Sandy Balls Holiday Village

View prices & book 7.9 29 reviews
Pitch (added by manager 19 Jul 2024)
Pitch
Sb
Indoor pool

  • Surrounded by the scenery of the peaceful New Forest
  • Activities including zorbing, archery and bug hunts
  • Gym, spa, zipwire and two pools
The New Forest is, but of course, fab enough. But when you can retreat back to base for a Jacuzzi session or beauty treatment, or indeed spend days on base getting stuck into activities such as archery and, er, bug hunting... it's fairly safe to say that you've found your New Forest calling. Such forested fun is at Fordingbridge's Sandy Balls Holiday Village, among the spectacular scenery of the forest and set up for couples, friends and families to have long weekends, midweek breaks or (recommended) longer hols among tiptop facilities and absolutely loads to do. Off site, it's about 25 minutes' drive through the forest to Paultons Park and Peppa Pig World, 30 to the New Forest Wildlife Park, and about the same to coast and sandy... toes at Christchurch. The packed activity schedule at Sandy Balls includes varied shenanigans like walking, cycling, bug hunts, arts and crafts activities, football sessions, horse riding, archery, and – if you're here with those you're soppy about – laser combat games. A calendar of special events takes place throughout the year too, and entertainment is available every day during the school holidays and at weekends all year round. Might you now be ready for some pampering? Indoor and outdoor pools, a Jacuzzi, sauna and a beauty suite await your tuckered out self: after full recuperation, you've a pick of two restaurants on site in Aubreys Restaurant and cosy country pub the Woodside Inn. Takeaway and a well-stocked country shop are available too if by this point you just need to stagger back to base after all your active adventures.

Site type

Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 85
Caravans for hire 100
Tent pitches 50
Opens 1 August 2025

Tourist board rating

Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • Group bookings of 3 or more units (e.g. tent, touring caravan, motorhome or accommodation hire) travelling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Group bookings of 6 or more adults are not permitted (couples and immediate family members excepted).
  • Single-sex bookings of 3 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.
  • Reception is unmanned after 5 p.m.. Please inform the site while on your way there should you expect to arrive after this time, so that the team can provide information about your unit/pitch.
  • Free entertainment is available every day during the school holidays and at weekends throughout the year.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 1 Aug to

Away Resorts AA 5 pennants
View all Away Resorts parks.

Reviews

83%

would recommend this site to a friend

72%

would stay here again

  • 41%
    10
  • 0%
    9
  • 37%
    8
  • 0%
    7
  • 6%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 0%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 13%
    2
  • 0%
    1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

We will definitely be staying again next year!

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 10
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Wow what an amazing site! Brilliant value for the facilities and entertainment set in a beautiful location and all of the staff were so chatty and friendly!

Disliked: The camping toilets got dirty quickly in the morning but that is the only bad point and they were quick to clean them again. It's a shame they can only open for 28 days, we would have loved an extra couple of nights but we unfortunately booked at the very end of the season 😞

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site, and friendly staff with lovely sorroundings

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 8
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: The staff were really friendly and helpfull. The pitch for our tent was huge. Shower and toilet block clean and modern, lots of on site facilities with good size shop and deli. Really nice pools. The new forest is stunning and the site itself relaxing but still with lots to do !, overall we really had a good time and would go again

Disliked: NO real dislikes only suggestions , the camo field washing up area only had cold water so we needed to take a boiled kettle with us each time, and I would have paid slightly extra for an electric pitch. BUT WE LOVED OUR STAY

Recommend to friends Visit again

Had a great time camping here. Not far to walk to get…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 8
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 6
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Had a great time camping here. Not far to walk to get to the centre of the resort for shop, pub and arcade. Staff were friendly. Good location for visiting New Forest or heading into Bournemouth. The air show was on while we stayed which is a must for anyone staying at that time of year. Good level pitch which were marked out.

Disliked: You need to book early for swimming pool. We booked the camping pitch spare of the moment & pool was booked up. However we had lovely weather and headed to the beach, and Fordingbridge to splash around in the river and little padding pool in the playground. While shower/WC block was bright & airy, could have had a few more cleans. I’ve used worst facilities, but there was room for some improvement. It was at the end of the camping session so might not have had the staff? Nothing I had to complain about, but would have been an extra bonus in my view if floor was cleaned daily.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great base for fun filled family holiday in the new forest.

