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Sandy Balls Holiday Village
Godshill
New Forest
Fordingbridge
Hampshire (Browse area)
SP6 2JZ
Tel: 01442 508850 or 01425 651200
Visit their website Check Digital TV coverage See Weather Forecast
   
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Pitches:
Open: 02/08/2026 to 31/08/2026
02/08/2027 to 31/08/2027
Rating: 
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 Tent Pitches |
 Caravan Pitches |
 Motorhome Pitches |
 Small Campervans |
 No Glamping Units |
 Holiday Homes for Hire |
 Holiday Homes for Sale |
 No Seasonal Pitches |
 No Electric Hookups |
 No Hardstandings |
 No Fully Serviced Pitches |
 Show Full Facilities |
| Who's it for |
 Families Welcome |
 Not Members Only |
 Rallies Welcome |
 Not Naturist Site |
 Dogs Welcome |
 No Dogs Allowed |
 Groups Welcome |
 Motorbikers Welcome |
| Facilities |
 Toilet Facilities |
 Hot Showers |
 Washing Up |
 Bathroom |
 Baby Changing Facilities |
 Laundry On Site |
 Drinking Water |
 Disabled Friendly |
 No Chemical Disposal |
 No Battery Charging |
 No Gas Exchange |
 No Recycling Facilities |
 No Kitchen Facilities |
 No Freezer / Fridge |
 No Motorhome Point |
 Wifi Access |
 Shop On Site |
 Bar On Site |
 Restaurant or Cafe or Takeaway On Site |
| Activities |
 Kids Playground |
 No TV Room |
 Games Room |
 Evening Entertainment |
 Fishing <10 miles |
 No Wild Swimming |
 Indoor Pool On Site |
 Outdoor Pool On Site |
 Horse Riding <1 mile |
 Cycle Hire On Site |
 Golf <5 miles |
 No Tennis |
 Beach <10 miles |
 Watersports <10 miles |
 No Boat Launch |
| Other Features |
 No Sea Views |
 Not Working Farm |
 No Campfires Allowed |
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 No Waterside Pitches |
 Public Transport <1 mile |
 No Dog Walk |
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Reviews:
198 in total, now showing 91 to 105
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| Date of Visit: August 2010 |
Unit: Touring Caravan |
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| Reviewer: Sharon + Phil |
11 reviews from this member |
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 We have just returned from Sandy Balls where we stayed over the Bank Holiday. We cannot fault the site or its facilities, but would warn others that the tv signal is non-existent and that was using their super-pitch with tv aerial, electric hook-up, own tap and waste water disposal point.
We are a couple of 'oldies' and usually use adult only sites, but we were meeting up with family who were using the 'ready-tents' and a static caravan. This site is not for those wanting a quiet time! The noise was extreme and they mix tents with caravans, never a good idea.
If you have a family and you want everything 'on tap', this is the place to go. Our daughter is there with our granddaughter and they are having the time of their life. The staff are extremely friendly (even the man that comes in to do checks in the ladies showers at 6.45am!).
Just one more thing, beware of the bikes! Even crawling through the camp roads as slowly as possible, bikes suddenly appear from nowhere in front of your car. A camp for young people with everything they need, but not unfortunately for us oldies. 
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| Date of Visit: August 2010 |
Unit: Campervan |
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| Reviewer: The Morans |
9 reviews from this member |
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We happened to be going to Sandy Balls after another campsite in Whitby let us down with our booking and I was very lucky to get a cancellation. I only booked on the Saturday and arrived at Sandy Balls the next day.
The welcome was lovely, we stopped at the welcome building and didn't even get out of the car- a member of staff checked us in and gave us our information pack. I had previously looked at Sandy Balls for holidays but discounted it as I felt it may be too big or commercial so we drove to our pitch with curiosity.
We were placed on Orchard which was a lovely area. The pitches weren't separated by hedges but had enough room. Yes it was gravel and grass, and you must pitch on the gravel. Luckily we had loads of rock pegs - these are a must. What we did notice a couple of days later when another family packed away was that they had some sort of green carpet under their tent - we then realised these were supplied by the campsite. It would have been useful to have been told this on the website or on arrival as just a groundsheet over the gravel can hurt your feet!
