Pops and Puggy have been working hard and wanted some time alone to rekindle their romance, so what better way to escape than in a beautiful lodge in the woods with a hot tub?!

Away Resorts hooked Puggy and Pops up with a luxury Knightswood cabin in Sandy Balls in the New Forest and it was perfect! 

We arrived mid-afternoon on a sunny, cold day winters day. The drive through the New Forest was stunning and check in was a breeze with such welcoming staff who directed us to our accommodation. We parked right outside in a designated bay and there were electric car charging points accessible to everyone.

Knightswood is a range of cabins in a quiet area of the resort with everything you could need as a home from home! Us humans were given a gorgeous welcome package with the essentials and some treats, and both pooches were gifted a lovely welcome pack with a cosy blanket, toys, water bowls and more! 

The outside area had plenty of heaters so we were comfortable outside even in winter, and we were provided all Linen, fluffy white towels, some bits and bobs for cleaning and all kitchen gear we may need.

The cabin was toasty warm with heaps of natural light, free fast WIFI and power points galore! It was super spacious with one master bedroom and a bunk bedroom that sleeps up to 4. The terrace wraps around the cabin and is entirely enclosed so the dogs are free to roam without any worry. There’s also an outside shower for the pooches, a huge comfy heated seating area, a BBQ and hot tub! 

We loved the vibe here so much and couldn’t wait to explore, so as soon as we unpacked and had a cuppa, we wondered up to the main area to grab some food and see what’s going on! 

After an evening walkies around the resort, we stopped by Aubrey’s for a steak dinner and a few drinks. Dog friendly of course, and the staff all gave Puggy and Pops lots of fuss! The vibe was great, and we stuck around for a few hours before heading back to our lodge so us humans could enjoy the hot tub while pops and puggy had a much-needed nap! 

The king size bed was super comfy, and we slept like logs! The mornings are blissful here in sandy Balls, so peaceful. After a slow start enjoying a coffee on the decked terrace listening to the birds, we headed back to Aubrey’s for a delicious brekkie washed down with Starbucks coffees, ready to take on the day! 

There were so many places to explore and activities for all ages. A huge indoors and outdoor pool, a soft play area, acres of woodlands, archery and arts and crafts. We were spoilt for choice but ended up pre booking an experience with the pooches that we have been looking forward to for weeks! Puggy and Pops went on a woodland walk with three gorgeous Alpacas, and it was everything we hoped for and more! Our guide was so lovely, and we learned a lot about the resort, it’s history and of course the Alpacas! 

The woodlands were stunning with some incredible views and photo opportunities! There was so much to explore that we could have spent an entire day wondering around admiring the untouched nature. We even spotted a few rabbits and deer!

After our walk we popped into Acorn place, the resort shop and deli, that was huge and so well stocked with varied goodies! There is also an impressive doggy section with all the essentials and even doggy beer! Perfect if you’ve forgotten to pack something for your pooch, or if you just want to treat them to something special! 

We grabbed some snacks and some local beers and headed back to recharge and enjoy our cosy lodge. After pops and puggy had a well-deserved nap, we headed back out to explore more of the vast woodlands before sunset and finally grabbed a drink before calling it a day! 

We loved our lodge so much, we wanted to spend our last evening there, with a few drinks, a movie on the flat screen telly, and of course one final dip in the hot tub! 

For dinner, we ordered a takeaway Pizza from Aubrey’s which was delicious and got an early night before our drive back to Kent in the morning. 

After another blissful sleep we reluctantly packed up our car and headed home with some core memories with the dogs that will last forever. 

This is the second time we have stayed with Away Resorts, and I can guarantee you, it won’t be the last! 

Thanks Away Resorts for an incredible, relaxing, wholesome break for humans and doggies that we will be shouting about for years to come!

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