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 8
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 2
Amie F. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Loved the value for money that you get with this site as the pitch fee includes access to the holiday park. The kids loved it as lots of activities for them to do (although most activities were at an additional cost but this was justified in our minds by the fact we weren't spending out on accomodation). The outdoor swimming pool was also really lovely and this is included in the pitch fee. No campfires allowed however bbqs and gas stoves are so we managed to cook our meals on site every day. There's a shop on the holiday park open until 8 but its not cheap and does take as long to walk to it as you could probably drive to the local co-op. We did get some good deals on some reduced meat in there though one evening for our bbq. There was a large open field next to the site which was great for ball games. The site itself was nice and tidy. Showers and toilets were kept clean and nice hot, private showers. It's in a great location with loads of stunning walks nearby. Fordingbridge recreation ground is also a few minutes drive away which is amazing for kids and only cost the parking. Massive play area, outdoor paddling pool and a beautiful river to paddle in. The town itself was also very pretty and has a large co-op for all your essentials. It's also only 30 minutes from Bournemouth beach and lots more in the area which we didn't have the time to explore. 25 minutes from Paultons park.

Disliked: It would be nice if there were a few more showers and toilets as only 3 in the female block which caused a bit if a queue which isn't ideal when you're trying to get out for the day. The pitches are very close together but I think this is quite common on holiday parks like this. There's no playpark on site unless you go quite far into the holiday park around the lodges but it's a bit of a walk. It would be nice if there was one on the camping field. The indoor swimming pool was very grimey and in need of modernisation. The leisure centre changing rooms and showers were also in the same state. We stayed in the outdoor one as this one was much cleaner and well maintained. You have to book the swimming sessions in advance and these get booked up weeks before your stay. We did manage to go in last minute though a couple of times if others don't show for their session.

Recommend to friends Visit again

YOU ARE NOT IN SANDY BALLS! Avoid

Overall 2/10
Location 4
Value for money 2
Accommodation 2
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 4
Child friendliness 2
Cleanliness 2
Wifi 2
Hollie C. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: The arcade on site...WHEN you get there.

Disliked: This campsite is not ON Sandy Balls. If you are expecting to be on site with the amenities a short walk or safe bike ride away DO NOT book. It is down the main road. I have many happy memories of camping at Sandy Balls as a child and was really excited to take my own children many years later. I remembered my time cycling to the shop to get my Dad a newspaper. I was excited to see all the extra facilities since my time there. However we arrived to check in to be told to wait in the car as the campsite was overloaded and not ready for us. The first alarm bell was, 'there are cars holding up traffic on the road'. We were told to wait for 8 minutes which turned into 25. Eventually I went back inside to ask for an update and was then told we could go. So we had to turn around and go back on the main road for 500m and turn right. This was we found out our field to camp in. Not a good start. It was pretty full already. No pitches laid out, just rows of tents ahead of us. We then were told by the young man there to pitch up anywhere and let him know where. Our children like cricket so we thought lets go along the trees to the right opposite others and have a bit of space to play in front of us. My husband began to set our large 8 berth tent up whilst I took the kids back INTO Sandy Balls to check things out. So we hopped on the bike and cycled back along the main road. 45 minutes later I return to a tent that is up, well done hubby, and then the young man saying that where we were was not a pitch and we had to move. Sorry...you said pitch anywhere? Obviously we called management, another 30 minutes later for them to walk to us we complained about the lack of information about it being Sandy Balls. Explained the council stopped camping on site in 2018? Why was this not clear on the website? We managed to get £30 vouchers in compensation to use on site. Ironic. Anyway, we did move, tent back down etc. to another pitch and then went into site for some food. Well, where to start. The restaurant is done up wonderfully, but the chefs cannot keep up with the small and overpriced menu. Over £40 for a decent bottle of wine, £17 for a small and boring caesar salad & cold chips which we sent back and never got again. Then the kids meal deal was labelled wrong on ALL of the menus and was overcharged, yet that is my fault? (£10.45 for main, dessert & drink). Back along the main road to the tent which we then had to push the bikes with head torches as pitch black and dangerous. Then the campsite facilities, 2 portaloo blocks for what could be 300 people. 3 toilets & 3 showers in each. Safe to say there were queues. Luckily we made the most of it and once in our pitch we were happy and cycled a lot through the New Forest. BUT we did not have the experience we wanted. We wanted to use the amenities and have a nice chilled break. This was not it. Will not be returning and nostalgia of what was a lovely site has gone. If you want to escape to the New Forest into a field with no amenities, which this was, this is there are plenty more available to you within the New Forest.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Basic camp site with clean facilities. Holiday camp use on top

