Dan posted an update
21 hours ago (edited)
Melbury Down, Dorset – Nortent Skjul Bivvi Setup
Mid-March 2026
A quiet, low-profile camp using the Nortent Skjul on exposed ground in Dorset.
Full write-up here: Melbury Down, Dorset – Low-Profile Bivvi Camp on Exposed Hills
I knew beforehand this area had very little in the way of cover. The exposed grassy hills are visible from a long distance, so I brought the Nortent Skjul to stay low profile and out of sight.
Here is the YouTube link to the kit video of everything I took, including a quick look at my Nortent Skjul setup:
[insert youtube kit video here]This turned out to be one of the best locations and amazing nights I’ve had camping in Dorset. At 228 metres, it was cold, quiet and exactly what I was hoping for. I didn’t see a single person all night.
I’d looked over the area on Google Maps and Komoot beforehand, so I had a rough idea of the layout and access points. The only plan was to reach trig point TP 4764 at Melbury Hill. Everything else I would wing it.
I parked in the village of West Melbury, which gave direct access up onto the hill. When I reached the top, there were a few walkers passing through. It’s accessible from multiple directions, but not somewhere I wanted to stay.
From there, I could see planes landing at Compton Abbas Airfield. It looked interesting, so with time on my side, I dropped into the valley and headed towards the surrounding hills in that direction. There are plenty of potential spots across this whole area.
I crossed Spread Eagle Hill and followed the curve of the ridge. The paths looked used, but not recently. I headed down the side of the hill looking for cover. I don’t like sleeping fully exposed, I prefer to be tucked along side a bit of cover..
I eventually headed back up and found a small patch of flat grass surrounded by old, dried brambles. The Skjul sat just below the height of the bushes, giving me cover while still keeping the view.
After setting up, I saw deer moving across the hills and watched one of the best sunsets I’ve had in a while. It was the first clear, dry night I’d been out this year.
The night was quiet, apart from the few cars accelerating up nearby Spread Eagle Hill. It was a clear sky, so I slept with the Skjul open and watched the stars through the bug net.
Morning had a bright pink sky at sunrise. I made a coffee, packed up, and headed back the way I came.
Getting there
I parked on West Lane in West Melbury and walked up from there.
There are a few villages with free on-street parking surrounding Melbury Hill and on whatawalk.com , there are three access routes to the hill. There’s also free car park on Spread Eagle Hill (Sunset viewpoint), but I wouldn’t leave a vehicle there overnight.
From my start point, it’s roughly 2.5 miles (4 km) to the camp spot.
Heads up
Melbury Down sits within the Cranborne Chase National Landscape and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
When I visited in March, the place was just coming out of winter. In summer, this place will likely be much more active, so more care is needed with the plants and wildlife.
There’s still plenty more for me to explore, including the nearby woodland and the valley below. I’ll be back.
Good phone and internet signal at the camp spot and everywhere I went.
#melburydown #dorset #wildcamp #bivicamp #nortentskjul
