Sandy Balls is situated at the western end of Godshillvillage, a little more than a mile from Fordingbridge on the B3078.
From the east, leave the M27 at Junction 1 signposted New Forest/ Lyndhurst/Cadnam A337 and at the end of the slip road, take the third exit B3078 to Fordingbridge.
From the west, follow the A31 to Ringwood until the turning onto the A338 to Salisbury, and then take the B3078 for about 11/2 miles.
From the north, follow the A338 through Salisbury to Fordingbridge and then take the B3078 to Godshill.
The above information has been taken from the Sandy Balls Website. The rest of this review is all my own.
I am off to Sandy Balls again, supporting someone who has Downs Syndrome, and quite severe challenging behavioural difficulties, so thought I would update this review.
Do visit the website, the brochure has some lovely pictures.
Website: http://www.sandy-balls.co.uk/
I have had a look at the website again and see on the link below there is news and special offers, This weekend for example, all lodges are only £299.00. It is a bit late to book thought as now is sunday 10th April but maybe there are special offers that you might find worth looking at and considering.
http://www.sandy-balls.co.uk/latest_news.asp#7
May 2005, weekend, 3 nights £323 two bed roomed lodge. May 2005 monday to friday for 4 nights £548 three bed roomed lodge.
This is an example of breaks
mid May 2005. Prices vary, bank holiday times are more expensive and of course mid summer is also quite a bit more.
Brochure downloaded from above Website. Map and directions included.
Peaceful times. Away from the stresses of daily living.
Last summer I supported three people to have a short holiday at Sandy Balls holiday centre, one time I went with a lady on her own for a weekend and the other time two of us went with two people who wanted a more lively holiday full of fun.
Sandy Balls Holiday Centre is in the north- west part of The New Forest, near a village called Fordingbridge which I had never heard of a month ago. The first time I went there were just two of us and we stayed in a two bedroomed lodge. The second time there were four of us. There are lodges, caravans and pitches for tents there. We stayed in a lodge, which was spotlessly clean and well equipped.
Our check in time was 15.00hrs and we managed to arrive just a few minutes beforehand. The reception staff were friendly and helpful. The literature given us was clear and precise. Very informative. The facilities and attractions are well signposted.
The Spa shop is well stocked with all the things we forgot, plus all the things we didn’t know we might want. Prices were more expensive than in large supermarkets, but for the things we forgot and a few extra treats we found it very convenient to shop there.
The gift shop is a treasure trove, with all the usual souvenirs plus information of the surrounding area and attractions. We wanted to go to various places which weren't on our map and asked a staff member who pointed it out on their map so that we saved on more maps of the area. The one supplied in our info pack was plenty good enough for us once we knew which villages these attractions were in.
The activity centre and play area outside looked good but we didn’t have children so didn’t use them. There is a programme of activities for children that we didn't make use of (all being oldish) but which looked brilliant for families of young children. I rather fancied Clay Play myself.
You get a free pass for swimming for the time you stay there.The swimming pools are lovely, the inside heated one is kept warm enough for most people. In busy times they operate 11/2 hourly sessions which I think is probably long enough for most people to stay in water. The outside one was quite busy even though the weather wasn’t that great. I put my hand in but it was too chilly for me to swim in.
The food in both Valencia’s pizzarestaurant and the Woodside pub/inn restaurant was good although I thought expensive. My trouble is I don’t eat out often in England so don’t have anything to compare prices with but I usually think that all holiday places are more expensive than village pubs etc. The take away was sufficient. Not the best I have had but good enough.
But where are all the lodges? Drive slowly along a narrow road and look there is one, and there is another just along there surrounded by trees and naturally planted flowerbeds. All seem to have enough space around them to feel alone in the Forest if that is what you want. Nice amount of parking space by each lodge. The caravans looked from outside to be just as big as the lodges with just as much room around them. I had expected there to be row upon row of lodges and was pleasantly surprised with the lay out and the amount of space. The second time I went we stayed in one of their 18 new lodges and it was superb, even better than the first one which I was totally impressed with.
Inside was another nice surprise. The kitchen area is large enough and well enough equipped for cooking main meals if wanted. On the first break that I took I cooked our main meals as well as did a bit of baking. On the second break we shared cooking and ate out quite a lot. There is a microwave, toaster, gas cooker and plenty of crockery/cutlery. The only thing that would have made a difference to me would have been a washing machine, but there is an airer rail to put over the balcony so most things dried ok and a laundrette if it rains or you have a large party and need to keep the laundry done. The dining area was ample, nice wooden table and chairs and the bedrooms big enough. The beds were all made up on arrival and looked very inviting. The mattresses are plastic covered so kept clean and hygienic. The beds actually didn’t feel that comfortable but we all seemed to sleep like logs, with no waking in the night so they must have been more comfortable than I first thought.
The second time I went there were four of us, we had three bedrooms, all big enough for comfort and not getting in anyone’s way too much. I shared with another carer and we didn’t feel crowded. The master bedroom in the second lodge had it’s own en suite shower room with toilet and basin also. There was a bath with shower in the main bathroom. Having two toilets was very handy.
The outside area is well laid out with built in barbeque, bench style table and seats, lots of grass surrounding each lodge between trees giving that feeling of isolation. They say no ball games but one family in the distance were playing badminton, not sure if that counts, I would have thought so long as people were sensible ball games shouldn't be a problem as there was so much space around each lodge.
The New Forest is beautiful, it needs no advertising really, we drove slowly and saw numerous ponies. What more could anyone want?? We didn't stop and walk because of the people we were with but walking amongst all those trees and all that peace and quiet would be blissful.
Sandy Balls seems to be a great place to have an activity holiday, with paid for cycle hire, pony trekking and fishing on the river Avon. We just spent a peaceful few days, touring round the countryside and visiting local places of interest.
Within easy travelling distance are Marwell Zoo, Monkey World, Longleat and Beaulieu. There are several villages with the usual pub serving home cooked (?) fare as well.
Some of the lodges allow pets, two per party, some of the lodges allow smoking, some of them allow neither. So there is accommodation to suit all.
My colleague and I both agreed that we did very little and it was very restful but by the end of each day we were totally exhausted. Must have been the fresh air or the slow pace of life. I could get used to it and spend my life there. (So long as I had my own washing machine and dogs and come to think of it husband, I do miss him while away.)I had better put here just so long as the family came to visit also.
I expect to go back again some time next year but for the rest of the summer?? Well in two weeks I am off to Camber Sands with another two people who have learning disabilities/difficulties.
Would I recommend it? Yes, If you have children, dogs, people who need a quiet break or none of these and just like to laze around in the countryside, if you are young, old, in the middle or even if you have a disability, there are a couple of disabled lodges but these do get booked up early. Yes to everyone as it gives one time to sit and think and get away from daily life. Oh and of course yes if you fish!!!
This year two of us are supporting one person who needs high levels of support, we are all getting excited and can't wait to collect our people carrier and head off west from here to the New Forest once again.
The criteria only offers caravan or tent, and caravan is the closest, although our lodge was more spaciour and comfortable than I would expect a caravan to be.
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I work at Sandy Balls in reception! The review is accurate i think. It is a great place to go and to work!
RICHADA 26.05.2005 19:09
Oh yes! Sandy balls. I must have driven past this place a dozen times and I'm sorry but it always makes me snigger every time. Images of Sid James and Babs Windsor always come to mind, can't help it just my smutty sense of humour I guess! This is a very well written review and gets me past the "Carry-On" frontage! Thanks! R.
sylviesinc 20.05.2005 19:58
It sounds very peaceful but I find holidays here are usually expensive.
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