Buckler’s Hard
Beaulieu
Children will enjoy a picnic by the quay, a visit to a shipbuilders house, donkeys, a river cruise and a play area on this walk.
There are always lots of boats to see at Bucklers Hard quay
The Basics
Time: 1 hour each way
Distance: 3.5 km / 2.2 miles each way
Terrain: Flat and well surfaced paths with a few optional diversions along boardwalks.
Pushchairs: The whole route is suitable for pushchairs.
Dogs: Dogs need to be on leads for much of the walk.
Refreshments: The Captain’s Table in Bucklers Hard serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon teas. There are plenty of picnic benches by the quay or various cafes in Beaulieu, including ice-cream stores.
Toilets: There are toilets in the car park at Beaulieu or at Buckler’s Hard by the café.
Public Transport: The Morebus Service 112 from Hythe to Lymington stops in the centre of Beaulieu.
Parking: If starting from Buckler’s Hard, there is a car park with pay on exit machines (Postcode: SO42 7XB - W3W: ///sweetener.crisp.recoup). If starting from Beaulieu use the pay and display car park off Palace Lane (Postcode: SO42 7YE - W3W: ///alike.melt.create)
The picturesque street of shipbuilder’s cottages at Bucklers Hard
This is a linear walk that follows the banks of the River Beaulieu connecting the picturesque ship building hamlet of Buckler’s Hard, with its cottages running down to the quay, to the popular New Forest village of Beaulieu. There is plenty to do at either end with museums, boat cruises, picnic areas, gift shops and a play area.
The Route
This is a linear walk that can be started in Beaulieu or Buckler’s Hard. You will need to pay for parking at either end, so it really depends on which location you want to have as your halfway point.
Starting from Buckler’s Hard:
The trail begins just beyond the point where the boat cruises leave. Keep the dock to your right and The Duke’s Bath House to your left. When you reach the boat yard, turn left and then right, keeping the boat yard to your right side.
Continue straight as the boat yard gives way to scrubby woodland to your right and paddocks to your left. Look out on your right for the bird hide, which you can take a short diversion down a board walk to reach. Return to the main path afterwards.
You will soon be presented with an option to continue on the straight path or take the riverside path through a gate on your right. This will take you closer to the river along a board walk and is a more interesting route that does not add anything to the overall distance.
The riverside path will bring you back up to meet the main path at another gate. After the two paths have met again, continue straight with woodland on either side. You will have another option further along to take the riverside path again.
Around a hundred metres after the riverside path returns to the main path again, bear right and follow the path passing Bailey’s Hard and the activity centre. Bear right after Brickyard Cottage.
The path will open out into a meadow. Keep straight with the hedge to your right, and at the other side, you will enter a small strip of woodland that often has some pretty spring flowers. Bear right and then continue with fields behind fences/hedges to either side.
As you approach Beaulieu, look out for a gate on your left signposted to the village. Go through the gate and pass the school playing field on your left. The path will curve round and pass a small play area. After the play area, continue along the path and a gate will lead you out onto Beaulieu’s main street.
Starting from Beaulieu:
The trail begins from the high street and is signposted beside Norris Gifts and Furnishings. Go through the little gate and walk past the school. There is a small play area beside the path. Continue on the path as it bends around with the school playing field to your right. Go through the gate and turn right onto the stony track.
Follow the straight track with fields on either side until you get to a small strip of woodland. Bear left through the trees. You will emerge into a meadow and should keep the hedge line to your left.
At the other side of the meadow, bear left and follow the path under the trees past Brickyard Cottage, Bailey’s Hard and the activity centre. Bear right and then left to stay on the path, following the signs to Buckler’s Hard.
The path now travels in a long, straight line with woodland on either side. Shortly, you will have the option to take the gate on your left and follow the riverside path. This brings you closer to the river along boardwalks.
The riverside path will return to the main path. Continue straight and there will be another option to follow the riverside path again further along.
After the woodland on your right gives way to paddocks, look out for the bird hide on your left that you can reach via a short diversion along a boardwalk. Pass the boatyard on your left and then bear left and then right at the entrance. Pass The Duke’s Bath House on your right and the dock for boat trips to your left. Go straight on for the picnic area and quay or turn right up the village street for the museum, café, pub and Shipwright’s Cottage.
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Did you know?
Buckler's Hard was where Sir Francis Chichester began and finished his solo voyage around the world in the Gypsy Moth IV, becoming the first person to single-handedly circumnavigate the world.
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