A motorway drama to start the trip
Let’s just say our holiday to Parkdean Sandford Holiday Park didn’t exactly start with calm coastal vibes. Somewhere between the “Are we nearly there yet?” and “Pass me another mint”, our trusty campervan decided enough was enough — right in the middle of the M4. I’m not talking about a polite warning light. No, this was a siren-wailing, dashboard-flashing STOP NOW kind of moment.
A coolant leak, apparently. And yes, I did consider driving on until the services — which would’ve killed the engine, I’m told. We limped on safely after the rescue crew topped up our coolant and followed us in. Stressful? Absolutely. But memorable? 100%
A warm welcome — and an even warmer dinner
We arrived much later than planned, but we were safe and grateful. Thank goodness we’d booked a lodge instead of faffing with an awning in the dark!
Our first stop? Fish and chips. Now, I’ve been managing type 2 diabetes (I talk more about that here) and this was the first time I’d had proper fish and chips since the diagnosis. Parkdean’s on-site chippy didn’t disappoint — crispy, golden, and worth every careful carb calculation.
The lodge: A touch of unexpected luxury
We’ve stayed in quite a few lodges and caravans in our time, but this one? Easily the best. Watch our full lodge tour below. Both our bedroom and the twins’ room had walk-in wardrobes. WALK-IN! I still can’t believe it. Elaine had that little satisfied smile that says, “This is better than camping.”
Comfortable, spotless, and beautifully located, this lodge was genuinely luxurious without feeling too posh for families like ours.
On-site facilities: from archery to wrestling (yes, really)
Sandford Holiday Park has a huge variety of activities. The twins were in their element on the football/basketball courts, and we even managed a splash in the indoor pool — brave for April!
There’s also archery, which they loved, and an outdoor pool for summer visits. The usual clubhouse and restaurant set-up was there, but with an unexpected twist: wrestling. Not our usual Saturday night fare, but the crowd was having the time of their lives, and the kids loved the wild atmosphere.
Day trips: Poole, Sandbanks, and Brownsea Island
There’s a bus stop right outside the park — incredibly handy for older travellers or those who prefer not to drive. We took it into Poole, though it also goes to Swanage.
From Poole Harbour, we boarded a boat tour to Brownsea Island. Along the way, we passed the famous Sandbanks mansions. Brownsea Island was a gem. It’s where the Scout movement was born, and it’s home to elusive red squirrels and flamboyant peacocks.
A guide tipped us off that the best place to see squirrels is behind the church in the afternoon — and she was right!
Tanks, trenches, and brunch in the rain
On our last day, we visited the Tank Museum — an unexpectedly fascinating place. Elaine even narrated our video below under the slogan “Mums like tanks too!”
It was pouring with rain that morning and we were ravenous. The museum café surprised us with a cracking all-day brunch — sausage, egg, bacon… with chips. Proper comfort food. We braved the rain to watch the live tank demo, stomped through a trench reconstruction, and the boys were mesmerised by the gift shop’s mountain of model kits, mugs, and military books.
A cleaner Parkdean and some over-sixty observations
We’ve stayed at a few Parkdean sites over the years, but Sandford stood out for being cleaner and better maintained than most. Fewer wrappers blowing about, well-kept facilities, and friendly staff.
From a slightly creaky over-60s viewpoint, the layout has a couple of quirks. The sports zone is a bit of a hike uphill from the lodges, though many guests drove between them. You do wonder whether everyone’s quite so careful about drink-driving on-site. We didn’t witness anything dodgy — except someone letting a 10-year-old start the car engine! Cue wide-eyed twins and a firm “Absolutely not!” when they glanced at the campervan.
Touring, glamping, and hot tubs galore
Sandford isn’t just about lodges — there’s a lovely touring area for campervans and tents. We were impressed by the safari tents, each with proper bathrooms. And some of the premium lodges even have hot tubs — now that’s our kind of glamping.
Watch our full Parkdean Sandford site tour below to get a sense of how varied it all is.
Final thoughts
Despite the rocky start, this was a memorable and relaxing trip. From fish and chips to red squirrels, from tank museums to walk-in wardrobes — Parkdean Sandford genuinely had something for all of us. And it gave us a few stories to tell… like nearly losing the campervan on the M4!
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