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I felt compelled to comment on this park as I read a lot of undeserving (in my opinion) negative feedback on Sandford Holiday Park before visiting it this June, so much so that I nearly decided not to go. Myself, my partner and my two sons aged eight and nine stayed there for five days and enjoyed ourselves so much we enquired on extending our break for another two nights, which luckily we were able to do as they had the availability. The park was spotlessly clean despite reviews I had read to the contrary and extremely well managed. Every member of staff was courteous, efficient and very pleasant and helpful. The caravan was beautiful, clean and in better condition than others I have stayed in at other parks. Incl Haven and British Holidays and that was without paying a supplement to upgrade to a superior quality home. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the children's entertainment/fun and games that was organised for them every morning, more so than at other parks we have stayed at. They also found crazy caves great fun too. They played crazy golf and went go-carting. The swimming pool was a pleasure to swim in as the water was heated to a decent temperature (in both the indoor and outdoor pools) The adult evening entertainment was also very enjoyable, although I must admit I did not get to see all of it as we were out in the evenings enjoying the events held down on Poole Quay but what i saw was enjoyed by all present.The Thursday family entertainment evening held on the quay was absolutely brilliant and was thoroughly enjoyed by both adults and children alike, as were the motorbikes and hotrod/customised car events also held there on the Tuesday and Friday) The site itself was big enough to hold all the things that one expects from a caravan park in this day and age without being so large that you can't find your caravan at the end of the night. Overall we had a wonderful time and like I said before thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. So much so I have booked another break there for later this year. And to think I nearly never went due to the bad reviews I read about the park. The main off putting factor that I read was the apparent trouble and noise of drunken local youths on the site. I heard or saw none of this whatsoever. This park scores highly from me and the kids and is a credit to Westar Holidays. Thanks for taking the time to read my opinion.
Pleasantly surprised by this site, it is an all singing all dancing complex, and caters for all ages.
Great facilities, shower blocks and toilets were spotless, pitches nicely sized. There is also a well stocked and unusually acceptably priced on-site supermarket.
Be warned the family sized cycles are a great idea for going down to the front complex, but your calves will know about it when you have to return back !
We have stayed in static and touring caravans for quite a few times in the past 10 years. The facilities are rapidly improving, washrooms are constantly cleaned and heated 24/7. The relaxed atmosphere compared with some sites of equal size, added to the many local attractions makes the site an ideal base.
Check-in was hopeless and even the girl checking-in agreed we were left queueing in the car for well over an hour with site workers directing traffic all over the site, therefore the people who were doing the checking in had no idea who to deal with first! Pitch, although level was very sandy and not good when it becomes wet. unisex toilet was ok and worked well for us as a family, old block was not so good ok for a quick pee but very dirty for a shower. Indoor pool was freezing and we tried to avoid it as much as we could, outdoor pool was heated and got very crowded, wouldn't trust the lifeguard's to be aware of what was going on, (either flirting, or ducking off for a few minutes at a time!) Children's pool was foul, full of sand and cold. entertainment was ok we used the 'sports bar' quite a bit and staff was pleasant.
We found that the site was placed well for the area, not to far from Swanage, poole and wareham.
But we will not be going back again. We expected a lot more for what we paid. We went on 2 separate weeks in Aug. 2 different pitches, and that's the last they'll see of us!
June 2004 Went twice in the month, first time we had a corner plot near to some bushes that people had used as a toilet. As it was quite warm you can imagine the smell, we complained and were moved as it wasn't packed. Second time was much better, larger pitch secluded by hedges. So I would say its hit or miss where your pitched. The toilets aint the best nor the showers, and it was quite noisy all round from what I could tell. If you turn up on the day I would have a look first for a decent pitch before paying. But there is plenty to do on site so its not all negative.
This was our first visit to Sandford. The camp site was great, and we were pleased with our tent pitch. All pitches are allocated a number, and all flat and kept clean and tidy. The showers were great and plenty of them! Quite a few of the toilets had broken locks, but they were clean with toilet roll. The club house was great and there is plenty to do. You hear alot of noise late at night from individuals who are walking back to their tents from the club house. This was especially bad on the Saturday evening. The washing-up rooms were great, although the water was not always piping hot. We thought the evening entertainment in the club was a little dated (80's). We would return!
