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Sandy Balls Holiday Village
Godshill
New Forest
Fordingbridge
Hampshire (Browse area)
SP6 2JZ
Tel: 01442 508850 or 01425 651200
Visit their website Check Digital TV coverage See Weather Forecast
   
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Pitches:
Open: 02/08/2024 to 31/08/2024
02/08/2025 to 31/08/2025
Rating: 
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 Tent Pitches |
 Caravan Pitches |
 Motorhome Pitches |
 Small Campervans |
 No Glamping Units |
 Holiday Homes for Hire |
 Holiday Homes for Sale |
 No Seasonal Pitches |
 No Electric Hookups |
 No Hardstandings |
 No Fully Serviced Pitches |
 Show Full Facilities |
| Who's it for |
 Families Welcome |
 Not Members Only |
 Rallies Welcome |
 Not Naturist Site |
 Dogs Welcome |
 No Dogs Allowed |
 Groups Welcome |
 Motorbikers Welcome |
| Facilities |
 Toilet Facilities |
 Hot Showers |
 Washing Up |
 Bathroom |
 Baby Changing Facilities |
 Laundry On Site |
 Drinking Water |
 Disabled Friendly |
 No Chemical Disposal |
 No Battery Charging |
 No Gas Exchange |
 No Recycling Facilities |
 No Kitchen Facilities |
 No Freezer / Fridge |
 No Motorhome Point |
 Wifi Access |
 Shop On Site |
 Bar On Site |
 Restaurant or Cafe or Takeaway On Site |
| Activities |
 Kids Playground |
 No TV Room |
 Games Room |
 Evening Entertainment |
 Fishing <10 miles |
 No Wild Swimming |
 Indoor Pool On Site |
 Outdoor Pool On Site |
 Horse Riding <1 mile |
 Cycle Hire On Site |
 Golf <5 miles |
 No Tennis |
 Beach <10 miles |
 Watersports <10 miles |
 No Boat Launch |
| Other Features |
 No Sea Views |
 Not Working Farm |
 No Campfires Allowed |
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 No Waterside Pitches |
 Public Transport <1 mile |
 No Dog Walk |
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Reviews:
198 in total, now showing 101 to 110
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| Date of Visit: October 2009 |
Unit: Motorhome |
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| Reviewer: Cherok |
12 reviews from this member |
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 We were very much looking forward to visiting this site as we had heard good things about it in the past.
Initial impressions were very good, with a speedy admission process on arrival via the drive-up office. We were warmly greeted by a young girl waiting to give us our admission pack and directions to our pitch.
We drove past the central Plaza where all the amenities are, such as pubs, shop, restaurant and leisure centre and found it to be quite like 'Center Parcs' which was very favourable.
Our pitch was located as far as you could be from the central Plaza, on Northfield. This was not a problem as we don't like being around the 'action' anyway. However, the toilet block for this area was very poor. I actually refused to use them and made use of the showers at the swimming pool. They resembled something we had experienced back in the Black Forest in Germany in the 80's which back then sadly needed an overhaul! They were all concrete and steel and just very unpleasant with worn bases on the floors of the showers and just a general lack of cleanliness really. The light flashed constantly in one of the showers for the 3 nights we were there and many of the small lights in the individual washing cubicles weren't working. I lost count of the number of times that I found toilet roll cardboard reels over the floor and strips of toilet paper (used) discarded on the floor.
The site itself is very pleasant and we very much enjoyed using the pool (although charging £1 to use the jacuzzi part was a bit of a rip off I feel!) Also, the lockers were in dire need of an over-haul. Many of them weren't working and by the time you realised, 10p was wasted because they keep the money once you put it in!
The pub was very busy but we used the take away which we felt was reasonably priced and quite good tasty food.
We booked a table for the Bistro and was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food.
It is possible to have 2 courses for 9.95 or 3 for 14.95 but we didn't much like the choices so we went for the main menu which was quite a bit pricier. However, we thoroughly enjoyed it and it was the highlight of our trip with excellent service from the waiter!
The cycle/walking path around the site was great and of course, there are plenty of walks and cycling opportunities around the countryside immediately outside the Park.
We walked into Fordingbridge which was a 40 minute trek but beware with younger children because the path along the road disappears for a little while here and there.
We would recommend a visit to The Fordingbridge Museum there which is set out over two floors and is jam packed with hitorical information and exhibits of Fordingbridge and the local area. It is now closed though for the winter I believe.
All in all we enjoyed the three nights there but we feel the site could really do with paying attention to it's toilet facilities! 
