Sandy Balls Vacation Park has a repute as one of many fanciest lodge and tenting parks in Hampshire. When you choose a extra elevated out of doors expertise while you enterprise into the good outdoor, this may very well be the place for you. Try my sincere assessment earlier than you resolve…
In my expertise, most individuals in Hampshire have heard of Sandy Balls Vacation Park, nevertheless it’s notoriety stops on the borders. It felt like anybody native I instructed that we have 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 historical woodlands, open moors and wild heathland’. In line with my many mates who’ve been previous friends, 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 just a 45-minute drive from our house 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.
When you go to Sandy Balls, you’ll be able to 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 truthful, 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 house was sufficiently big for Reggie to journey round on his scooter, and for us to chill out in on the desk and on the couch.
Reggie awoke 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 a much bigger couch at house. Anyway, I digress, again to the Sandy Balls assessment.
Overview of the meals at Sandy Balls
Every lodge has slightly kitchen so it’s straightforward to be self catered. We had all our breakfasts and lunches this fashion – utilizing the good stuff from the on web site store. The store is stocked with yummy domestically 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 house. I’d already been warned by mates that the eating places get actually busy and arduous to guide so I wished our spot secured.
We turned up and only some tables have been occupied, though it was for a 5pm reserving. Toddlers hey?
Briefly, the service was sluggish and the ready employees 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 mates 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 wanting on the Uber Eats decisions, 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 after we wandered previous.
Issues to do at Sandy Balls
I assumed 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 primary 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 services 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 children 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 mushy play was soiled. There was a minimum of 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 cherished 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 value and have been slightly superior for Reggie. Suppose, a slime workshop for £12, or strolling an alpaca for £25.
We did truly need to lease bikes in the future nevertheless it was beginning to rain and Reggie was NOT glad 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 day trip at Butlin’s the week earlier than, and staying at a Parkdean resort on the Isle of Wight per week or two after. The comparisons have been inevitable. I’ll write about these experiences quickly to match.
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 should you’re coming from the east. It’s good for little ones. We’ve been a couple of occasions – 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 any case this chat for 1500 phrases?
Negatives Sandy Balls
I assumed the shared areas have been run down, as in, the swimming pool, the mushy play and the eating places. The altering rooms for the swimming pool have been worse than my native leisure centre ones within the 90s (good outdated Burton Meadowside). Once you’re paying greater than the same old for a lodge or campsite, you count on higher than the same old services. I used to be actually dissatisfied by this, particularly as we would have liked it because of our wet Could weekend.
They really want to put money into new mushy play tools (a minimum of 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 cherished to sit down out listening to the rain among the many timber. As an alternative, I needed to sit on the ground.
Positives Sandy Balls
The lodge was a lot better than I assumed it was going to be, particularly as we’d booked the most affordable out there. Loads of house for us three and two loos is at all times appreciated.
The examine in was welcoming – though I’d confused issues by reserving it beneath 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 ideal location, which is its predominant promoting level.
I’d positively return to Sandy Balls, however perhaps in a 12 months or two, when Reggie can journey a motorcycle 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? Could 2024
- How lengthy? 3 nights
- Paid? £412 (on Agoda)
- Who? Me, boyfriend and toddler
- Briefly? Nice location, cherished the pure surroundings among the many services. Would go well with a barely older youngster higher, who’s glad to stroll and cycle. Would return, after we can do extra collectively.