Site ok but had to que for a hour to get to our pitch on first day! Old toilet/shower block was minging, but new one exelent. Indoor pool very cold, and closed for part of visit, laundrette to small for size of site, always busy. However outdoor pool was very warm even on a cold day, entertainment was very good, kids loved the kids clubs. Costcutter shop on site very well stocked, good position for visiting that part of dorset, tesco only about 10 minutes on edge of poole, our pitch was in a terrace of pitiches with hedges between, electric hook ups only 10 amp, but overall a reasonable site for the money
Just spent a week at Sandford and considering the price of just over £250, I was pretty disappointed.
Firstly after a 7 and a half hour drive down, we then had to queue for another 2 and a half hours from the entrance gates to get in! Three women on a market stall were frantically looking through reams of paper and booking people in, only to find that the allocated pitch had already been used. After going down a queue of 85 cars, it was finally our turn, we were allocated a pitch that was too small to accommodate our trailer tent and the two cars (one of which cost another £35 to park for the week), and was told to then find our own pitch, which we did. Apparently, their computer was down with no contingency plans, which I find amazing for such a large complex. Fights were occurring on the streets and the police were watching the miles of stationary traffic on the public roads. Not great.
Unisex toilet and shower block, which was weird to start with but became quite acceptable, was cleaned regularly and had plenty of hot water. I just wish that men would close the toilet door when nipping in for a wee. There was also a single sex toilet and shower block which in my opinion was not as nice as the unisex block.
Only 4 sinks for washing up, so queues every morning, dinner and evening to wash pots. Not as many fresh water taps as needed for amount of tents, quite a walk to fill up water container.
Indoor pool was great, my son loved it. Outdoor pool was heated and o.k, children's outdoor pool had more sand in it from the sand pit and the sand pit had more water in it than the pool.
Evening entertainment room was always crowded, beer overpriced and entertainment was medioca. Hoards of unsupervised teenagers hanging round everywhere, with most of the girls on heat, made walking round in the evening uncomfortable and nervy with a five year old child, although nothing un towards ever happened.
Night time security number was given in your welcome pack which I thought was a great idea until. The first night proved why a number would be needed.
The surrounding area was lovely with some great days out at the tank museum, air museum, farmer Palmer's and sandbanks beach.
All in all, the site was not as good as advertised or priced, but the area is lovely.
The shower blocks were filthy even the new block which looks nice was terrible I went to have my shower at 7.30am and they had not been cleaned I could not shower my 4yr old despite the fact she had shoes on that could get wet. I went back the next morning a bit later and they were even worse. No toilet paper in most toilets, most of the soap dispensers had run out. We complained about the noise at 2.00am, to be told the campsite allows until 2.00am for people to settle down. We have no objection to people sitting outside chatting thats what you do but this was loud music and shouting.
Visited on a cheap, off season 'Sun' holiday. The site and buildings were generally clean and well looked after. There's a lot of building work going on at the entrance but this didn't affect us. The 2 b/r standard caravan we had was clean enough but COLD (it was Feb!) but the kids' 2 bed room had no heating and 2 open floor vents so they had the double room with the panel radiator and we had the sofas in the living area which were fine! Keeping the gas heater going all the time (low when absent) made the caravan comfortable enough.
The entertainment was fine, esp given the low usage and time of year, and the needs of our 4 and 6 year old. The food in the restaurant was also OK and pub priced. The supermarket on site was well enough stocked but expensive.
The 'soft playland' area was small and not well maintained (grot down amongst the balls in the 'pit', no padded floor to the pit). The big problem was the so-called heated indoor pool- it may have been heated but only a degree or 2! We could tolerate about 5 minutes. The showers were at best tepid and completely open to the pool area. The building was clean enough but very warm and chlorine-y and the pool staff were bored and uninterested unlike most of the other staff who were cheery and helpful. If I were an owner at the site I'd probably be uhappy with the cold pool but for what we paid, we couldn't complain! As for the rest of the site, each caravan pitch had its own hedged off enclosure and looked OK. We didn't look in the amenity blocks. I suspect this is a site generally being given a bit of a facelift- I hope they heat that pool!
