Sandyballs

[graysquirrel]

Hi there, we are off to Sandy Balls in the New Forest during the Easter holidays.
Would love some ideas of places to visit and days out nearish (but happy to travel) as the area is fairly unexplored by us as a family.
We've two girls an 8yr old and a 6 yr old who would be turning 7 while there. Ideally thinking of something seaside based, something a bit more activity based (really good parks as they love a bit of freedom and a climb), and somewhere special we could take the birthday girl for a treat day out and/or meal.
(We've done Paultons park before so don't fancy that)
I realise lots to do in sandyballs but as we're there a while want to explore.
Thanks!

Moors Valley Country Park is next to the new forest on the Dorset border - It's a forestry commission park full of great climbing frames.

we're going there next week!! moors is on out list, we've been before and it's.fantastic and cheap.

you could do Bournemouth or Isle of Wight if you don't mind the drive.

Furzey garden is a nice little place for coffee and a lovely garden to explore.

Wait, there's a real place called Sandyballs?

😄 ecuse

Mudeford for the beach, Christchurch for lunch

Glad you asked ecuse

Sandy Balls is fab! You will have a great time. Go out for a drive across the new Forrest to see the wild ponies.

Moors Valley is great. It's £10 to park but there's loads to do.

Longleat is about an hour away.

There's a massive crazy golf place on Castle Lane in Bournemouth which isn't far away from Sandy Balls. I haven't been but it's dinosaur themed and everyone I know who's been has liked it.

Oh I just dropped by to suggest talcum powder... as you were!

Crabbing at mudeford, take the foot ferry to hengistbury Head, explore the beach huts, then walk to the hikers cafe either over the head or on the noddy train route, then take the noddy train back.

Lymington charter market on Saturday followed by fish n chips from the high street to eat on the quay - walk down the cobbles & get fudge for dessert!

Drive to Brockenhurst, get lunch from the Bakehouse - delicious roll, cake & drink for about £3 then drive through the water splash turn right and park up on whitemoor to eat your lunch whilst watching the ponies. Carry on to Puttles Bridge for exploring the woods & stream, then on to Rhinefield arboretum for ice cream. Then carry on, cross the main road & up to the top where there’s a deer viewing point with guaranteed deer (and another ice cream!).

Birthday dinner perhaps at The Noisy Lobster after spending the day at the beach there - Avon beach.

Oh! Thought of one other activity you really have to do - adventure golf in Lymington. It even has a ferry that you pull across the river! It’s just brilliant (and better than any other we’ve tried).

This sounds fabulous!

Thanks all for replies. You'll be pleased to know my husband is unable to say where we're going without a snigger!
Lights, some wonderful ideas there, thanks for the detail. X

Highcliffe castle is about half an hour from Sandy Balls. We've not been into the house itself but they do an Easter egg hunt in the grounds and you can walk down from there onto the beach.

I'd second Moors Valley country park as well, they have a tree top trail (like Go Ape for younger children) for climbing, and playgrounds, railway, etc.

Ha! He’ll be delighted to know that the nearest pub is The Fighting Cocks in that case!!!

We stayed in a campsite in Cornwall and the field was named after the local beach. My husband took great delight in telling people he was going to spend 2 weeks sleeping on Boobies!!!!

Is this a joke?

I’d second going to the beach at mudeford - park at mudeford quay and get the ferry across to the spit. If it’s not really beach weather and you’re just looking for a dig and a paddle then go to Avon beach instead. Also highcliffe a little further along the coast. We like popping along to Southborne/Boscombe too. Bournemouth has the aquarium, and actually is just quite pleasant but parking is expensive. The fighting cocks (just next to sandy balls) used to be very good but I haven’t been in years. Salisbury is very nice for a mooch, the cathedral is worth a look

Ohyesiam - absolutely not. A family holiday place in the New Forest

www.awayresorts.co.uk/sandy-balls/

And the Fighting Cocks pub at Godshill

www.awayresorts.co.uk/sandy-balls/food-and-drink/eating-out/

No.
Sandy Balls is a lovely camping/caravan/lodge holiday site in Fordingbridge, New Forest.
It's been there...well, as long as. I can remember, in one form or another. DH went as a child, and I used to take my dc in the 80s.
There is a story to the name but I cannot recall.
We have this thread every year.

Wait, there's a real place called Sandyballs?

Yeah it's near Jacks Bush and Petersfinger

It was the original owners name.

I had many childhood holidays there in the 80's.

I'd recommend bike hire in Brockenhurst, Beaulieu And maybe Farmer Palmers in Poole but your dc might be a bit old for that.

I remember there being lots of activities on site and we had some holidays there where we didn't venture out much because we didn't need to.

I live near here [in Ferndown]. Sandy Balls is definitely a place! LOL

It was the original owners name

First name Sandy, second name Balls?

The new forest wildlife park is nice - used to be called otters and owls, which makes up most of the wildlife.

Obviously Sandy was named back in the day when people didn’t make the connection to testicles 😄 just like Mike Hunt’s parents probably didn’t think people would snigger at that (yes I know a Mike Hunt in real life). Friend has been to SB and said it was brill, have fun OP!