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 8
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: We chose to camp at Sandy Balls because of all the extra facilities we would be able to use on site. Swimming pool, arcades, kids clubs etc. Our younger ones loved the kids disco in the evenings and the campsite itself was perfect. Basic but had everything we needed. The price seemed a bargain, we paid £144 for a family of 5 for 4 nights.

Disliked: The only negatives were no hot water for washing up, although we filled our washing up bowl from the adjacent shower block. Also the walk from the campsite to swimming pool etc was about 10 mins away.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site, lots to do, clean and friendly staff.

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Helen B. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: This was our first time camping. The staff on site were very friendly and helpful, the site was clean and we saw cleaners in the shower block in the mornings. They had a freezer for ice packs we could use on site. We used the entertainment which the kids loved and we paid for a couple of activities alpaca walk was a winner for my children. We managed to do swimming top tip if you haven’t booked, turn up 10 mins after the hour if people haven’t shown up you can go swimming, we did this and got in straight away! The arcade was good fun too and the children enjoyed spending their pocket money here.

Disliked: Having to book for swimming and cost of activities on site are a little expensive. No wifi and bad phone signal (became a problem when I’d forgotten what time I’d booked an activity for and tried to look this up). The site shop was a little pricey but there are local shops close by which I will use next time.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice friendly campsite

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 6
Ruth E. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Clean toilets and showers Very respectful fellow campers - quiet by 10pm Level pitches Friendly staff

Disliked: No hot water for washing up

Recommend to friends Visit again

Right 3rd like writing this as my phone decided to keep getting…

Overall 8/10
Location 8
Value for money 8
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 2
Sophie W. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Right 3rd like writing this as my phone decided to keep getting me out..seems like it's trying to tell me not to write this! So... The camping : Everyone was respectful of noise level at night...except a car alarm went off in the middle of the night..can you believe :o ooopsie...sorry..not me my friend... That 100s of campers were not therr and it was a relatively small area...which is good for us unsocial people but just enough people for when we want to socialise...maybe... The activities... Imagine your young children doing the glitter globes and I say "look" and they double took the great big bear. "Wow that bear is so realistic " . Yes yes go get a photo! The entertainment .wow that pirate treasure...what a great game...one family won a chest and when it opened up ans they won "nothing" it was brilliant - bless... but it didn't end there..another family won a chest and they won a high 5 and the host goes "better than nothing" ha almost fell off my chair. The party bingo was fab. Love this idea...yes I do understand now why it is only 1 line then full house..Imagine playing bingo and your numbers don't come up.for a long time and then bam BINGO!!! Just want to say we loved the prizes wow !!!! My friend got up and danced and won a prize ! Was brilliant. The alpacas walk...wow what beautiful sights.. Imagine you're having this lovely walk " awww look at archie, what a good alpaca..he is described as laid back" he stops...he is not moving....you look at him and he is staring back at you chewing like " what you gonna do"..scary but survived wooo!!! Very good walk!! During the nerf sessions there was a game and the host was a target as well as he had to shoot the children...it was so funny.. the guy was so chilled about it the kids loved it... he got shot in the eye and that's why you wear the goggles! Damn I just remembered while writing this...I got to go up on the stage as I won the bingo...and cheered as I was so happy with those outstanding prizes...my hands up... I just remembered I was dancing so much...wondered if my sweat patches were seen! One of the children I came with had type 1 diabetes and he lost his bag and the site tried ringing and not only that he had money in there and it was not taken..everything was handed in - thank you if you're reading this. The soft play was nice touch as well as the wooden playground area...actually I followed the adventure playground sign and it led to the tiniest playground that was funny. Overall it was such a fun time for the kids with some great laughs from my friend and I too!