The campsite is beautiful, and although large doesn't feel so as the camping fields, lodges and caravans are spread over a wide area and there is an abundance of trees and plants. The forest is beautiful and we saw several deer on our many walks. The cycle centre provide a forest trail hunt for 50p and it is well worth this as it takes you to places on the site you may not have discovered on your own.
The toilet blocks were always clean and there are plenty of them. Showers and hairdryers are free.
Staff were very friendly throughout, and everyone seemed very happy in their jobs!
On site there is a cycle shop, gift shop, Woodside Inn, Pizza restaurant, Mini Supermarket, Pools and gym and a beauty salon. All are in beautiful wooden buildings around a piazza. There is also an outside small cinema screen which showed things like cbbc, cbeebies and cartoons during the day and every evening a film was put on.
The shop is very well stocked and yes is more expensive than Tescos but that's what you get for convenience! We tried the pizza restaurant and it was good - as we were eating lunch, a balloon modeller came around doing models for all the children. There are also many activities during the day for all ages, from archery to arts & crafts.
As the site was full, the pool operated a bands system. This meant queuing and hour before you wanted to swim to get bands and then come back an hour later. We found this system worked as it ensures everyone has a chance for a swim and the pool is never overcrowded. (The outside pool does not need bands but it is unheated and so v cold!)
You can hire bikes from the cyclery if you wish. There are often bands on at the Woodside Suite in the evening which we didn.T go to as we have a dog, but we heard very positive comments about the quality of the acts.
We have already booked again for next year and would highly recommend this beautiful campsite.
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| Date of Visit: August 2010 |
Unit: Touring Caravan |
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| Reviewer: KAT0504 |
6 reviews from this member |
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We've just returned from our 4th stay at Sandy Balls but felt this time our break was spoilt by the inconsideration of other campers who insisted on playing loud music and talking late into the night - one tent even felt it was acceptable to have a wood burning fire outside their tent and the smoke was everywhere! There didn't seem to be any wardens around monitoring late night noise.
We ate out twice while we were there once at the Pizza at the Piazza and once in the Woodside Inn - the staff in the Pizza restaurant were rude and seemed rushed off their feet even though the restaurant wasn't busy - also we didn't think the food was anything special, but the staff in the Woodside were really helpful and the food was much nicer.
The showers are free and there are free hair dryers but they have tacky little shower curtains which don't protect everything from getting wet.
The site shop is very well stocked but really pricey, but there's a co-op in Fordingbridge.
The swimming pool is free as are other things such as the quiz nights, nightly films in the piazza etc.
The weather was brilliant again and the area is stunning but I think the late night noise has put us off going back - at least for a while!
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| Date of Visit: July 2010 |
Unit: Tent |
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| Reviewer: Floatie |
14 reviews from this member |
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Have just returned from three nights at this site, had to go in a tent as our tow car broke down and was going to take a week to fix! so we couldn't take our caravan!
Were we so looking forward to staying at Sandy Balls we went and borrowed my father's car bought a tent and off we went.
What can I stay from the moment we arrived we were sold even thought I was sitting out by my tent and not in my caravan.
My son (7) has just said that the kids parks were awesome!
Facilities were excellent, enjoyed the swimming pool hired bikes had food from the take way, watched the entertainment all very good there was plenty of hot water for washing up, never had to queue for a shower.
Only negative point As we were in a tent we had no fridge and the weather was hot we had to rent ice packs at £1.50 per pack deposit and the 35p per pack for them to be frozen a little pricey I thought. A campers kitchen would have been nice. (microwave/freeze fridge)
We had a really nice time we have already reserved our pitch for next year.
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| Date of Visit: July 2010 |
Unit: Tent |
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| Reviewer: Cullbaggie |
5 reviews from this member |
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We have just returned from 5 nights here.Very nice laid out site and entertainment for children is good.Large play area with plenty of things to swing on/climb on. Toilet blocks are plenty for the site but poorly cleaned, they are only cleaned once a day and it shows! no loo brushes are left by bowls for moments when needed. So if loos have just been done its 24hours before they are cleaned again. When we reported toilet problems to staff, they did not seem that bothered either way. Swimming pool was busy, we struggled to get a swim - despite the site running a banding system, you were unable to book more than an hour in advance. Pool is too small for size of site.