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| Date of Visit: October 2009 |
Unit: Touring Caravan |
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| Reviewer: Mrs E |
44 reviews from this member |
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We've just returned from a 5 night stay and this was our 3rd visit. We were torn between Sandy Balls and Holmsley? as we bought a Forest Experience card a few months ago. We decided upon Sandy Balls due to the facilities and high standards.
Unfortunately, we were disappointed to find standards had slipped. Check in was prompt so no problems there but the drainage outlet for the waste water on our pitch was totally blocked with gravel. And when I say totally blocked I mean it was actually compacted! Hubby walked back to Guest Services and give them their due a maintenance guy came out straight away and cleared this for us.
The washblock in Orchard field is looking tired and tatty with paint flaking off the floor. Not nice when it sticks to your feet as hubby found out on the first night! The water from the shower also went cold on him a few times. I fortunately had a better experience although the paint was flaking off the floor and the washblock wasn't heated (as advertised).
On our first night we got food from the takeaway to save cooking. The food tasted like it had been cooked in old oil and despite hubby saying he DIDN'T want cheese with his burger he ended up with it! We decided to try the bistro on Tuesday afternoon hoping we could get a nice coffee and cake but this was shut and only appears to be open limited days and hours i.E. Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Ok, to be fair it was low season but we thought it may have opened for a few hours.
Fordingbridge itself is only a short drive and has a few shops including a Co-op and a Tesco. There are also several pubs including one by the riverside which we had a drink in one afternoon (can't recall the name).
Sandy Balls is a good site in a good location with very good facilities. We hope that if anyone from the site reads this that they'll update the washblocks as I note from other recent reviews that we're not the only ones to mention this.
Would we go back? Yes, although if standards did deteriorate we would unfortunately have to look for another site in the area.
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| Date of Visit: July 2009 |
Unit: Tent |
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| Nights stayed: 2 |
Travelling as: Family with older children |
| Reviewer: Thara9645 |
1 review from this member |
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I once camped here way back in the summer of 2009 as a thirteen year old. I loved it all. The campsite had a playground for little children as well. It was and still is utterly perfect for families with kids of all ages.
We also enjoyed using the nice on site pool in addition when we were there that year.
Great value for your hard earned money. I will return in the future one day hopefully. The range of facilities is enough for most British families. What an experience.
Tip, make sure that you bring a functional torch and a working pen for a bit of note making. I would also take a first aid box in case of emergency.
 via mobile
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| Date of Visit: September 2009 |
Unit: Motorhome |
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| Reviewer: Woodlander |
15 reviews from this member |
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Sandy Balls certainly has it well covered when it comes to a camping or caravanning holiday. There is a good retail area including a 'village store', cycle hire and gift shop. A bistro or take away serves those who don't feel like cooking. Plenty of room for children with a well thought out playground area and indoor and outdoor pools. We spent the whole time walking from the site as it is a good area for walking or even cycling. We have visited Sandy Balls quite a few times over the years and on arrival found a family on our alloted pitch well after departure time so had to wait before they packed up. We were then disappointed to find the showers blocks were a bit tired and in need of some TLC at the end of the season. Although water was hot and plentiful we thought the cubicles needed a good clean and not what we had come to expect from previous visits. It was lovely visiting in late September but I don't think I would enjoy it in high summer.
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| Date of Visit: August 2009 |
Unit: Motorhome |
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| Reviewer: Sssnake |
41 reviews from this member |
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Our third trip to this site in twelve months and loved it.Again. Also, the nearby village of Fordingbridge never fails to delight for fabulous service wherever you go and quite possibly the tamest, maddest ducks we've encountered anywhere.
We only stopped for one night en-route to Dorset coast because the current Mrs Sssnake wanted a warm shower and hairdryer but on departure I complained because our pitch had litter on it when we turned up and the showers in the male block I used, were unpleasantly cold.(Not so on our two previous visits).
The duty manager did not hesitate and gave us a credit note for a night's stay in the future. Excellent site and excellent service. Highly recommended, although not cheap. But quality does generally cost.
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| Date of Visit: August 2009 |
Unit: Static |
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| Reviewer: Nina Soal |
1 review from this member |
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I visited with extended family for my 13th birthday nine years ago so I don't remember all the details but I do recall having a wonderful time & never feeling at a loss of things to do.
We took part in various activities such as jewellery making, clay pigeon shooting, swimming, art class, etc.
I don't remember too much about the evenings but I did enjoy various pub meals which were of good quality.
The site seemed well-kept with the toilet block and playground areas not posing any issues.
I have been hoping to go back ever since but in recent years have heard it's gone very much downhill which is a great shame.
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| Date of Visit: August 2009 |
Unit: Tent |
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| Reviewer: Keri.s |
3 reviews from this member |
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We have just returned from a 3 night break at Sandy Balls. We stayed in Northfields and we were the first pitch closest to the play area.
