Review: Sandy Balls in the New Forest - not just a funny name!

There seems to be a million and one things to remember. A thousand places to be - and most of the time, everyone is in different places. 

Whether it's work parties, preparation for the big day itself, or just the frantic rush to get everything finished so you can knock off for a few days over Christmas - there's not much time for any relaxation. 

READ MORE: The decades-old Sandy Balls tradition which still takes place to this day

That's why we carved out a weekend at Sandy Balls as a family in December. We put down all our chores, shut our laptops, and put away our phones and prioritised our closest family. 

Despite the weather doing its best to rain on our parade, with a full-on gale blowing, we checked in to the New Forest holiday park for a spot of quality fun. 

As a family of four, we stayed in one of the newer units at the site, called The Esme. 

Eddie and Rosanna in The Esme (Image: Kimberley Barber) It's described as being the 'epitome of exclusive accommodation' and comes equipped with scandi-inspired furniture, two bedrooms and an ensuite. Its decor is bright and visually stunning; think Neon lights, floral walls, velvet sofas and giant flamingoes. 

It's been designed within an inch of its life, every nook and cranny has been utilised, and it makes for a great and fun base for a short family trip. 

There was a good-sized bedroom for the adults and a twin room for the kids, plus a central living space with a kitchenette. It had its own wi-fi and TVs in the living room and bedrooms, plus the big TV in the living room was connected to the internet. Anyone with children who have been brought up in the world of streaming will know that living without such a first-world luxury is almost enough to ruin any family getaway. 

The static home also comes with a small terrace, not that we would get much chance due to the season, its own parking space and a space to store bits of kit, which was handy for my daughter's bike. She's five and has just learnt to ride it, and despite it being stormy and December, she was determined to ride around the holiday park's quiet roads. 

Perfect place to ride a bike (Image: Kimberley Barber) The Esme is also conveniently positioned near the main 'village' - a central collection of community buildings that include a really good shop complete with a coffee shop and bakery, an arcade, a soft play area, a pub and a restaurant. 

There was also the activity room where we were taught to make slime by a cheery elf. An excellent activity to do when not at home! There was no worry about ruining any carpet or knocking anything over. 

Slime workshop (Image: Kimberley Barber) There is also a great indoor pool. It's more of a practical pool than a fun pool, but it's big, so the kids had a whale of time splashing about. Bring your own pool toys for added fun. 

Not only that, there are alpacas which are brought out to the village centre every day, and you can book to walk them or feed them - a nice quirky touch. 

Our favourite part of any holiday park is the show bar - which is behind the pub at Sandy Balls. The entertainment staff here really are stars - they held fun shows each night and made everyone feel welcome. Whether it was boogie bingo or the kid's disco, they shone through - stars in the making! 

The showbar entertainment (Image: Kimberley Barber) Sadly, the planned outdoor great Christmas show had to be moved inside at the last minute due to the storm, but they still put on a great show - and the village had been decorated with millions of fairy lights, which made for an impressive display despite the rain.

Of course, the best bit about Sandy Balls - apart from the entertainment team - is being in the New Forest itself. We managed to get out for a walk and admire the views from the balls themselves. 

Winter wonderland (Image: Kimberley Barber)It's not just a funny name for a holiday park; it actually relates to a range of dome-shaped sand and gravel outcrops found near the centre's western boundaries.

The area is beautiful and makes for a great spot to explore the Forest or for nice country walks. 

It's been a popular attraction for more than 100 years, and with Sandy Ball's owner Away Resorts, putting on such an excellent show, it's an excellent spot for a family break. 

Fact file 

A weekend break at Sandy Balls starts at £624 for three nights. 

A two-night weekend stay in the four-berth Esme cost £628. 

The Forest of Light runs until January 2. For more go to awayresorts.co.uk/parks/hampshire/sandy-balls/