Sandy Balls Pitch location

MichaelT
MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
1000 Comments
edited September 2016 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

We are thinking of booking SB for a few days in the first 2 weeks of October.  On the booking page it seems to ask you what pitch/area you want.  Having never been before was just wondering if anyone has any ideas where is the best part of the site to book
or indeed avoid.   We dont want to be next to the facilities or swimming pool etc. and would like to use the Satellite TV so an open aspect for that.

Comments

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited September 2016 #2

    We went in The Orchards area at SB in May. It seemed fine, apart from when a pair of noisy families arrived, but that could happen anywhere.

    Most of the pitches are grouped in seperate fields / pitching areas and seem to be much of a muchness, really.

    Although it's called the Orchards, there weren't many trees, apart from the large hedges separating the pitching areas. 

    We had hedges separating the individual pitches, which I like, but not all areas have that.

    We had a fully serviced pitch. They have something called a 'super pitch' or similar in the area next to ours, but to be honest, we couldn't see what was different about them. That area seemed to be quieter (less families) at the time that we were there.

    We felt that the site was quite handy for some places we wanted to visit, but felt a bit less central to the New Forest than, for example the CC Centenary site. But it was a lot cheaper (obviously!). Having said that, turn left out of the site and you are onto the moors and the ponies.

    The toilet facilities were good and were regularly inspected / cleaned.

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited September 2016 #3

    Thank you Ian

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited September 2016 #4

    There are some bigger trees shading some pitches on North Field. For a clearer view of the southern sky, The Orchard should suit and is a reasonable distance from the razzmatazz.

  • curly 1971
    curly 1971 Forum Participant Posts: 20
    edited September 2016 #5

    Heres a little tip that I wished I had known prior.

    Make sure you ask for a hard standing pitch that is hard standing all teh way to the road.  We were unlucky at the start of the year by way of booking a hard standing fully serviced pitch which had a grass patch between the road and the pitch itself.  It
    rained, and the pitch became a bog, and we struggled wtih Mud everywhere.  Something a little bit of hard core could have fixed and some of the pitches yuo could see had been recently updated.

    Great site though, and the facilities are brilliant.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited September 2016 #6

    Our pitch was a hardstanding set back from the road.

    They were installing some longer hardstandings in the field next to us (opposite side from the super-pitches field) while we were there.

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Club Member Posts: 535 ✭✭✭
    edited September 2016 #7

    Michael

    Four Acres (FA code). Fa52 imho best pitch on the site, with v large hedged corner area, and open south for satelite. Avoid at all cost FA50 to 47. Lousy pitches completely under trees. Also avoid the small cul de sac in fA. Covered by trees. Never been
    on Orchard so can't comment on those pitches.

  • anothersunrise
    anothersunrise Forum Participant Posts: 264
    edited September 2016 #8

    Ask if there is a rally booked. Then make your mind up.  We were there in March and it was lovely, then a few days later  a large rally arrived, and we were in the middle of them.    

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #9

    Thanks all, booked a couple of days in Orchard, pitch allocation on arrival but it saves a fiver and until I'm there is won't be able to see what pitch suits anyway.

  • Unknown
    edited September 2016 #10
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  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #11

    Thanks all, booked a couple of days in Orchard, pitch allocation on arrival but it saves a fiver and until I'm there is won't be able to see what pitch suits anyway.

    I think that's the best way to do it. Should be a reasonably choice if you avoid school holidays.