From Happy Families to Happy Campers
If the hustle and bustle of life is grinding you down, the perfect antidote is closer than you think - throw off the mantle of modern living and immerse yourself in nature with a holiday under canvas. Whether you are looking for a beach holiday, a walking weekend, or a whistle-stop tour of historic sights, a camping holiday is ideal for the whole family to enjoy together. There are hundreds of quality campsites all across the South East of England - explore the endless possibilities at www.visitsoutheastengland.com/familyfun.
For seasoned campers, our beautiful countryside offers a huge range of options; from tiny rural farms to large holiday parks with facilities and activities on tap. But if the thought of cold showers and sleeping on the ground make you recoil in horror, think again - there is an entirely new camping experience guaranteed to convert even the most adamant tent-dodger into a happy camper. Set on the edge of the beautiful New Forest, the award-winning Sandy Balls Estate invites visitors to stay in one of their exclusive new ReadyTents and experience the exhilaration of being close to nature, without the discomfort often associated with a night under canvas.
Each spacious ReadyTent comprises three separate bedrooms; one containing a double and two containing twin beds to sleep a total of six guests. The adjacent lounge area contains a dining table and chairs plus a fully-equipped kitchen - definitely no crouching around a tiny primus stove! Each kitchen contains a hob and grill, a fridge with an ice compartment, storage space for groceries, plus all the cutlery, crockery and cooking utensils you will need during your holiday. In fact, all you need to remember is your sleeping bag!
But it doesn't stop there, stepping outside of your ReadyTent does not mean stepping outside the comfort zone. From unlimited hot water and under-floor heating in each of its meticulously clean shower blocks, to the excellent leisure centre and brand new beauty spa - Sandy Balls has thought of everything! As holders of the English Tourism Council's highest accolade - 5-star status - Sandy Balls pride themselves on providing an unforgettable holiday for all the family.
Camping and caravanning have always been quintessentially British pastimes and recent reports from the Camping and Caravaning Club suggest that holidays of this nature are currently the most popular taken by UK holidaymakers. It is not hard to see why, when there are so many different things to see and do in any season of the year.
The Sandy Balls Estate comprises 120 acres of beautiful woods and parklands to explore - hire a bike at the Sandy Balls Cycle Centre, organise an afternoon's horse riding from the Estate's own stables, or simply see where a stroll takes you. Alternatively, join in one of the huge range of activities on offer at the Family Fun Centre, catering for all different ages - painting, drawing, pottery, T-shirt painting, drama workshops, nature trails, conservation walks and talks, archery, laser clay shooting and rounders. And if all this seems on the lively side, why not indulge in something a little more tranquil? Perhaps a spot of lake or river fishing, a round of pool or simply visit the health spa for a luxurious and relaxing facial or massage.
So whether you are looking for a weekend, a week, or a mid-week camping break, the South East of England has something for everyone. Enjoy the freedom of camping and explore this beautiful area of the country at your leisure. Head for the hills, or if you covet your creature comforts but crave a connection with nature, a ReadyTent holiday at Sandy Balls could be the perfect solution.
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For further information or images please contact Ruth Harman at Isis PR on 01844 212005
Notes to Editors:
- www.visitsoutheastengland.com is the consumer website for Tourism South East (TSE).
- TSE is the new regional Tourist Board responsible for tourism in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex.
- TSE is the largest tourist board in the UK outside London and is the driving force for innovation and growth in tourism - representing over 2,000 members from all sectors of an industry worth an estimated £10 billion and providing more than 225,000 jobs to the economy of the South East England.
- Recent research by TSE in 2005 involving 6,000 interviews in over 60 locations investigated the motivations for families taking short breaks; what they enjoyed doing in their leisure time and the types of accommodation they prefer. Education, entertainment and value for money are key factors when planning days out for the family, with heritage attractions and a preference for self-catering accommodation being high on the list of priorities.
- Results of this research study have shaped Tourism South East's domestic marketing plan for 2006 and TSE is working with a number of regional partners, on their first domestic campaign of the year: Family Fun.
- The Tourism South East Family Fun Campaign aims to promote attractions that are suitable for family days out. The South East of England has thousands of adventures within a two hour radius of London that won't break the bank, including:
o Cycling
o Family friendly beaches
o Water sports
o Maritime history
o Extensive shopping opportunities
o Theme parks
o Animal attractions
o Family friendly heritage centres
o Children's literary connections
- For more information about what to do and where to go this summer visit the Tourism South East web site at: http://www.visitsoutheastengland.com/familyfun
- Sandy Balls is owned by the Westlake family and has been welcoming visitors to the Estate for over 75 years. For more information, see their website at www.sandy-balls.co.uk
- The Sandy Balls' unusual name can be traced all the way back to the reign of Henry VII, when it appeared on maps as 'Sandyballas' - the dome-shaped sand and gravel outcrops on the centre's western boundary, many of which remain today
- Sandy Balls holds a number of awards for its exemplary accommodation and facilities including:
- English Tourism Council 5 Star Award
- AA and English Tourist Board Rose Award for quality and cleanliness
- Ten David Bellamy Conservation Gold Awards
- Tourism South East Caravan Holiday Park of the Year Award (for the second time)
- The first ever Green Tourism Business Scheme Gold Award for on-site environmental practices from Tourism South East
- Wave 105 and Hampshire Magazine's Best Place to Work Award
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Award