Dan posted an update
7 weeks 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: Low Profile Kit for an Exposed Wild Camp
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 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.
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.
DM me if you’d like the exact coordinates of the spot I used.
#melburydown #dorset #wildcamp #bivicamp #nortentskjul
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