Sandy Balls Vacation Park has a popularity as one in every of Hampshire’s best vacation parks for in a single day stays and tenting. When you choose elevated outside expertise while you get out into nature, this may very well be the place for you. Take a look at my sincere evaluate earlier than you determine…
In my expertise, most individuals in Hampshire have heard of Sandy Balls Vacation Park, however it’s well-known for stopping on the borders. It appeared like anybody native I instructed we had been going within the three weeks between reserving and arrival had been or knew somebody who had been, however anybody else simply fixated on the identify.
If it wasn’t ‘we had been there!’, it was ‘is that the best place?! Why is it known as Sandballs?’ [laugh / giggle / snort]
So, simply in case you are not from Hampshire – let me introduce you to Sandy Balls Vacation Park, on the very fringe of the New Forest.
Based on the web site, I ought to have been ready to ‘escape to historical forests, open moors and wild moors’. Based on my many associates who was my friends, I had an incredible time due to the good location and household environment.
So, off we went.
The New Forest is just a forty five minute drive from our dwelling in Southsea and Sandy Balls is round an hour. It was an simply accessible weekend, which given the proximity and low price of arrival meant we may spend a bit of extra on lodging.
However was £412 for a weekend at Sandy Balls value it?
Errr, why is it known as Sandballs?
Based on the Away Resorts web site, its identify truly dates again to the reign of King Henry VII, when the ‘sandyballas’ – domed sand and gravel outcrops on its western border – first appeared on historic maps.
When you go to Sandy Balls, you’ll be able to stroll as much as the lookout and look out at these ‘sand balls’ and see what they imply.
Evaluate: lodging in Sandy Balls
The three of us (me, boyfriend and child) stayed in a 6 individual cabin at Sandy Balls. I would not advocate staying there as a 6 although. We had a beautiful room with a queen dimension mattress and personal rest room for the 2 of us (undoubtedly missed my SIMBA hybrid mattress at dwelling). Reggie’s room had a bunk mattress, and one too. So, 5 beds, and a big lounge the place the couch may very well be stretched out to be a mattress.
To be truthful our room was spacious and had a TV so when you’ve got 4 youngsters they’d be effective however not 6 adults. As I stated, we had our personal rest room with a shower (nice for babies), however there was one other rest room with a bathe subsequent to Reggie’s room.
The kitchen/eating/residing space was large enough for Reggie to experience round on his scooter and for us to loosen up across the desk and couch.
Reggie wakened very early one morning and it was very good simply to cuddle on the large sofa with a cover and watch TV with the sound of rain on the roof. We undoubtedly want a much bigger sofa at dwelling. Anyway, off subject, again to the Sandy Balls evaluate.
Meals evaluate at Sandy Balls
Every lodge has a small kitchen so it is easy to cook dinner for your self. We had all our breakfasts and lunches this fashion – utilizing nice stuff from the on-site store. The store is stocked with scrumptious regionally produced delicacies, from jams to fruit to meat. You will not go hungry!
No complaints.
Nonetheless, I do have complaints concerning the eating places at Sandy Balls.
There are two eating places in Sandy Balls, the Woodside Inn and Aubreys. Booked Aubreys for the primary evening, from dwelling. I had already been warned by associates that the eating places had been very busy and tough to guide so I wished to safe our place.
We arrived and only some tables had been occupied, though there was a reservation for five p.m. Little youngsters hey?
In brief, the service was sluggish and the wait employees appeared agitated, though they weren’t busy. The meals was overpriced for what it was. And the entire place was so sizzling.
It was not the eating expertise I wished for £20 a meal. Or so I anticipated from a spot like Sandy Balls.
The following night we met associates and went to the native pub xxxx.
After which it was again to Aubreys for the final evening. We did not significantly need to, however after wanting on the Uber Eats choice and eager about being late for Reggie’s nap, we determined to offer it one other strive. The Woodside Inn was clearly full, though it did not appear to be it once we handed it.
What to do in Sandy Balls
I believed it might be the Centra Parcs environment. I envisioned a schedule of issues to go to and an epic pool for my cash. Sadly no. This was a ‘playground for babies’.
I used to be additionally stunned at how fundamental the pool was, particularly the altering rooms. As I stated I had been to Butlin’s in Bognor the week earlier than for a day and the services there far surpassed the pool at Sandy Balls.
I did not count on the world, however a slide or two may be good. Oh, and the water was actually chilly. So chilly that everybody within the pool (about 5 others) was complaining. There have been two smaller swimming pools on the prime, I imply small, like a paddling pool – and all the children stayed there.
However not my Reggie, he simply wished to leap into the chilly pool so he struggles to be there to catch him.
The sunshine recreation was soiled. There was at the least half an inch of mud, together with discarded meals wrappers within the again. A few of it’s taped collectively and patched.
There was an arcade, the place Reggie discovered this practice at £2 every. He completely beloved it. Sunday evening Ben met little Alex Horn from Taskmaster right here, obtained a photograph and all.
There have been actions, however all of them price cash and had been a bit of superior for Reggie. Think about a workshop for £12 or an alpaca stroll for £25.
We truly wished to hire bikes in the future, however it began raining and Reggie was NOT pleased once we tried the bike, so we quickly gave up on that concept.
Actions 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 on the Parkdean resort on the Isle of Wight per week or two after. Comparisons had been inevitable. I’ll write about these experiences quickly to check them.
You might have all of the delights of the New Forest in your doorstep in Sandy Balls and it is also near Dorset. Excellent place.
Peppa Pig World isn’t removed from Sandy Balls in any respect, about 25 minutes by automobile.
Longdown Exercise Farm is a superb close by cease if you happen to’re coming from the east. It is excellent for little ones. We have been a couple of instances – Reggie likes to drive diggers and tractors there as effectively quick go to the animals.
Sand balls evaluate
So what’s my evaluate of Sandy Balls after this 1500 phrase dialog?
Negatives Sandballs
I believed the frequent areas had been uncared for, just like the pool, playground and restaurant. The pool altering rooms had been worse than these at my native leisure facilities within the 90’s (good outdated Burton Meadowside). Whenever you pay greater than common for a house or camp, you count on higher than common facilities. This actually upset me, particularly since we wanted it due to our wet Might weekend.
They really want to put money into new gentle play gear (on the very least, clear it and patch it with duct tape), and spend fairly a bit on that pool.
I stated all I wanted to concerning the eating places, however they might undoubtedly be improved.
Oh, I simply remembered – the place was my entrance furnishings? I’d love to sit down outdoors and take heed to the rain among the many bushes. As a substitute, I needed to sit on the ground.
Constructive sand balls
The house was a lot better than I believed it might be, particularly since we booked the most affordable one obtainable. A number of area for the three of us and two bogs is at all times appreciated.
The check-in was welcome – though I confused issues by reserving it underneath the identify Vicky FlipFlop, which *SHOCK* is not truly my final identify.
I want to point out the kindness of the person on the bike store, who understood when my son crashed and clearly it isn’t he needs to go biking he was so excited two minutes in the past.
Sandy Balls is in a superb location, which is its essential promoting level.
I’d undoubtedly return to Sandy Balls, however perhaps in a 12 months or two, when Reggie can experience a motorcycle and we will discover the native space extra with out being tied to his dream.
I hope they replace these frequent areas by then too!
- When? Might 2024
- How lengthy? 3 nights
- Paid? £412 (on Agoda)
- WHO? Me, boyfriend and small little one
- Briefly? Nice location, beloved the pure environment amongst the facilities. It could be higher suited to a barely older little one who likes to stroll and experience a motorcycle. He would come again once we will be collectively extra.