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Original poster

Brownsea Island

16 replies

Trojanbores · 07/08/2025 07:51

Hello. I am going to Brownsea Island in a couple of weeks with ds8 and dd3.

We are staying in a bell tent.

I am starting to feel a bit nervous about it. We are staying for three nights.

Can anyone offer any tips or let me know what it is like?

OP posts:
B0D · 07/08/2025 07:57

I visited last year and saw the site. It looks well supplied and designed. I’m sure you can contact them with specific questions?

Waveifyouknowme · 07/08/2025 08:03

What are you nervous about? I don't mean that flippantly, just not sure how to answer.

Do you get daily boost tickets, or only tickets to arrive/leave?

FrenchandSaunders · 07/08/2025 08:08

You’ll see the lovely red squirrels!

Go on a boat trip from Poole harbour and then eat in the Rockfish restaurant, it’s fab.

Original poster
Trojanbores · 07/08/2025 08:36

Waveifyouknowme · 07/08/2025 08:03

What are you nervous about? I don't mean that flippantly, just not sure how to answer.

Do you get daily boost tickets, or only tickets to arrive/leave?

My nervousness is about camping with the two kids.

We have done plenty of camping in our time … not much glamping, and I am worried that two whole days will be boring! Or that I won’t be able to feed them properly (I know that sounds dramatic, but you have to arrive on foot, I think).

I was really excited when we booked!

OP posts:
Original poster
Trojanbores · 07/08/2025 08:37

FrenchandSaunders · 07/08/2025 08:08

You’ll see the lovely red squirrels!

Go on a boat trip from Poole harbour and then eat in the Rockfish restaurant, it’s fab.

Is the restaurant on the island?

OP posts:
Waveifyouknowme · 07/08/2025 09:10

Not dramatic at all, just wanted to check what you were looking for.

No vehicle access- where are you parking/I take it you are sailing from Poole Harbour? Is the ferry included in the cost?

There are communal kitchen tents, so just need to bring food/personal plates/bowl/cup/cutlery. Don't worry about feeding them properly, just feed them, pack lots of biscuits, then if things don't go to plan they won't be hungry. For ease you can get pasta and Bolognese in a pouch and just heat it up, or tinned ravioli/beans and sausages. Instant porridge in pots (just add hot water) is easy (appreciate all this depends on children's preference!)

It is about 20 minutes walk from getting off the boat, bags can go in the trailer if you don't want to carry them.

No the restaurant is on Poole Quay so you would need to catch the boat there and back for extra cost- there is a NT cafe and snack van on the island but you would need to bring most of your food.

Lots of trails and activities for the kids to do- there is something magical about staying on Brownsea island.

Original poster
Trojanbores · 07/08/2025 09:15

Brilliant - thank you. That is really useful about the food.

We are getting the ferry.

Can you get fresh milk?

OP posts:
FrenchandSaunders · 07/08/2025 09:45

Fabulous place to camp OP.

I spent a day there walking around and bumped into a lady staying in the posh house/hotel. Apparently owned by John Lewis and allows their staff (and retired staff) to have a cheap break every year ... almost made me want to get a part time job in Waitrose 😃

Original poster
Trojanbores · 07/08/2025 10:45

Yes! I read that John Lewis have it for holidays. That is such a great way to take care of your staff!

OP posts:
boulevardofbrokendreamss · 07/08/2025 11:48

do Not eat at the NT cafe unless you want to spend a fortune on ok food. I’m still traumatised after we visited a couple of years ago, not camping though.

WonderingWanda · 07/08/2025 12:01

I've no experience of the site but you can easily carry enough food for a couple of days. Small children are easily entertained with scavenger hunts - give them a list of things to find e.g. pine cone, oak leaf, brown pebble, shell etc. Leaf and pebble artwork, hide and seek, bird watching, sandcastles and just general cooking and washing up whole camping.

WonderingWanda · 07/08/2025 12:01

Also, it sounds like a great adventure!

HundredMilesAnHour · 07/08/2025 12:35

I love Brownsea, I’m very jealous! It might be a little too early to see red squirrels (Sept or Oct is better as they tend to be out much more in autumn) although maybe you will get lucky. I haven’t camped overnight but the facilities look excellent. There’s a lot to see and explore on the island, you’re staying for just the right amount of time.

I’ve found the NT cafe there to be fine. Not overly expensive, not amazing but reasonable, just like the majority of NT cafes. They definitely do a decent coffee! It can get very busy though, especially in the 30-60 mins before a boat departs back to Poole and/or if it’s raining and/or a boat has just arrived.

Waveifyouknowme · 25/09/2025 22:54

This just came back on my feed- did you go? I hope so and I hope it was excellent

Original poster
Trojanbores · 26/09/2025 19:24

It was such a great holiday. A really easy place to be with kids, and the campsite is fantastic. We are going back next year.

Thanks for asking, and thanks for the reassurance from other posters.

OP posts:
Original poster
Trojanbores · 26/09/2025 19:24

And we saw loads of red squirrels!

OP posts:
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