Sandy Balls Vacation Park has a fame as one of many fanciest lodge and tenting parks in Hampshire. In case you favor a extra elevated out of doors expertise whenever you enterprise into the good outdoor, this might be the place for you. Try my sincere assessment earlier than you determine…
In my expertise, most individuals in Hampshire have heard of Sandy Balls Vacation Park, however it’s notoriety stops on the borders. It felt like anybody native I advised that we had been going within the three week run up between reserving and arriving, had been or knew somebody that had however anybody else simply fixated on the identify.
If it wasn’t ‘we’ve been there!’, it was ‘is that an actual place?! Why is it referred to as Sandy Balls?’ [laugh / giggle / snort]
So, simply in case you’re not from Hampshire – let me introduce you to Sandy Balls Vacation Park, simply on the sting of the New Forest.
In line with the web site I wanted to be ready to ‘escape into historic woodlands, open moors and wild heathland’. In line with my many associates who’ve been previous visitors, I used to be in for a tremendous time because of the good location and household pleasant vibe.
So, off we went.
The New Forest is barely a 45-minute drive from our residence in Southsea, and Sandy Balls is round an hour. This was a simple to succeed in weekend, which given the proximity and low value of getting there, meant we may spend slightly extra on the lodging.
However, was the £412 for a weekend at Sandy Balls value it?
Errr, why is it referred to as Sandy Balls?
In line with the Away Resorts web site, it’s identify truly dates again to the reign of King Henry VII when ‘sandyballas’ – domed sand and gravel outcrops on its western boundary – first appeared on historic maps.
In case you go to Sandy Balls, you possibly can stroll as much as a viewpoint and lookout over these ‘sandyballas’ and see what they imply.
Overview: lodging at Sandy Balls
The three of us (me, boyfriend and toddler) stayed in a 6-person lodge at Sandy Balls. I wouldn’t truly recommend staying there as a 6 although. We had a beautiful room with a double mattress and en suite for the 2 of us. Reggie’s room had a bunk mattress in it, and a single too. So, 5 beds, and a big lounge the place the couch may pull out to be a mattress.
To be honest, our room was spacious and did have a TV so should you had 4 children, they’d be alright, however not 6 adults. As I stated, we had our ensuite with a shower (nice for toddler) however there was additionally one other bathe rest room subsequent to Reggie’s room.
The kitchen / diner / lounge area was large enough for Reggie to trip round on his scooter, and for us to calm down in on the desk and on the couch.
Reggie awakened actually early one morning and it was very nice to only cuddle up on the large couch with a cover and watch some TV with the sound of the rain on the roof. We positively want an even bigger couch at residence. Anyway, I digress, again to the Sandy Balls assessment.
Overview of the meals at Sandy Balls
Every lodge has slightly kitchen so it’s simple to be self catered. We had all our breakfasts and lunches this fashion – utilizing the good stuff from the on website store. The store is stocked with yummy regionally produced delicacies, from jams, to fruits to meats. You gained’t go hungry!
No complaints there.
I do, nonetheless, have complaints in regards to the eating places at Sandy Balls.
There are two eating places at Sandy Balls, the Woodside Inn and Aubreys. I booked Aubreys for the primary evening, from residence. I’d already been warned by associates that the eating places get actually busy and exhausting to ebook so I wished our spot secured.
We turned up and only some tables had been occupied, though it was for a 5pm reserving. Toddlers hey?
In brief, the service was gradual and the ready workers appeared harassed, although it wasn’t busy. The meals was overpriced, for what it was. And the entire place was so sizzling.
It wasn’t the eating expertise I wished for £20 a meal. Or that I anticipated from a spot like Sandy Balls.
The subsequent evening we met associates and went to the native pub xxxx.
After which, it was again at Aubreys for the ultimate evening. We didn’t significantly need to, however after trying on the Uber Eats selections, and weighing up being late for Reggie’s mattress time, we determined to offer it one other go. The Woodside Inn was apparently booked up, though didn’t appear it once we wandered previous.
Issues to do at Sandy Balls
I believed it was going to be Centre Parcs vibes. I imagined a timetable of issues to go to, and an epic swimming pool for my cash. Sadly not. This, was the ‘toddler playground’.