We are just back from a wet and windy half term and I am not blaming Sandford for the weather when I say we will not be rushing back. It was good in parts but overall disappointing considering the price - £175 for a week including £35 for taking our miniature poodle! Good indoor swimming pool for kids, not stupidly shallow or dangerously deep at either end and the entertainment we saw was better than on many sites. Kids (11, 8 and 6) also liked the hire pedal buggies and four-seater four-wheelers.
Decent site shop and reasonable dog exercise field, although loft water tank abandoned in it and filling up with rain, litter and poo bags took the edge off.
We had paid extra for a superservice pitch but because the main toilet block was closed (late season or overdue refurb?) we had further than anyone else to walk for loos, showers and washing up. Loos were frequently out of paper and the showers in the older single-sex blocks were pretty weak. We were going to buy a length of co-ax to plug into the TV point but were advised against doing so by a neighbour who reported poor reception and non-existent Sky.
Pony trekking on site was a factor in our decision but be warned, it is just that - ON SITE, more like an extended seaside donkey ride looking at mobile homes, tents and tourers with the odd boat thrown in than a proper ride. Rempstone Stables run the things and their helpful lady at Sandford Park referred us to their base near Corfe Castle which offers much better riding. The kids went there twice and we will be back there, nuff said.
Our neighbours on one side said they wouldn't use Sandford again and criticised a lack of investment over recent years. The neighbours on the other side had been coming for years and were all set to book up for next year. It's always a matter of opinion but, despite the new unisex shower and toilet block, we found too many aspects looking run down for our liking.
Manoeuvring on and especially off the superservice pitches can be made very difficult by the narrow dead-end approach road and the overlong hedges that divide some pitches.
A great area with shopping in Dorchester, Southampton and Poole easily accessible and the New Forest close by. Fossil hunting on the Jurassic Coast and more attractions than you could shake a stick at - beaches, watersports, Tower Park leisure complex, Corfe Castle, Farmer Palmer's, Tank Museum, Monkey World, Paulton's to name a few - are all within an easy drive.
And just down the road, the walled Saxon market town of Wareham seems worth more time than we spent there picking up excellent fish and chips from the chippie on South Street. Thanks to Peter Nemitz from the stables for recommending it.
Sandford is a pleasantly-wooded site, convenient for many attractions and easy to find, but I would have to satisfy myself that it had been restored to its former glory before returning.
Just returned from a 2 week stay and were pleasantly impressed with the site. Having seen some negative feedback we weren't too sure but thought we'd give it a go... We had 3 teenagers with us 18 and 2 x 16 year olds and we didn't see them except for meals. Either at the pool or in the club houses for the duration.
Toilet facilities were good and (new to us) were comunal toilets / showers. great idea for parents wishing to shower a small tribe at the same time. The cubicles were either conventional single units or larger for the others. We never had a cold shower whatever time we went. These times ranged from 07:00 to 22:30. Even when we had to wait 5 minutes because all 30 or so showers were in use we still had hot water.
Well laid out and thought has been given to the facilities. Overall, if you want to have everything all at the same site, this would fit most requirements... The only down side for us after having spent the last 2 years on sites with adjacent beaches was the trek to the beaches. Sandbanks was our prefered beach but that is a good 7 miles away.
In our opinion the camping facilities are poor considering the high price; poor quality / not enough showers ; not enough water points and waste points. Very noisy at night especially around the toilet blocks so camp well away from them if you go!! our pitch was also small although some are larger.
Only one outdoor kids playground which is not good for young children (2-7) when you get teenagers running/jumping around. Really the site should have one outdoor play area for under 10's and one for over 10's. Restaurant is very expensive. The site was very clean and the entertainment / bars / indoor soft play area were very good but overall if you don't use the evening entertainment then the camping area is poor value for money.