On site restaurant/take away are very good and not as expensive as you would expect. On site booking for outside attractions is excellent and staff could not be more helpful in this facility. Shop is well stocked and prices are not bad for a convenience store.
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| Date of Visit: June 2010 |
Unit: Other |
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| Reviewer: Askie |
1 review from this member |
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We have just returned today from our first visit to Sandy Balls. We were meant to be going with a trailer tent but delays and problems resulted in this turning up the day before so wasn't going to become the site jester! We were desperate to go away so called Sandy Balls who offered us a good deal on one of the their Lodges. Although considerably more money we thought what the heck lets just go.
What a surprise. I have never stayed on one of these types of site before and I have to say the entire family enjoyed (although the other half just wants to go to Lodges in future!).
Excellent customer service from the staff, Lodge was impeccable, site clean, we checked out the camping facilities which were great. I even managed to watch the England - Algeria game on big screen without the kids annoying me, kids loved the pool and adventure playground.
Yes the shop was a bit pricey on some items, pub same as anywhere else but overall we thought it a great weekend break. Only complaint - we had to come home today!
We will definitely be booking another break later this year and just hope we receive the same fantastic experience.
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| Date of Visit: June 2010 |
Unit: Tent |
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| Reviewer: Grey Ghost |
5 reviews from this member |
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Worried about the price when we booked this site but the facilities make it worth while.
Great site the kids loved it pitches were hard standing and this did worry me as I was worried about the floor of the tent but I took a spare tarp and ran this under the main walking areas and the tent was fine.
The staff were great and helped with any questions.
The shops and all other facilities were brilliant. Swimming pool etiquette took some sorting out getting the coloured bands at the right time but we soon fell in to the regime.
We were with other friends and the children played in the park and cycled round the roads in a safe controlled are it was really relaxing.
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| Date of Visit: May 2010 |
Unit: Touring Caravan |
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| Reviewer: Loader22001 |
4 reviews from this member |
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This was the first of two visits this year, next is in August. We struggle to find anything bad to say about this site, weather except for one day was superb, would highly recommend a visit to Moors Valley park loads to do for the kids.
Site was as always spotless and facilities were even better than last year. I went for a run at six in the morning and the maintenance people were already busy around the site.
Children's entertainment was good and loads of stuff for my eight year old to do. All in all a very good week, and the kids are already asking when are we going back.
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| Date of Visit: April 2010 |
Unit: Tent |
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| Reviewer: OutdoorsyGirl |
3 reviews from this member |
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I've always shyed away from commercial campsites assuming that they may be a bit 'rowdy', so this was a whole new (and very positive) experience for us! The drive-through checking-in process was very efficient and first impressions were of a very CenterParcs type ambience so I breathed a sigh of relief.
Equipped with a map and directions (it's a big site) we went off to find our pitch. The pitches are spacious, bound by decent height hedges to protect privacy and all fully serviced. They are also on hard standing. Great if you're in a tourer, not so if you're in a tent.
I'd brought an extra groundsheet and rock pegs but putting the tent up was really really arduous, as I didn't have a husband in tow to hammer in the pegs! Usually I'd have it up and pegged down within 30 mins but it took me best part of 3 hours. I then realised that I was on the correct pitch number, in the wrong field and nearly cried! Luckily the site was not overly busy and I was able to stay put and we were much closer to facilities than we would have otherwise been. Being shown to our pitch would have been the obvious way of avoiding this problem though.
There was a small adventure playground opposite our pitch which kept my younger son entertained. The toilet / shower blocks and washing up facilities in our field were all spotless, well maintained and usually empty. Presumably because most other campers used their own facilities. The shower blocks were also lovely and warm, which was welcome as the nights were still very cold! There is a really decent shop on site, not too dear and with a mix of local produce plus essentials.
We used the pool every morning (ensured my two scummy boys actually made contact with water with some regularity!) and it was lovely. Its worth going ahead of your planned swim and collecting a wrist band as it does get quite busy.
There is also a jacuzzi and sauna available FOC to campers. Just ask the lifeguard and he'll switch the jacuzzi on for you, non-residents pay £1. There is a very full activity programme available for children. Much of the daytime stuff was craft-based so might appeal more to younger children or girls. However my boys tried out laser clay pigeon shooting and archery, which was chargeable but a nice treat.
