Christmas and New Year on Hayling Island: a Sandy Point house for the holidays

Christmas and New Year by the sea is a different kind of holiday: quieter beaches, big family meals, and long walks that end with the fire on. Wittering Sands is our exclusive-use house at Sandy Point, Hayling Island (14 Wittering Road), sleeping up to nine across four bedrooms, with dogs welcome off the beds and sofas. This guide covers how a festive stay here actually works.

When are the Hampshire Christmas school holidays in 2026?

For Hampshire local-authority maintained schools, the autumn term ends on Friday 18 December 2026 and the spring term starts on Monday 4 January 2027. That gives roughly two and a half weeks over Christmas and New Year. Academies and independent schools set their own dates, so check your own school calendar before you plan.

Bank holidays for the period are Christmas Day (Friday 25 December 2026), Boxing Day (Saturday 26 December 2026) and New Year's Day (Friday 1 January 2027).

Why does Sandy Point work in winter?

Winter is when Sandy Point is at its quietest. The shoreline and lagoon, a few minutes on foot, are often empty apart from the harbour birds, and a walk along the harbour edge on a cold clear morning is one of the best things about being here out of season.

The house suits a winter gathering:

• Exclusive-use, so a multi-generation family is not split across hotel rooms or separate bookings.
• Four bedrooms and five beds sleeping up to nine, three bedrooms ensuite.
• A real kitchen and dining space for the big meals, the whole point of a Christmas or New Year week.
• A fireplace for the evenings after a blustery walk.
• Off-road parking for four cars, useful when family arrive from different directions.
• Dogs welcome, kept off beds and sofas, with a boot brush by the back door.

What is there to do over the holidays?

• Sandy Point shoreline and lagoon: the from-the-door walk, best at low tide. Do watch the currents at the harbour entrance.
• Eastoke seafront: the proper bracing, blustery winter walk, with cafes along the front (seasonal hours, check before you go).
• Hayling Billy Coastal Path: a flat, sheltered walk or ride along the western shore when the wind is off the sea.
• Chichester: the cathedral and independent shops, good for a pre-Christmas day out.
• Portsmouth Historic Dockyard: the reliable rainy-day option, about half an hour away.

My Around Hayling guide has the honest walk and drive times, and our beaches guide compares the island's beaches properly. Bringing the dog? The dog-friendly weekend guide covers the practical side.

Are there any local Christmas events?

Two seasonal fixtures are listed for Saturday 28 November 2026: the Mengham Christmas Festival and the Hayling Island Indoor Christmas Market at HICCA. Both are useful if you are planning a late-November or early-December trip rather than Christmas week itself. These are seasonal community events, so confirm dates and times locally before you travel.

What are the check-in and stay details?

Check-in is from 4pm and checkout is by 10am. Minimum stay is usually two to three nights. Nightly rates typically fall between £750 and £1,850 depending on season and length of stay.

How do you book?

Check your dates on the direct booking calendar, which shows what is actually open over December and January. If your group is large, has dogs, or needs more than one car, get in touch and we can talk it through.

School dates vary by school and venue hours are seasonal, so please check locally and on the live calendar before you travel.