Landal Sandybrook – The Perfect Peak District Alternative to Center Parcs

If you’re looking self-catering Peak District accommodation with pool, Landal Sandybrook is the perfect choice.

Situated just on the edge of the Peak District National Park, the Landal Sandybrook Lodges are ideally located for exploring one of the most beautiful parts of the United Kingdom. We travelled from just outside London to spend a long weekend in the Peak District with the kids.

We found, booked and paid for the accommodation ourselves but we were so happy with these Peak District lodges that we wanted to share our experience and tips to help you find the perfect accommodation for your visit to the Peak District.

Landal GreenParks in the UK

Haven’t come across the Landal name before? Neither had we. The company is actually called Landal GreenParks and it originated in the Netherlands in the 1950s. It made its way over to the UK in 2017 and there are now 6 Landal parks across the UK.

The lodges are all in the same log cabin style and are set within large green and often forested areas. Landal Sandybrook is actually located in the grounds of a 19th-century manor house and has access to a beautiful wooded area where you’ll see bluebells if you’re there in the spring.

What we loved about Landal Sandybrook is that it offered an experience similar to Center Parcs but on a small, more intimate scale and at a lower price tag.

Where is Landal Sandybrook?

Landal Sandybrook is located less than 10 minutes from the market town of Ashbourne on the south-east side of the Peak District National Park.

We left London in the late afternoon on a Friday in June and the traffic up to the Peak District was quite heavy so the journey took us 3.5 hours by car. On the way back on the Sunday evening, the same trip took 2 hours.

Arrival at Landal Sandybrook Lodges Ashbourne

Finding the road out of Ashbourne to Landal Sandybrook is easy but finding the entrance to the park is not so easy as it is a little concealed. At about 1.5 km out of Ashbourne on the A515, slow down and look on the right.

When you drive in, you can park outside reception to check-in and get your key. We had a lot of food with us already but we didn’t have any milk so it was lovely to be offered a free pint of milk at check-in. Once you have your key, you can drive to your lodge where you’ll find 2 parking spaces.

Landal Sandybrook Lodges

Landal Sandybrook luxury lodges come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  There are 53 in total. The smallest lodge accommodates 2 people while the largest accommodates 8. Some have a hot tub on the veranda while some are pet-friendly and some are wheelchair accessible.

The prices vary depending on the size and style of the lodge. Here is a list of all of the Sandybrook lodges.

Landal Sandybrook lodge

We booked very last minute and there was only one lodge available, the Tissington Classic Vogue, so we weren’t able to have a hot tub but it was fine because the pool was only a 2-minute walk from our lodge.

If you struggle to find the lodge you’re looking for, it’s also worth checking with the neighbouring resort, Landal Darwin Forest, as they may have availability and are only 16 miles away.

The Tissington Classic Vogue is the simplest in the range and yet it is a luxury lodge. It was spotlessly clean and was very well equipped. It even included some family games in the living room.

Bedrooms and bathroom

The 2 bedroom lodge has a double bedroom and a twin bedroom with one bathroom (with bath) which is ideal for a family of 4.

Bedrooms and bathroom in the Tissington Classic Vogue at Landal Sandybrook

Living area

The living area is large and open plan. There’s a flat-screen tv and our lodge included some great family games. The double doors open onto a large decked area with a dining table and chairs.

Open plan living room of Tissington Classic Vogue at Landal Sandybrook

Kitchen

The kitchen was extremely well-equipped. As we always do when we stay in self-catering accommodation in the UK, we brought loads of kitchen stuff with us because you never know what you’re going to get.

One of the things we bring is a sharp knife because there’s nothing worse than trying to prepare a meal for the family with a blunt knife. We didn’t need to bother because there were plenty of sharp knives and even if the knives had been blunt, we got the feeling that the lovely ladies in reception would have sourced another one for us quickly.

Kitchen in the Landal Sandybrook lodge

Facilities at Landal Sandybrook

Although the park is small in comparison to Center Parcs, it still has lots to offer in the way of facilities.

Swimming pool

The swimming pool and spa area were well used by us during our stay. The pool complex has a main pool and a very shallow kids’ pool, a jacuzzi and a sauna. There are changing facilities and lockers. Children under 15 must be supervised by an adult and children under 16 are not allowed in the jacuzzi or the sauna.

Landal Sandybrook Pool area

Children’s playground

There’s a lovely wooden playground area next to a large grassy area where you’ll find football goals and picnic tables.

Kids Playground at Landal Sandybrooks

The Coach House Bar & Restaurant

The onsite restaurant is housed in the restored Grade II stables building. The food is good and it’s so convenient to eat here if you’ve had a busy day out exploring the Peak District.  The Games Room is housed above the Coach House with pool tables, air hockey and table football.

The Coach House restaurant

Activities at Landal Sandybrook

This is where Landal is similar to Center Parcs in that it provides a great range of child-friendly activities. Some are free while others are at an additional cost. Make sure to check the list before your stay, especially if you’re visiting during peak season, as you can pre-book certain activities.

In addition to activities like zorbing, archery and minigolf, there’s also a woodland walk where you’ll find a large wooden naughts and crosses board and an insect hotel.

If you have toddlers with you, there’s also a toddler playroom on-site in one of the lodges.

Activities at Landal Sandybrook

Things to do near Landal Sandybrook

We were blown away by the beauty of the Peak District and are dying to return to see more. If you are only spending a weekend in the Peak District and don’t want to drive too far from Sandybrook, here are some recommendations for things to see and do in the local area.

• Dove Dale stepping stones (3 miles)

Visiting the Dove Dale Stepping Stones

• Thorpe Cloud (3 miles)

Climbing Thorpe Cloud in the Peak District

• Thor’s Cave (9 miles)

Thor’s Cave in the Peak District

• Tissington Trail (1.5 miles)

This former (now diused) railway track is perfect for taking little ones on their bikes.

Tissington Trail in the Peak District

• Carsington Water (8 miles)

If you happen to be there towards the end of June, make sure to check out the Ashbourne Festival. The streets of Ashbourne close to traffic and street performers take over. It’s a fun day out.

Ashbourne Festival

Tips for visiting Landal Sandybrook

1. We recommend bringing bikes with you and making the most of the Tissington Trail which is a 13-mile former railway line. There are no cars and it’s the perfect place to cycle, especially if you have little ones with you.
2. The Peak District has some amazing hiking trails so make sure to bring your walking shoes. The ones we did were very family-friendly. If you are going hiking with the kids, you might be interested in our helpful guide to kids backpacks.
3. If you’re out for the day, you may want to consider finding a pub for a lovely pub lunch. Plan this in advance if you can because phone signal is a bit patchy in areas and you may not be able to get signal to find somewhere nearby. We highly recommend the George in Alstonefield (near Thor’s Cave) for its location in a beautiful, sleepy village but also for the delicious food.

The George in Alstonefield

Map of Landal Sandybrook and the surrounding area

If you have any questions about Landal Sandybrooks, please leave a comment and we’ll be happy to answer. It really is a fantastic place to stay, particularly if you have kids. Don’t just take our word for it though.

Landal Sandybrook reviews are outstanding across the board. You can check on Tripadvisor and Hoseasons.