'Serendipity' - by the beach on Sandhills Holiday Park, Mudeford

Serendipity:

Serendipity is our spacious lodge on Sandhills Holiday Park in Mudeford, under two minutes' walk from the seafront promenade overlooking the beach. The property is well equipped to a high standard with everything you will need for comfortable stay by the sea.

The lodge has two bedrooms. The master is a good size with a memory foam mattress double bed, storage shelves with mirror above, bedside tables and a flat-screen wall-mounted TV. There is an adjoining dressing/drying room with plenty of storage space for clothes, this leads to a spacious en-suite bathroom with a shower enclosure, WC and wash basin. The second bedroom has two 2ft 3ins wide beds and a central wardrobe/storage unit. There is a second family bathroom with full-sized bath, over-bath shower, WC and wash basin. Bedding is included and beds will be made up ready for your arrival. Bathroom towels are also provided.

The lounge has 2 double seat sofas, a large wall-mounted HD smart TV and DVD player, a glass-fronted flame effect electric fire, dining table and 4 chairs. A patio style door opens out onto the decking area that surrounds two sides of the lodge, with a large patio table with 4 chairs and two reclining chairs. There are glimpses of Christchurch Harbour from one side of the decking.

In the colder months, the lodge is warm and cosy with double glazed windows and central heating throughout. The property has free unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi (50Mbps), so you can connect TV sticks to watch your favourite programmes or connect games consoles via HDMI. Great for when you just want to relax indoors.

The kitchen has a large American style fridge and freezer, including water and ice dispenser. There is a washing machine/dryer and dishwasher, full-size gas cooker, gas hob, extractor fan and separate microwave. It is well equipped with plenty of pans, cooking utensils, cutlery, and crockery.

The property is in a quiet area of the park but close to the main reception building, clubhouse, and pool area. There is a private car parking space a few metres away, with further parking available outside the main reception building.

Sandhills Park and Mudeford Area

Sandhills park hosts a clubhouse/bar available for guests with free Wi-Fi and large TV screens. There is an outdoor heated pool with a pool attendant, which is open March to October, weather permitting. There is also a small toddlers' pool, children's play area, small gym and laundry room. Across the road from the park's main entrance, there is a small parade of shops that includes a deli with a good range of groceries and delicious cakes. There is a newsagent a few minutes further along the road.

The location of Serendipity is great, with so much being on the doorstep and avoiding the need for the car. Sandhills Holiday Park overlooks the seafront with access via two gates directly onto the promenade. Turn left for lovely Avon Beach, less than 5 minutes' walk away. The beach has lifeguards during high season and part of the beach is dog free between May and September. The Noisy Lobster restaurant with seating that overlooks the beach is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (fantastic seafood) and there is a shop next door where you can purchase fresh bread, pastries and cakes from the bakery and a morning paper. The shop also sells gifts and a selection of clothing. There is a coffee hut, fish and chips takeaway and ice cream parlour as well. Watch out for the seals that sometimes visit the bay.

If you turn right along the promenade, you are less than 5 minutes' walk from the historic Mudeford Quay, where in 1784 smugglers skirmished with Customs and Excise Officers. It is still a working quay today with fishing boats venturing out most days. If you fancy testing your skills out and bringing the catch home yourself, pleasure fishing trips are available directly from the quay, or we can help you organise in advance. There are many pleasure trips to be had, or if you fancy a thrill then why not hang on to your seats on the Bay Blast rib ride.

The Quay is also famous for its crabbing from the quayside and there is a fish stall open daily that sells a great variety of fresh fish and shellfish. There is also a children's play park, café and gift shop. The Haven House Inn has a large outdoor seating area overlooking the Quay and the Sundowners Terrace at the rear is a great place for watching the sunset over Christchurch Harbour. Watching the tide rush out past the Quay down “The Run” or fighting its way back into the harbour is great natural spectacle. Watch out for the crazy swans surfing in and out of the harbour on the tide. The large green bordering the east of the harbour is perfect for picnics/BBQ's, ball games and kite flying. You can catch the ferry to Mudeford Spit & Hengistbury Head directly from the Quay and visit its fantastic beaches and beach huts. The Beach House café has a great lunch menu and serves cold drinks and ice creams to cool you down on a hot day.

Christchurch Harbour is a great place for sailing and the Highcliffe Sailing Club is based on the Quay. There is also an active RNLI lifeboat station which practices launching weekly, so you are almost bound to see their rather unusual lifeboat launch and recovery system in action!

If walking or bird watching is your thing then you can do both without even getting in the car. Within an easy stroll, you will find a nature reserve on the cliff top adjacent to Highcliffe Castle, walk on the coastal path a little further for lunch or afternoon tea at Cliffhanger restaurant. If you fancy a little longer out, then why not try the circular walk through Stanpit Marshes and on to Christchurch for a spot of lunch. Then take the Tuckton ferry from outside the Captain's Club to cross the river or walk over Tuckton bridge a little further on if the ferry is not running, and head across more picturesque marshes to the back of Hengistbury Head. From there you can skirt the inside shoreline, head up and over the top or use the beach as your route back to the beach huts and ferry home at the tip of the Head.

If you head out in the car then the walks available to you are endless with The New Forest on your doorstep and The Purbecks within easy reach. Easily missed and of particular note is the area around Keyhaven and Lymington and, in particular, the sea wall walk past the now disused salt works and the spit towards Hurst Castle, which in itself is worth entry but make sure you have a few hours to spare.

Historically sailing and fishing are all part of the local heritage with such famous local sailing clubs as Christchurch and Lymington to hand. More recently wind and kite surfing have become extremely popular along with kayaking and paddle boarding. Do not worry if you have never tried any of these or do not have any equipment as Shore Sports, based in the Harbour, happily provide taster sessions and rentals.

In addition to the Haven House Inn on the quay, the Nelson Tavern and Ship In Distress pubs are 10 and 20 minutes stroll from Sandhills. Both serve food and attract a mix of locals and visitors so there is always a cheery welcome. The Harbour Hotel is slightly nearer and is a great venue for a special meal or afternoon tea in one of its two restaurants that overlook the harbour. There is also a luxury spa on site with heated swimming pool, sauna, gym and beauty treatments available.


About the area in general:

Christchurch - the sign says, 'Where Time is Pleasant', and it's right. From the lively Monday market to the great shops and restaurants along the high street it is a great coastal town. It is a short trip in the car or by the Ferry that leaves from Mudeford Quay. Christchurch Priory is the longest parish church in the country and is surrounded by beautiful grounds, riverside walks, and Christchurch Quay. The Priory is a must-see and is steeped in history. The Priory contains the 'miraculous beam' said to be placed there by a carpenter, locals believed was Christ himself.

The New Forest - a National Park situated on the south coast of England. The landscape is a mix of heathland, grassland, bogs and woods. Domestic animals are permitted to roam freely throughout the Forest. Visit Beaulieu Motor Museum, catch a ferry from the pretty town of Lymington to the Isle of Wight or just enjoy the many cycle trails, walks and forest villages.

Bournemouth - the famous seaside resort with miles of beaches, loads of restaurants, bars, clubs, and great shopping. Just 9 miles away, it has so much to see and do.

Other Attractions - Alice in Wonderland maze Theme Park, Serendipity Sam's, Go Ape at Moors Valley, Tower Park with its Multiplex Bowling and Splashdown Indoor Water Park, Paulton's theme park on the edge of the New Forest, the Bournemouth Oceanarium, Compton Acres, Poole Old Town & Harbour, Sandbanks and Brownsea Island to name but a few.