There is also a cycle hire shop and a triathlon centre there, with an excellent supply of mapped routes for walkers, runner and cyclists. My eldest joined in with 'mud rats' a 2 hour guided mountain bike tour, which he loved. My only complaint would be that when we booked I was quoted one price for cycle hire and then eventually charged twice as much because he needed an adult-sized bike. If I'd known how much this would cost I probably wouldn't have booked but with an excited child raring to go what do you do?
The countryside around the campsite is networked with paths, meandering through woodland and interspersed with the odd pretty stream. Blissful!
The evening entertainment programme was typically a children's disco / magic show or similar from 6 to 7pm with a more adult or family focussed event at 8pm. My 7 year old enjoyed the discos and we all loved the quiz nights and race night. I'm proud to say that despite having only one adult on our team we managed a very respectable 2nd in the family quiz!
I'd definitely go back to Sandy Balls and am actually converted to this sort of holiday. The kids loved it and it was really nice to have something to do on site in the evening rather than being stuck in a cold tent with two arguing bored children!
Days out: hiking in the New Forest is a must. Spent 2 days on the beach at Bournemouth and a day in Poole.
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| Date of Visit: March 2010 |
Unit: Touring Caravan |
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| Reviewer: Mammall |
2 reviews from this member |
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Just returned from a wet weekend at Sandy Balls. What a lovely well maintained site. Although a very 'commercial' site as opposed to 'wild' camping which is our preference, it is very pretty and well run. It was raining all weekend so the indoor activities were a real plus.
The staff were very friendly and the town of Fordingbridge very sweet. We loved our time there.
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| Date of Visit: October 2009 |
Unit: Motorhome |
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| Reviewer: Cherok |
12 reviews from this member |
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We were very much looking forward to visiting this site as we had heard good things about it in the past.
Initial impressions were very good, with a speedy admission process on arrival via the drive-up office. We were warmly greeted by a young girl waiting to give us our admission pack and directions to our pitch.
We drove past the central Plaza where all the amenities are, such as pubs, shop, restaurant and leisure centre and found it to be quite like 'Center Parcs' which was very favourable.
Our pitch was located as far as you could be from the central Plaza, on Northfield. This was not a problem as we don't like being around the 'action' anyway. However, the toilet block for this area was very poor. I actually refused to use them and made use of the showers at the swimming pool. They resembled something we had experienced back in the Black Forest in Germany in the 80's which back then sadly needed an overhaul! They were all concrete and steel and just very unpleasant with worn bases on the floors of the showers and just a general lack of cleanliness really. The light flashed constantly in one of the showers for the 3 nights we were there and many of the small lights in the individual washing cubicles weren't working. I lost count of the number of times that I found toilet roll cardboard reels over the floor and strips of toilet paper (used) discarded on the floor.
The site itself is very pleasant and we very much enjoyed using the pool (although charging £1 to use the jacuzzi part was a bit of a rip off I feel!) Also, the lockers were in dire need of an over-haul. Many of them weren't working and by the time you realised, 10p was wasted because they keep the money once you put it in!
The pub was very busy but we used the take away which we felt was reasonably priced and quite good tasty food.
We booked a table for the Bistro and was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food.
It is possible to have 2 courses for 9.95 or 3 for 14.95 but we didn't much like the choices so we went for the main menu which was quite a bit pricier. However, we thoroughly enjoyed it and it was the highlight of our trip with excellent service from the waiter!
The cycle/walking path around the site was great and of course, there are plenty of walks and cycling opportunities around the countryside immediately outside the Park.
We walked into Fordingbridge which was a 40 minute trek but beware with younger children because the path along the road disappears for a little while here and there.
We would recommend a visit to The Fordingbridge Museum there which is set out over two floors and is jam packed with hitorical information and exhibits of Fordingbridge and the local area. It is now closed though for the winter I believe.
All in all we enjoyed the three nights there but we feel the site could really do with paying attention to it's toilet facilities!
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| Date of Visit: October 2009 |
Unit: Touring Caravan |
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| Reviewer: Mrs E |
44 reviews from this member |
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We've just returned from a 5 night stay and this was our 3rd visit. We were torn between Sandy Balls and Holmsley? as we bought a Forest Experience card a few months ago. We decided upon Sandy Balls due to the facilities and high standards.
