Sandy Balls advice please

[LIZS]

Looking at this as a possibility for a sc lodge holiday in summer. Can anyone tell me what activities are on site and what is free. How closely packed is the accommodation, is there space directly outside to play, sit and have a bbq with nay privacy ? Basic cost is not cheap come July so want to assess value for money. tia

Lovelyplace, just had new pool built I think DP went last year, right in the forest lovely place to take the kids and bikes, fishing etc all on site. Forest and sea side not far away. Worth the money so he says. i wasn't invited it was a lads thing...

thank you . Is it chaos in summer ?

We stayed here recently and were disappointed. The pool is ok, but it was busy even in the off season.
From what we saw most of the other activites you have to pay for - eg. craft stuff for the kids etc.

All the lodges are quite close together - we found ourselves having to keep curtains closed etc to ensure privacy inside. They all have a veranda type thing running around the edge of the lodge, but the bbqs and tables themselves are down inbetween the lodges and there is no privacy there from the people next door.

For the prices in the summer I wouldn't go there - I saw £1000+ for a week of just the accomodation. There is a pub and restaurant onsite but they are not very large and you can't book tables in the pub so it's just pot luck if you get a table. The restaurant is quite pricey so you wouldn't want to eat there all the time. The cooking facilities in the lodges were ok but our oven door didn't shut properly and the utensils/pans etc provided were a bit hit and miss.

Sorry to seem moany, but we paid a VERY low price for a weekend in December and still felt that a cheap B&B would have been better value than what we got considering that you have to pay for everything once you're onsite.

that's a shame , have only heard lots of positive noises until now.

We went 3 years ago, no pool then. It is in a lovely setting, wood walks etc. We stayed in, what was then, a brand new wood lodge. Small but really comfortable leather sofas and very clean. We ate at the restaurant and pub, ok but nothing special. The cooking facilities in the lodge were good though.

The lodges are close together compared to centreparcs. There is not a feeling of privacy.

We had a good time, but have not felt an urge to return.

hmm , a bit mixed then. Don't really want to be on top of each other. Any other suggestions for smaller complexes - ie not like Centerparcs, more like Bosinver farm - with activities (such as Go Ape type climbing, pool, walks,beaches) close by and suitable for under 11's. Maybe Dorset or Wales ?

I was going to suggest you wash them in warm water and then put some moisturiser on but I realise now that I'm thinking of the wrong sandy balls.

bumped ..looking for same sort of thing for half term

Anyone tried Bluestones in Wales?