Disliked: Disliked is optional but not the liked...that's cool! Well..I dislike the wasps...but that can't be helped!! I disliked that the camping pitches I felt were quite close and crammed in the middle...would have been better to the sides...and have the space in the middle for the kids... Also do you know how exhausting it was going up and down and around judging people's tents because om a professional camper...haha jokes... I saw one young girl serving the shop and the cafe...would have been nice for more staff or hope she got paid a lot more ! She was like a yo yo ! Well done you! I disliked that the prizes in the 2p arcade machines suxked.BUT then I remembered it's aimed at kids not me...so the children enjoyed the arcade ha! The WiFi.. what WiFi? No one needs that when camping :D Overall my main dislike was I had to go home :(

Recommend to friends Visit again

We had a camping pitch on the further field and it was…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation No rating
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: We had a camping pitch on the further field and it was lovely. A nice quiet site with similar young families and small groups that were respectful. The showers were hot and clean and the washing up and bin facilities good. Surrounded by trees. The main facilities were within easy reach for a hot meal and well stocked deli. We were really pleased.

Recommend to friends Visit again


Features

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Hot tub Indoor swimming pool Kids' club Massages On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area Sauna TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Car parking by pitch/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Local produce Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Forest Gastronomic delight Luxury Peaceful Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby Shop nearby

Type

Large (51-200 pitches)

Accessibility

Disabled facilities

Nearby leisure

Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Mountain biking nearby Outdoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Surf school nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Sandy Balls Holiday Village

Godshill

Fordingbridge

Hampshire

England

SP6 2JZ

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

50.9296°N
-1.7609°W

Nearest transport

Coach
5.9 mi Meeting House Lane
8 mi Red Rover
8.1 mi Canada Corner
Rail
9.5 mi Dean Rail Station
9.9 mi Salisbury Rail Station
10.6 mi Ashurst New Forest Rail Station
Ferry
13.8 mi Christchurch Quay Ferry Landing
13.9 mi Tuckton Tea Gardens Ferry Landing
13.9 mi Wick Christchurch Ferry Landing
Airport
11 mi Bournemouth International Airport
17.6 mi Southampton Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

This is an excellently set site, within easy reach of forest wanders and activities, coast and beaches, family days out and heritage highlights. For families and other animals, it's 15 minutes' drive to the critters at the New Forest's Liberty’s Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre, and about 25 to the inhabitants, activities and tractor rides of Longdown Activity Farm at Ashurst. Marwell Zoo is 40 minutes to the east at Winchester. History is all around here too: within the forest at Beaulieu's National Motor Museum and at the 18th-century village of Buckler's Hard (40 minutes); at Henry 8's Hurst Castle (45 minutes) and at the many sights of Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard, 50 minutes away. To find out about New Forest pony rides, hikes and other foresty activity, drop into the New Forest Centre Museum, within 25 minutes' drive at Lyndhurst.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Christchurch Highcliffe Castle 13.5 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Highcliffe 13.6 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Christchurch Friar`S Cliff 13.7 mi Estuary N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Christchurch Avon Beach 13.9 mi Estuary N/A Excellent Excellent Good
Christchurch Bay 14.2 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Breamore House 3 mi

Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway 9 mi

Paultons Family Theme Park 9.3 mi

Salisbury Cathedral 9.5 mi

Wilton House 11.2 mi

National Trust

Mompesson House 9.6 mi

Mottisfont 12.3 mi

Little Clarendon 14.3 mi

Kingston Lacy 14.4 mi

Philipps House and Dinton Park 14.6 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Godshill - Pitts Wood Inclosure (New Forest) 1.3 mi

Godshill - Frankenbury - Castle Hill 1.3 mi

HALE PARK 2.7 mi

Linwood - New Forest 2.9 mi

BREAMORE 3.1 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in Hampshire?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Sandy Balls Holiday Village have a swimming pool? Yes View all features
  • Is Sandy Balls Holiday Village dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Sandy Balls Holiday Village? This is an excellently set site, within easy reach of forest wanders and activities, coast and beaches, family days out and heritage highlights. For families and other animals, it's 15 minutes' drive … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Sandy Balls Holiday Village?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  11 a.m. –  5 p.m.
    Depart by:  10 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Sandy Balls Holiday Village? From £38 (for 1 night, 6 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.