Hampshire &amp; Isle of Wight


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-family-min-1000x750.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-33267" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-family-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-family-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-family-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-family-min.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>A beautiful walk year-round beside the Beaulieu River, the footpath from the pretty New Forest village of Beaulieu winds just over two miles to the historic shipbuilding hamlet of Buckler&#8217;s Hard.</p>



<p>Starting out in the main street in Beaulieu Village, the 4.5-mile (7.5k) round trip passes through parts of the North Solent National Nature Reserve, with plenty of nature, flora and fauna to look and listen out for. It&#8217;s the last part of the <a href="https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/walking/solentway-lymington" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lymington to Beaulieu</a> leg of <a href="https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/walking/solentway" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Solent Way</a>, a coastal footpath running from Milford on Sea to Emsworth Harbour.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-look-out-for">What to look out for</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-High-Street-postcards-min-1000x750.jpg" alt="New Forest shop window Beaulieu postcards Hampshire" class="wp-image-33255" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-High-Street-postcards-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-High-Street-postcards-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-High-Street-postcards-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-High-Street-postcards-min.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1998" height="2015" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Donkeys-at-Beaulieu.jpg" alt="Donkeys at Queensmead Village Shop Beaulieu" class="wp-image-33261" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Donkeys-at-Beaulieu.jpg 1998w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Donkeys-at-Beaulieu-793x800.jpg 793w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Donkeys-at-Beaulieu-992x1000.jpg 992w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Donkeys-at-Beaulieu-768x775.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Donkeys-at-Beaulieu-1523x1536.jpg 1523w" sizes="(max-width: 1998px) 100vw, 1998px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">How much for a scoop? Pic: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/queensmeadshop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@queensmeadshop</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Make time for a wander along the pretty High Street through Beaulieu village where you’ll often find donkeys trotting along and peering in shop windows.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Bucklers-Hard-Sign-post-min.jpg" alt="Beaulieu Bucklers Hard sign posts hampshire walk" class="wp-image-33254" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Bucklers-Hard-Sign-post-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Bucklers-Hard-Sign-post-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Bucklers-Hard-Sign-post-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Bucklers-Hard-Sign-post-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1053" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-field-view-2-min.jpg" alt="Field at Beaulieu walk to Buckler's Hard New Forest" class="wp-image-33256" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-field-view-2-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-field-view-2-min-800x562.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-field-view-2-min-1000x702.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-field-view-2-min-768x539.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The Beaulieu to Buckler&#8217;s Hard footpath itself passes by meadows and ancient woodlands. Information boards will tell you about native nature, flora and fauna, from great spotted woodpeckers and silver washed fritillary butterflies to common spotted orchids.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-trees-min.jpg" alt="Woodland near Beaulieu walk Hampshire New Forest" class="wp-image-33258" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-trees-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-trees-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-trees-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Walk-trees-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-walk-Millie-reading-sign-min.jpg" alt="Nature information board near Beaulieu Solent Way walk new forest Hampshire" class="wp-image-33257" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-walk-Millie-reading-sign-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-walk-Millie-reading-sign-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-walk-Millie-reading-sign-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-walk-Millie-reading-sign-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Before you reach Buckler’s Hard, look out for Bailey&#8217;s Hard, site of the Beaulieu Estate&#8217;s old brickworks and a historic ship-building centre in its own right. </p>



<p>Further on, a 50-yard (signposted) detour from the path takes you down to the Keeping Marsh Birdwatching Hide, where you might spot wildfowl and wading birds like ringed plover and oystercatchers. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Bucklers-Hard-Dukes-Bath-House-min.jpg" alt="The Duke's Bath house Buckler's Hard" class="wp-image-33264" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Bucklers-Hard-Dukes-Bath-House-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Bucklers-Hard-Dukes-Bath-House-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Bucklers-Hard-Dukes-Bath-House-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Bucklers-Hard-Dukes-Bath-House-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>A stone’s throw from town, on the banks of the Beaulieu River beside the marina, the Duke&#8217;s Bath House is a charming, thatched cottage, built in 1760, converted as a quirky holiday let.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Bucklers-Hard-min.jpg" alt="Bucklers Hard sign Beaulieu River" class="wp-image-33263" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Bucklers-Hard-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Bucklers-Hard-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Bucklers-Hard-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Bucklers-Hard-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Bucklers-Hard-Beaulieu-min.jpg" alt="Buckler's Hard New Forest Hampshire Beaulieu River" class="wp-image-33265" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Bucklers-Hard-Beaulieu-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Bucklers-Hard-Beaulieu-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Bucklers-Hard-Beaulieu-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Bucklers-Hard-Beaulieu-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Reaching the historic Buckler&#8217;s Hard the iconic 18th and 19th century cottages line a wide central street down to the river. Famous for building ships for Nelson&#8217;s navy, if time allows, pop into the Maritime Museum and Shipwright&#8217;s Cottage to learn all about it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pub-and-cafe-pitstops">Pub and café pitstops</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Montys-Pub-exterior-min.jpg" alt="Monty's Pub Beaulieu New Forest Hampshire" class="wp-image-33259" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Montys-Pub-exterior-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Montys-Pub-exterior-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Montys-Pub-exterior-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Montys-Pub-exterior-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Fancy a pint? There are plenty of places to eat or grab a drink in Beaulieu like the dog and family-friendly <a href="https://www.montaguarmshotel.co.uk/montys_inn.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monty’s Pub</a> beside the <a href="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/montagu-arms-hotel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Montagu Arms Hotel</a>. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Queensmead-store-sign-min.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-33266" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Queensmead-store-sign-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Queensmead-store-sign-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Queensmead-store-sign-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Queensmead-store-sign-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Lunch at <a href="https://www.bellordandbrown.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bellord and Brown</a> or <a href="https://www.thebeaulieubakehouse.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Beaulieu Bakehouse</a> and order a scoop or two of New Forest ice cream in all kinds of flavours from the handy hole-in-the-wall window at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/queensmeadshop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Queensmead Village Shop</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Master-Builders-min.jpg" alt="Entrance to Henry's Pub at the Master Builders Buckler's Hard Beaulieu River walk" class="wp-image-33260" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Master-Builders-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Master-Builders-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Master-Builders-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/02/Beaulieu-Master-Builders-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>When you get to Buckler’s Hard, <a href="https://www.themasterbuilders.co.uk/henrys" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Henry&#8217;s</a> pub at The Master Builders (above) has a cosy bar with a fire and a garden in the summer. Or grab a seat at <a href="https://bucklershard.co.uk/the-captains-table/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Captain&#8217;s Table</a> in Buckler&#8217;s Hard Maritime Museum for lunch or coffee.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-family-friendly">Family friendly?</h2>



<p>Yes. The five-mile round trip might be a stretch for the littlest legs but the path is flat enough for prams, pushchairs and bikes. Also worth knowing there’s a free public playground at the Beaulieu side of the footpath.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-to-park">Where to park</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/1385/Beaulieu-Car-Park-Beaulieu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beaulieu pay and display car park</a> in the village has electric car charging points, free public loos and a water bottle refill spot. If you prefer to walk from Buckler’s Hard and back, park at <a href="https://bucklershard.co.uk/car-parking-charges/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buckler&#8217;s Hard Maritime Museum.</a></p>


Great Hampshire Walks: Beaulieu to Buckler’s Hard

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