Sandy Balls Vacation Park has a fame as one of many fanciest lodge and tenting parks in Hampshire. Should you want a extra elevated out of doors expertise while you enterprise into the nice outside, this could possibly be the place for you. Take a look at my trustworthy overview earlier than you resolve…
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 instructed 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 title.
If it wasn’t ‘we’ve been there!’, it was ‘is that an actual place?! Why is it known 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 accordance with the web site I wanted to be ready to ‘escape into historical woodlands, open moors and wild heathland’. In accordance with my many buddies who’ve been previous company, I used to be in for a tremendous time due to the nice location and household pleasant vibe.
So, off we went.
The New Forest is just a 45-minute drive from our residence in Southsea, and Sandy Balls is round an hour. This was a straightforward to achieve weekend, which given the proximity and low price of getting there, meant we might spend somewhat extra on the lodging.
However, was the £412 for a weekend at Sandy Balls price it?
Errr, why is it known as Sandy Balls?
In accordance with the Away Resorts web site, it’s title really 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.
Should you go to Sandy Balls, you possibly can stroll as much as a viewpoint and lookout over these ‘sandyballas’ and see what they imply.
Evaluate: lodging at Sandy Balls
The three of us (me, boyfriend and toddler) stayed in a 6-person lodge at Sandy Balls. I wouldn’t really counsel staying there as a 6 although. We had a stunning room with a double mattress and en suite for the 2 of us (positively missed my SIMBA hybrid mattress at residence although). Reggie’s room had a bunk mattress in it, and a single too. So, 5 beds, and a big lounge the place the couch might pull out to be a mattress.
To be honest, our room was spacious and did have a TV so if you happen to 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 awoke actually early one morning and it was very nice to simply cuddle up on the large couch with a quilt and watch some TV with the sound of the rain on the roof. We positively want a much bigger couch at residence. Anyway, I digress, again to the Sandy Balls overview.
Evaluate of the meals at Sandy Balls
Every lodge has somewhat kitchen so it’s straightforward to be self catered. We had all our breakfasts and lunches this fashion – utilizing the nice 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, nevertheless, 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 buddies that the eating places get actually busy and laborious to e book 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, though 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 buddies and went to the native pub xxxx.
After which, it was again at Aubreys for the ultimate evening. We didn’t notably wish to, however after trying on the Uber Eats selections, and weighing up being late for Reggie’s mattress time, we determined to present it one other go. The Woodside Inn was apparently booked up, though didn’t appear it after 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 may’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 gentle 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 liked it. On the Sunday evening Ben met Little Alex Horn off Taskmaster in right here, received a photograph and the whole lot.
There have been actions, however all of them price and had been somewhat superior for Reggie. Suppose, a slime workshop for £12, or strolling an alpaca for £25.
We did really wish to hire bikes in the future however it was beginning to rain and Reggie was NOT blissful after 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 time out 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 received 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 superb cease close by if you happen to’re coming from the east. It’s excellent for little ones. We’ve been a couple of instances – Reggie loves a go on the diggers and tractors there, in addition to a fast go to to the animals.
Sandy Balls Evaluate
So, what’s my Sandy Balls overview 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 gentle 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). If you’re paying greater than the same old for a lodge or campsite, you anticipate higher than the same old amenities. I used to be actually upset by this, particularly as we would have liked it due to our wet Might weekend.
They actually need to put money into new gentle play tools (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 have to on the eating places, however they might positively be improved.
Oh, simply remembered – the place was my lodge entrance furnishings? I’d’ve liked 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 a lot better than I believed it was going to be, particularly as we’d booked the most cost effective out there. Loads of area for us three and two bogs is at all times appreciated.
The test in was welcoming – though I’d confused issues by reserving it beneath Vicky FlipFlop which *SHOCK* isn’t really 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 wish to go on the bike that he’d been so enthusiastic about two minutes earlier than.
Sandy Balls is in a fantastic location, which is its major promoting level.
I’d positively return to Sandy Balls, however perhaps in a yr or two, when Reggie can trip a motorbike and we will 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, liked the pure atmosphere among the many amenities. Would go well with a barely older baby higher, who’s blissful to stroll and cycle. Would return, after we can do extra collectively.