I would definitely recommend hiring the astroturf as this makes a huge difference to the comfort under foot due to the gravel. The toilets and showers are clean and plentiful. The site has a no noise policy after 11pm however whilst we were there we found groups of teens that made a lot of noise at night and did not adhere to this policy.
Food in the Bistro and the pub was quite pricey although the food at the Bistro was of better quality but portions were small for the price. You need to book a table at the Bistro in the evenings, we did not and even though it didn't look busy we was turned away. The shop is well stocked but a little over priced. There is a Co-op and Tesco Express in Fordingbridge which is only a 5 minute drive.
The Pool was on a band system that you received a band and could swim for an hour which made the pool less busy which is great when you are in the pool, not so great when the younger children want to swim and don't understand why they can't go now!
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| Date of Visit: July 2009 |
Unit: Other |
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| Reviewer: Jevsy52 |
1 review from this member |
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Stayed for a week in a READYTENT. Excellent drive-thru check-in!
3-bedrooms with 4 single airbeds and 1 double airbed though we took an extra double and it was a fantastic idea cos the big bedroom had storage area so me n hub could have a double airbed each!
Living area with table and 6 chairs (very uncomfortable though some tents seemed to have different chairs and looked loads better!)
Almost full-size fridge with freeze box. Gas stove and grill. Box of melamine pots (bit stained but clean) and cutlery and pans. (no chopping board)
Electric light and 3 point hook up. (suggest a small heater for the evenings)
Each tent has a point behind to collect water (no container in our tent, dunno if same for all?) Picnic table/bench.
Enough toilets and showers when we went, fairly clean though a few lights out and not replaced all week. Handwash facilities poor - 2 small sinks and one rubbish handryer. Several cubicles for personal washing however but no soap in them.
The roads/paths on site are a death-trap! Being in the new forest it is raved about as being cycle friendly and also had a cycle hire shop. Great? Yep but all those kids riding about with no care for reversing cars or pedestrians. Had to be careful where parking car too cos of this! Street lighting out in some areas not replaced leaving very dark bits.
Only used take-away and just ok though expensive.
Shop well stocked and lovely gift shop too.
Swimming pool not bad though crowded at times. Operated a coloured band system but we figured it out and kept our red bands as they were for the 6pm slot every day! Saved getting disappointed when son wanted to go and too full! (we did use it so it didn't restrict anyone else was my view!) Outdoor pool far too cold!
Large-ish co-op and a tesco express in Fordingbridge.
Fab pub called Alice Lisle - not sure which nearby village but great food and service.
Loved the wandering ponies and cows in the forest.
Don't think we would return as seen-it-done-it. Definitely not in our own tent as they have gravel pitches that you have to hire astroturf for if you haven't your own. Log cabins looked ok from what we could see but as surrounded by trees not much fun sitting out with little or no sun.
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| Date of Visit: August 2009 |
Unit: Tent |
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| Reviewer: Simba 96 |
4 reviews from this member |
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Hi we've just got back from a lovely SUNNY week at Sandy Balls. We've stayed here before many times, this was our second time in a tent, due to booking in February this year we didn't have a choice of pitch, four acres 23. This was a disappointment for us, as the pitch seemed small compared to others. We also felt we sat on the main road during meal times. However, that is are only bad comment. The site is great the kids aged 9 and 5 love it, we only went off site once for a cycle ride hiring one ad bike with tag a long on the back. The site was busy but you can find quiet when you head to the river walk, which is a must if you go. We do plan to go again, but will book now for May half term as we had a good look around site and identified pitches we feel would be better. I would recommend this site to anyone, tent, lodge etc.You can't go wrong.
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| Date of Visit: August 2009 |
Unit: Tent |
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| Reviewer: Emma1976 |
1 review from this member |
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I booked 6 weeks in advance and was told that they had pitches available on the Chamberlin field, the lady on reception told me that they had installed a new pool this year and that the facilities were very good. How wrong she was! Just one sink to wash up in, one portocabin for toilets and one for showers which were dirty and were not working properly. And I don't know how they can say the newly installed pool was actually a pool!It was a blow up thing stuck in the middle of the field. I ended up having to go to the main site and have a shower, which was a 10 minute walk down a main road, with my 3 year old.
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198 Reviews in total, now showing 101 to 110
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Common Questions
Is Sandy Balls Holiday Village child friendly? YES, it accepts children & has a playground View all facilities
Does Sandy Balls Holiday Village have a swimming pool? YES, there is a pool on site View all facilities
Where is the nearest shop to Sandy Balls Holiday Village? There is a shop on site View all facilities
Is Sandy Balls Holiday Village dog friendly? YES View all facilities
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