A family-friendly day out at Sandilands

Children bug hunting amongst coastal grass. — Go wild at the seaside | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Are you looking for a perfect place for your family to unleash their spirit of adventure? Sandilands is the ultimate destination to ignite your child's love for nature, with stunning natural beauty and diverse wildlife. You’re bound to create memories to cherish for years to come.

Planning your family visit

Here's some key information for planning your family visit...

The car park has baby changing and toilet facilities, including an accessible toilet. The toilets are open all year round.
Park with PayByPhone at National Trust Sandilands. Download the app before travelling from www.paybyphone.co.uk or call 0330 060 4037, using location code: 806355.
To access the site from the car park, you'll need to climb some steps with a centre handrail.
The site is relatively flat, but the ground is uneven and has some steep slopes, which may be muddy in places following wet weather. Improving accessibility to the nature reserve is a key goal of our ongoing project.
There’s plenty of space to play with frisbees and balls, but please be mindful of ground-nesting birds and other wildlife in the long grass.
SandiDunes café kiosk offers a selection of kids’ drinks and snacks, as well as hot and cold drinks, hot food and sweet treats. There are gluten-free and vegan options available. Please let the team know if you have any allergies or intolerances so they can assist you.
Friendly dogs on short leads are welcome at Sandilands.
The entrance to Sandilands is free.

A family playing with sand on the beach. — Discover days out at the coast. | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Family-friendly things to do at Sandilands

Join in with Summer of Play

Have lots of fun this summer at Sandilands. From 19 July to 8 September, join us for outdoor games, some seaside fun and even participate in an outdoor silent disco.

Why not enjoy an ice cream from SandiDunes café kiosk or a stroll along the promenade? Put your sun hat on and come and make the most of being by the seaside this summer.

Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank and supported by Sport England.

Space to play and picnic

Sandilands offers vast and sweeping green areas, perfect for outdoor games, leisurely strolls and picnics. What's more, you can even enjoy a refreshing paddle in the sea since we're located right on the Lincolnshire coast.

Painting the Fens childrens event at Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire — Get creative at Sandilands | © National Trust Mike Selby

Sensory backpacks

Our sensory backpacks come with a variety of sensory items, such as fidget toys, a magnifying glass, and an ear trumpet, and are suitable for people of all ages with diverse needs.

Eco quest backpacks

Are you looking to unleash your spirit of adventure? Borrow an eco-quest backpack. This easy-to-use kit allows young explorers to become a ranger for the day and get closer to nature.

The Sandilands eco quest backpacks are supported by the Coastal Community Challenge and the Big Lottery Fund, now called the National Lottery Community Fund.

50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾

Join in the fun of National Trust's "50 things to do before you're 11 ¾" bucket list designed for young adventurers. Whether you choose to watch a bird, make friends with a bug, or go exploring in your wellies, Sandilands has plenty to offer. Before you embark on your adventure, be sure to grab your activity book from the SandiDunes café kiosk.

Sandilands top ‘50 things’ to do this summer

Enjoy a memorable family day out this summer. Plan your own wild adventures and see how many of our ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities you can try out at Sandilands.

No. 16 Wear a wild crown: It takes a smidge of imagination and patience to create your very own wild crown, but the great news is that it can be as simple or as ambitious as you want.Create a wild crown
No. 20 Go paddling: Paddling might be one of the easiest challenges on the ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ list, but it's also one of the most satisfying. Cool down on a hot summer’s day by dipping your hands and feet into the sea.Go paddling
No. 28 Climb a huge hill: Climbing a huge hill might seem really tiring, but once you've reached the top, think about how much fun you'll have coming down.Climb the sand dune at Sandilands
No. 33 Go cloud watching: On a warm summer’s day, find a patch of grass, lie back and watch the clouds go by.What shapes will you see?
No. 50 Take a friend on a nature adventure: It’s great to investigate nature by yourself. But you can double the fun when you share your wildlife adventures with a friend.Bring along a friend

A child looks through yellow binoculars directly at the camera with a big smile on his face. — Become a ranger for the day at Sandilands | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Coming soon to Sandilands

Beach toy library

You'll soon be able to borrow a bucket and spade from Sandilands, allowing you to enjoy the beach without the worry of forgetting your toys. Simply borrow, enjoy, and return the toys when you're done.

The beach toys will be housed in a mini beach hut, specially crafted by Mablethorpe's Men's Shed. Join us in our efforts to reduce waste and keep our oceans free from plastic.

Capture the moment

Now summer is here, take the opportunity to make memories and reconnect with your loved ones. With the days warmer and wildlife out and about, don't forget to capture those special moments. If you wish to share your photos on social media, feel free to tag us using #NTSandilands or @NTSandilands. Let's make 2024 a year full of precious memories inspired by nature!

A young child and her mother bending down to look at flowers in the Sunken Garden in May at Castle Ward, County Down, Northern Ireland

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