This was our first time camping as a family and I think for our first site we chose well. We had pitch 3 (fully serviced). We have a 1 year old baby and my wife is a full time wheel chair user.
The facilities provided where first class and fully accessible. The evening entertainment was superb with children’s entertainers followed by comedian for the grown ups and then a disco which we did not stay for as baby’s bed time.
Restaurant was small but catered well for such a big site with no waiting at early sitting. (Book table if you eat later). The intertainment and games arcade, both bars,indoor pool, laundry,shop etc where a few mins walk from the camping area so less mobile might want to drive round as parking is provided. The new shower block was spotless and easily catered for our needs with disabled shower cubicles provided close to the camping areas.
We have a large twelve man tent ant it just fitted into the pitch (phew) the toilets at the old block could do with some modernisation and I found a cockroach as big as a dog one night in the loo. Apparently they have had the exterminators in so should no longer be a problem.
The shop was totally adequate with all we needed including camping supplies and gas bottles, bacon and eggs.
Over all I give the site 8/10 and unfortunately they are booked full for our trip next week so we are going elsewhere. Enjoy we did
September 2004 I visited for 3 days with 2 children 3 and 7 yrs old.
Children's entertainment kept them enthralled. The Arcade also fascinated them and did not cost a lot of money, I rationed the number of games they could play and they were quite happy soaking in the atmosphere and watching others.
Had pitch 425, below the old toilet block. Only problem was that this was under trees and very dusty, which stuck to the flysheet when setting up.
Facilities worked well, Going back this year for 2 weeks with 3 kids and wife and therefore with a much bigger tent.
Fingers crossed pitch will cope.
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Common Questions
Is Sandford Holiday Park - Parkdean Resorts child friendly? YES, it accepts children & has a playground View all facilities
Does Sandford Holiday Park - Parkdean Resorts have a swimming pool? YES, there is a pool on site View all facilities
Where is the nearest shop to Sandford Holiday Park - Parkdean Resorts? There is a shop on site View all facilities
Is Sandford Holiday Park - Parkdean Resorts dog friendly? YES View all facilities
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
All reviews and comments are the personal opinion of the review author only , and as such do not represent the view of the UK Camp Site.co.uk.
The facilities shown on this website are a guide only, and you should check with the campsite direct before making any booking. The UKCampsite.co.uk will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions
Tent Pitches 
Caravan Pitches 
Motorhome Pitches 
Small Campervans 
Glamping Units 
Holiday Homes for Hire 
Holiday Homes for Sale 
Seasonal Pitches 
Electric Hookups 
Hardstanding Pitches 
Fully Serviced Pitches 
Families Welcome 
Not Members Only 
No Rallies 
Not Naturist Site 
Dogs Welcome 
No Dogs Allowed 
Groups Welcome 
Toilet Facilities 
Hot Showers 
Washing Up 
No Bathroom 
Baby Changing Facilities 
Laundry On Site 
Drinking Water 
Disabled Friendly 
Chemical Disposal 
No Battery Charging 
Gas Exchange 
Recycling Facilities 
Kitchen Facilities 
Freezer / Fridge 
No Motorhome Point 
Wifi Access 
Shop On Site 
Bar On Site 
Restaurant or Cafe or Takeaway On Site 
Kids Playground 
TV Room 
Games Room 
Evening Entertainment 
No Fishing 
No Wild Swimming 
Indoor Pool On Site 
Outdoor Pool On Site 
No Horse Riding 
Cycle Hire On Site 
Golf On Site 
No Tennis 
Beach <1 mile 
Watersports <1 mile 
No Boat Launch 
No Sea Views 
Not Working Farm 
No Campfires Allowed 
No Waterside Pitches 
Public Transport 
Offroad Dog Walk On Site or Direct Access 
I felt compelled to comment on this park as I read a lot of undeserving (in my opinion) negative feedback on Sandford Holiday Park before visiting it this June, so much so that I nearly decided not to go. 