I used to be additionally shocked at how fundamental the swimming pool was, particularly the altering rooms. As I say, I’d been at Butlin’s in Bognor the week earlier than, for the day, and the amenities there far outranked the pool at Sandy Balls.
I wasn’t anticipating the world, however a slide or two would possibly’ve been good. Oh, and the water was actually chilly. So chilly, everybody within the pool (about 5 others) complained. There have been two smaller swimming pools on the prime, and I imply small, like a paddling pool – and all the youngsters stayed in there.
Not my Reggie although, he simply stored wanting to leap within the chilly pool so muggins right here to be there to catch him.
The smooth play was soiled. There was at the least half an inch of mud, together with discarded meals wrappers down the again of it. A few of it was held collectively and patched up with duct tape.
There was an arcade, the place Reggie discovered this practice at £2 a time. He completely beloved it. On the Sunday evening Ben met Little Alex Horn off Taskmaster in right here, obtained a photograph and every little thing.
There have been actions, however all of them value and had been slightly superior for Reggie. Assume, a slime workshop for £12, or strolling an alpaca for £25.
We did truly need to hire bikes at some point however it was beginning to rain and Reggie was NOT joyful once we trialled the bike, so we quickly ditched that concept.
Issues to do close to Sandy Balls
I really feel I ought to level out that it was raining at Sandy Balls the weekend we went. Additionally, my expertise was the meat within the sandwich of a day trip at Butlin’s the week earlier than, and staying at a Parkdean resort on the Isle of Wight every week or two after. The comparisons had been inevitable. I’ll write about these experiences quickly to check.
You’ve obtained all of the delights of the New Forest in your doorstep at Sandy Balls, and it’s near Dorset too. The right location.
Peppa Pig World isn’t far in any respect from Sandy Balls, about 25 minutes within the automotive.
Longdown Exercise Farm is a good cease close by should you’re coming from the east. It’s excellent for little ones. We’ve been just a few instances – Reggie loves a go on the diggers and tractors there, in addition to a fast go to to the animals.
Sandy Balls Overview
So, what’s my Sandy Balls assessment in spite of everything this chat for 1500 phrases?
Negatives Sandy Balls
I believed the shared areas had been run down, as in, the swimming pool, the smooth play and the eating places. The altering rooms for the swimming pool had been worse than my native leisure centre ones within the 90s (good outdated Burton Meadowside). Once you’re paying greater than the standard for a lodge or campsite, you count on higher than the standard amenities. I used to be actually disenchanted by this, particularly as we would have liked it because of our wet Might weekend.
They actually need to spend money on new smooth play gear (at the least even, give it a clear and patch up the duct tape), and spend fairly a bit on that swimming pool.
I’ve stated all I must on the eating places, however they might positively be improved.
Oh, simply remembered – the place was my lodge entrance furnishings? I’d’ve beloved to take a seat out listening to the rain among the many timber. As a substitute, I needed to sit on the ground.
Positives Sandy Balls
The lodge was significantly better than I believed it was going to be, particularly as we’d booked the most cost effective obtainable. Loads of area for us three and two bogs is at all times appreciated.
The examine in was welcoming – although I’d confused issues by reserving it below Vicky FlipFlop which *SHOCK* isn’t truly my surname.
I’d like to say the kindness of the bike store man, who understood when my son had a meltdown and apparently didn’t need to go on the bike that he’d been so enthusiastic about two minutes earlier than.
Sandy Balls is in an excellent location, which is its important promoting level.
I’d positively return to Sandy Balls, however perhaps in a 12 months or two, when Reggie can trip a motorbike and we are able to discover the native space extra, with out being tied to his nap.
I hope they’ll have up to date these shared areas by then too!
- When? Might 2024
- How lengthy? 3 nights
- Paid? £412 (on Agoda)
- Who? Me, boyfriend and toddler
- In brief? Nice location, beloved the pure setting among the many amenities. Would go well with a barely older youngster higher, who’s joyful to stroll and cycle. Would return, once we can do extra collectively.
