Sandy Balls Away Resorts

[Pippy1820]

Hi,
We've booked to stay here for a week in March. We are coming from Ireland, first boat/driving holiday so trying to get as much information as possible.

Can any advise best place to do a food shop, are there take aways around and places to eat for family of 5 with 3 kids under 5!

Thanks:)

Hi op, we stayed here with some friends last year and our 4 year old DDs - lots to do for kids, fab play areas and walks onsite, plus soft play and a pool. I’d avoid the on-site restaurants as our experiences weren’t great, lots of of lovely pubs nearby.

We arranged a Tesco delivery to the lodge the day we arrived; not sure where the Tesco was but can’t imagine it was far away.

Beaulieu car museum is a fab day out, they have an incredible play are there that will keep the kids occupied for hours. Sandy Balls is right on the Forest so lots of places to see ponies right outside the gate. There’s also Paulton’s (peppa world) nearby which is a fab day out, if a bit pricey.

Enjoy!

The closest large supermarkets are in Ringwood (Waitrose & Sainsburys) or Salisbury (Tesco and Waitrose). Fordingbridge is a couple of miles away, but that only has teeny weeny shops.

Moors Valley is a lovely day out in a forest, if the weather is dry. Furzey Gardens at Minstead are sweet for looking for fairy doors. Exebury is close to Beaulieu, again more spring walks.

You are near Fordingbridge where there is a Co-op and small Tesco. The resort itself has a food shop too.

There are also takeaways in Fordingbridge.

Additionally there are plenty of places to eat. There is loads to do there and nearby. From axe throwing, e biking, horse riding to Go Ape at Moors Valley.

Go to Mudeford while you are over.

We were there 18 months ago and Fordingbridge had a decent sized co op which sorted us for the week.
theres also a shop on site for bits and a couple of pub type restaurants on site.
Lovely pub with play area about a mile up the road called the Fighting Cocks too😀

Forgot the Co-op. Paultons is only open Fri - Mon throughout March until the last week when the proper season starts.

Further afield is Marwell Zoo near Winchester with very cute red pandas. I would suggest going across to the IoW from Lymington for a day, but you've already had the novelty of a ferry ride.

The Waitrose is good and you can do a Click and Collect. We found the son-site hop quite badly stocked and overpriced.
The on-site restaurant was a nightmare, we couldn't even get a coffee to take-away.

The Fighting Cock pub is great but do make a reservation.

We loved the Marwell Zoo.

Thank you so much everyone! I should've said we are actually coming mostly for Peppa Pig World (will do 2 days) but I have family in Poole so we will meet up with them aswell. On the way home we are stopping off and doing the zoo in Drayton Manor as its just too much travelling (over 5.5 hrs 😭)

Great tips for doing click and collect, I never thought of ordering a shop before we go. My daughter is mad to ride a horse so will look into Moors Valley for that. Fighting Cocks is also noted!

Really appreciate the advice!