Bring the dog
to the New Forest
A handcrafted log cabin in Hampshire — up to 2 dogs welcome at £10/night each. Woodland walks from the door, ancient forest 10 minutes away.
The fee, upfront
£10/night per dog. Max 2. No surprises.
We charge a small per-night fee per dog to cover the extra end-of-stay cleaning (dog hair, paw prints, the inevitable). No separate pet deposit, no inspection on arrival, no awkward conversation about your dog's size. Add the dog at booking and we'll see you on arrival.
For comparison, Sandy Balls' own lodges typically charge £45–60 per pet per stay.
Why dogs love it
Built for a dog's holiday too
Woodland from the door
Step out of the cabin onto Sandy Balls' woodland paths. New Forest National Park is a 10-minute drive — over 200 square miles of off-lead heaven where it's safe.
Self check-in via lockbox
No reception lobby, no waiting around — arrive with a stressed-out dog whenever suits you, walk straight in. Lockbox code sent the day before.
Easy-clean cabin
Hardwood-style floors throughout (no carpets to ruin), a covered deck for muddy paws to dry, and a towel hook by the door for wipe-downs.
Dog-friendly pubs nearby
The Royal Oak Fritham, Forester's Arms Frogham, Augustus John Fordingbridge — all welcome dogs in the bar, all serve real food.
No deposit, no inspection
We charge a small per-night fee at booking and that's that — no pet deposit held against the card, no arrival inspection, no surprise charges at checkout.
Vet 10 min away
Endeavour Veterinary Centre on the High Street in Fordingbridge — useful to know exists, hopefully never needed.
Where to walk
Four walks worth a morning
- Hampton Ridge & Frogham
- Open New Forest at its best — wild ponies, gorse, far views. Off-lead OK away from livestock. The Forester's Arms is at one end for a pint and a bowl of water after.
- Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary
- Mossy ancient oaks, the deer-watching platform, and trails of all lengths. Dogs on lead near the sanctuary itself, off in the surrounding woods.
- Hatchet Pond, Beaulieu
- A favourite for water-loving dogs. Big open pond with paths around, ponies grazing, and easy parking. Combine with a Beaulieu village potter.
- Sandy Balls itself
- Honestly, you can have a perfectly good 30 minutes on Sandy Balls' own woodland paths without getting in the car. Useful for last-thing-at-night.
5 min drive · open heath
20 min drive · ancient woodland
35 min drive · waterside
Out the door · woodland
The honest bit
A few small rules
- On a lead the whole time you're on the Sandy Balls park itself (their rule, not ours)
- Off the beds, please — sofas are fair game if you bring a blanket
- Wipe muddy paws at the door — there's a towel hook for the purpose
- Short trips out without the dog are fine if they're settled alone; please don't leave them all day
- Clean up after them on park; the National Park has bins at most car parks
The per-night fee is added at booking and that's everything — no pet deposit on top, no inspection on arrival, no surprise charge at checkout. Mention the dog in the booking notes so we know who to expect.
Frequently asked
Dog owner questions
- Do you charge a pet fee?
- Yes — £10/night per dog, up to 2 dogs. It covers the extra end-of-stay cleaning (dog hair is inevitable). There's no separate pet deposit and no inspection on arrival.
- How many dogs can I bring?
- Up to 2 well-behaved dogs. The cabin starts to feel like a kennel beyond that, so we keep it firm — drop us a line first if your situation is unusual.
- Are dogs allowed inside the cabin?
- Yes, fully inside. We just ask that they don't sleep on the beds and that muddy paws get wiped at the door (there's a towel hook for that purpose).
- Can I leave the dog alone in the cabin?
- Short trips are fine if your dog is settled alone — to nip to the shop or pop out for dinner. Please don't leave them all day, and a crated dog is safer than a loose one in a strange space.
- Where can I walk them?
- The whole New Forest National Park is open access for dogs on leads (and off-lead where it's safe). Bolderwood, Frogham Hill, Hatchet Pond and Rockford Common are 10-20 minutes away. From the cabin itself, you can step straight onto the Sandy Balls park paths and woodland trails.
- Do dogs need to be on a lead at Sandy Balls?
- Yes — all dogs on park must be on a lead at all times (Sandy Balls rule). The moment you're across the road into the National Park, off-lead is fine where safe and away from livestock.
- Where can I eat out with the dog?
- Plenty of dog-friendly pubs nearby: The Royal Oak at Fritham (proper New Forest gastropub, dogs in the bar), The Forester's Arms in Frogham (5 min drive), and The Augustus John in Fordingbridge. The on-site Hub bar at Sandy Balls also welcomes dogs in the outdoor seating.
Plan the dog's New Forest break
Check availability — and mention the dog in the booking notes so we know who to expect.
- £10/night per dog · max 2
- Save up to 25% vs Sandy Balls direct
- Flexible cancellation
- Speak directly with Scott