Route: Beaulieu to Bucklers Hard
Area: New Forest, Hampshire
Date of walk: 19th June 2014
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 5.2 miles
Weather: sunny
We parked in the attractive village of Beaulieu in the south east corner of the New Forest National Park, having made an early start as this is a deservedly popular walk
A path leads along the bank of Beaulieu River, which is owned by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. It was very easy going, and about half way along we turned off the main path to follow a narrower path which keeps closer to the river bank
We arrived in the village of Bucklers Hard and wished we’d had sufficient time to take a boat trip further along the river. Having looked around this fascinating and beautiful place we retraced our steps to the start
What a fantastic short walk it had been
For anyone with more time to spare, it’s worth visiting the nearby National Motor Museum and Palace House, once the gatehouse of the medieval Beaulieu Abbey, which has been the Montagu family home since 1538
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Early that morning, a fallow deer in the field next to our hotel
Fallow deer in the field next to our hotel
The start of the walk at Beaulieu
An easy path follows the course of the River Beaulieu to the left
Walking through Keeping Copse
The River Beaulieu, tidal at this point. The river and its bed are owned by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu
A narrower side path can be taken at this point, which keeps closer to the river than the main path
Oystercatcher with a catch
Entrance to the harbour at the historic hamlet of Bucklers Hard
The marina
Bucklers Hard is totally unspoilt
Looking back along the village to the River Beaulieu
Young robin on the way back
Back to the start in Beaulieu
