Hole Types

Eight tried-and-tested holes for every beach, every age, and every tide. Pick your hole, then pick your beach.

Castle Moat

Castle Moat

The classic — a sandcastle's best friend

Ease

Ages: 3 and up

Time: 30–90 minutes depending on scale

Treasure Hole

Treasure Hole

Dig deep, hide well, find glory

Ease

Ages: 5 and up

Time: 20–40 minutes

Sand Pool

Sand Pool

Build your own private paddling pool

Ease

Ages: All ages — toddlers especially

Time: 45–90 minutes

Tunnel

Tunnel

The engineering challenge — meet in the middle

Ease

Ages: 6 and up (adults on the digging)

Time: 30–60 minutes

Volcano

Volcano

Pour water in, watch it erupt

Ease

Ages: 4 and up

Time: 20–45 minutes

Channel and Dam

Channel and Dam

Control the water — redirect the sea

Ease

Ages: 5 and up

Time: 60 minutes and upward — can absorb a whole afternoon

Den or Foxhole

Den or Foxhole

Excavate a hideout and disappear

Ease

Ages: 5 and up

Time: 45–90 minutes

Buried Alive

Buried Alive

The timeless classic — bury a sibling

Ease

Ages: 5 and up (as the buried subject); any age as the digger

Time: 15–30 minutes

Spiral Vortex Pool

Spiral Vortex Pool

Dig a spiral, fill it with water, and watch it swirl

Ease

Ages: 4 and up

Time: 45–75 minutes

Fossil Dig Pit

Fossil Dig Pit

Bury it, map it, and excavate it like a real palaeontologist

Ease

Ages: 5 and up

Time: 30–50 minutes

Sea Wall

Sea Wall

Build a defence and see how long you can hold back the tide

Ease

Ages: 5 and up

Time: 40–70 minutes, plus however long the tide takes to break through

Igloo Den

Igloo Den

A carved dome hideout, built up rather than dug down

Ease

Ages: 4 and up (adults recommended for the hollowing stage)

Time: 60–90 minutes

Time Capsule Hole

Time Capsule Hole

Bury a message, a memory, or a wish — and dig it up another day

Ease

Ages: 3 and up

Time: 20–30 minutes to bury, plus however long until you return