provide an electrical hook-up. Two key campsite rules are that caravans must not exceed 24ft excluding draw bar and that no commercial vehicles of any kind are permitted entry except for Landrovers. If in doubt please contact the Booking Office on 01258 861237. All pre-paid campsites open 8am Sat 28th Aug and close midday on Mon 6th Sept. Minimum stay two nights. Camping costs are £13.00 per night per unit (Sunday 5th September free). One unit = one caravan or tent etc plus towing vehicle. Any additional cars are charged at £10.00 daily payable in advance. Only one additional car permitted for each unit booked. Please also click on ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for further details.

Pre-paid camping bookings for the show can be obtained by telephoning the credit card hotline or online. (All public pre-booking enquiries to Mrs Helen Jeans, Great Dorset Steam Fair, Dairy House Farm, Child Okeford, Blandford Forum, DT11 8HT. Tel/Fax: 01258 861237 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Prepaid Camp Site Rules and Regulations

  • Public pre-paid campsites are operational prior, during and after the show.
  • Pre-paid campsites open 8am Sat 28th August.
  • All campsites close midday on Monday 6th September.
  • All campsites are adjacent to the showground and have 24-hour security.
  • Minimum stay on all campsites is two nights.
  • Pre-paid campsites will only be available to TENTS and CARAVANS (not exceeding 24ft excluding draw-bar) and cars or properly manufactured passenger carrying vehicles e.g. Land Rover Discovery. All types of Landrover will also be accepted.
  • CAMPER VANS AND MOTOR HOMES must be properly manufactured. For all motor homes that exceed 25ft, please contact the booking office for terms. No articulated motor homes will be allowed. We are sorry but we are unable to allow VANS, LORRIES, TRUCKS/PICKUP TRUCKS (Open or covered), CREW CABS, UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI BUSES, BUSES OR COACHES or any other type of commercial vehicle whether privately or commercially taxed onto the public campsites. If you book camping knowing that your vehicle(s) do not meet with the above criteria you will be asked to leave on arrival and your booking will not be refunded. (If in doubt enquire or send a photograph).

Pay on arrival Campsite and Overnight Camping (unfortunatly we cannot accomodate caravans in this area)

Once again this year we will be offering a facility for people to turn up and pay for camping or overnight parking space from Wed 1st September onwards. This will be £15 per night per unit. Please enter through the south car park (gate 1).