Unfortunately, we were disappointed to find standards had slipped. Check in was prompt so no problems there but the drainage outlet for the waste water on our pitch was totally blocked with gravel. And when I say totally blocked I mean it was actually compacted! Hubby walked back to Guest Services and give them their due a maintenance guy came out straight away and cleared this for us.
The washblock in Orchard field is looking tired and tatty with paint flaking off the floor. Not nice when it sticks to your feet as hubby found out on the first night! The water from the shower also went cold on him a few times. I fortunately had a better experience although the paint was flaking off the floor and the washblock wasn't heated (as advertised).
On our first night we got food from the takeaway to save cooking. The food tasted like it had been cooked in old oil and despite hubby saying he DIDN'T want cheese with his burger he ended up with it! We decided to try the bistro on Tuesday afternoon hoping we could get a nice coffee and cake but this was shut and only appears to be open limited days and hours i.E. Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Ok, to be fair it was low season but we thought it may have opened for a few hours.
Fordingbridge itself is only a short drive and has a few shops including a Co-op and a Tesco. There are also several pubs including one by the riverside which we had a drink in one afternoon (can't recall the name).
Sandy Balls is a good site in a good location with very good facilities. We hope that if anyone from the site reads this that they'll update the washblocks as I note from other recent reviews that we're not the only ones to mention this.
Would we go back? Yes, although if standards did deteriorate we would unfortunately have to look for another site in the area.
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| Date of Visit: July 2009 |
Unit: Tent |
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| Nights stayed: 2 |
Travelling as: Family with older children |
| Reviewer: Thara9645 |
1 review from this member |
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I once camped here way back in the summer of 2009 as a thirteen year old. I loved it all. The campsite had a playground for little children as well. It was and still is utterly perfect for families with kids of all ages.
We also enjoyed using the nice on site pool in addition when we were there that year.
Great value for your hard earned money. I will return in the future one day hopefully. The range of facilities is enough for most British families. What an experience.
Tip, make sure that you bring a functional torch and a working pen for a bit of note making. I would also take a first aid box in case of emergency.
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| Date of Visit: September 2009 |
Unit: Motorhome |
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| Reviewer: Woodlander |
15 reviews from this member |
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Sandy Balls certainly has it well covered when it comes to a camping or caravanning holiday. There is a good retail area including a 'village store', cycle hire and gift shop. A bistro or take away serves those who don't feel like cooking. Plenty of room for children with a well thought out playground area and indoor and outdoor pools. We spent the whole time walking from the site as it is a good area for walking or even cycling. We have visited Sandy Balls quite a few times over the years and on arrival found a family on our alloted pitch well after departure time so had to wait before they packed up. We were then disappointed to find the showers blocks were a bit tired and in need of some TLC at the end of the season. Although water was hot and plentiful we thought the cubicles needed a good clean and not what we had come to expect from previous visits. It was lovely visiting in late September but I don't think I would enjoy it in high summer.
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| Date of Visit: August 2009 |
Unit: Motorhome |
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| Reviewer: Sssnake |
43 reviews from this member |
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Our third trip to this site in twelve months and loved it.Again. Also, the nearby village of Fordingbridge never fails to delight for fabulous service wherever you go and quite possibly the tamest, maddest ducks we've encountered anywhere.
We only stopped for one night en-route to Dorset coast because the current Mrs Sssnake wanted a warm shower and hairdryer but on departure I complained because our pitch had litter on it when we turned up and the showers in the male block I used, were unpleasantly cold.(Not so on our two previous visits).
The duty manager did not hesitate and gave us a credit note for a night's stay in the future. Excellent site and excellent service. Highly recommended, although not cheap. But quality does generally cost.
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Common Questions
Is Sandy Balls Holiday Village child friendly? YES, it accepts children & has a playground View all facilities
Does Sandy Balls Holiday Village have a swimming pool? YES, there is a pool on site View all facilities
Where is the nearest shop to Sandy Balls Holiday Village? There is a shop on site View all facilities
Is Sandy Balls Holiday Village dog friendly? YES View all facilities
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