Lyndhurst – July 2017
Arriving into Lyndhurst it was busy, but as we queued we got opportunity to admire the pretty surroundings, including a few thatched houses.
The reason for the traffic was clearer when we arrived at the traffic lights, it was a T junction and tight for buses and lorries to get ‘round when entering or leaving. We turned left, as it was one way, and then took the first turning on the right signposted parking. It was a good size car park, offering long and short stay options. Reading the sign at the pay machine my wife noticed there was something regarding a parking clock for £6, which we read it as you would then be able to park for free in any of the local council car parks within the new forest for a whole year, however on speaking to a gentleman at tourist information, he said it was £20 for the year, which sounded more realistic and good value for residents. The tourist information shop was at the bottom of the car park, it also housed a small free entry museum and next to tourist information there is the public toilets.
The high street is very picturesque, with gift shops, butchers, café’s and unexpectedly, Maserati and Ferrari showrooms at the bottom, however one down side is the traffic, it seems to be constant and noisy. Taking a break from the high street, we stopped off at The Mad Hatters Tea Room at the top end of the high street, they have a terrace at the rear, where we sat and enjoyed cream teas.
A lovely village, well worth a visit!
Arriving into Lyndhurst it was busy, but as we queued we got opportunity to admire the pretty surroundings, including a few thatched houses.
The reason for the traffic was clearer when we arrived at the traffic lights, it was a T junction and tight for buses and lorries to get ‘round when entering or leaving. We turned left, as it was one way, and then took the first turning on the right signposted parking. It was a good size car park, offering long and short stay options. Reading the sign at the pay machine my wife noticed there was something regarding a parking clock for £6, which we read it as you would then be able to park for free in any of the local council car parks within the new forest for a whole year, however on speaking to a gentleman at tourist information, he said it was £20 for the year, which sounded more realistic and good value for residents. The tourist information shop was at the bottom of the car park, it also housed a small free entry museum and next to tourist information there is the public toilets.
The high street is very picturesque, with gift shops, butchers, café’s and unexpectedly, Maserati and Ferrari showrooms at the bottom, however one down side is the traffic, it seems to be constant and noisy. Taking a break from the high street, we stopped off at The Mad Hatters Tea Room at the top end of the high street, they have a terrace at the rear, where we sat and enjoyed cream teas.
A lovely village, well worth a visit!
Beaulieu – July 2017
How many pretty little villages can you pass 5 donkeys on the high street, a combine harvester drive along the narrow road you just drove in on and 4 wild horses stroll down the same road a few minutes later?
The answer is Beaulieu!
The drive to Beaulieu from Lyndhurst (pictures below) does help explain some of this, as you drive through open pasture and woodland and it appears horses and donkeys are free to roam Beaulieu, apparently cows and pigs are also free to roam in the new forest, cows were blocking one road on the drive in, but we never saw any loose pigs.
How many pretty little villages can you pass 5 donkeys on the high street, a combine harvester drive along the narrow road you just drove in on and 4 wild horses stroll down the same road a few minutes later?
The answer is Beaulieu!
The drive to Beaulieu from Lyndhurst (pictures below) does help explain some of this, as you drive through open pasture and woodland and it appears horses and donkeys are free to roam Beaulieu, apparently cows and pigs are also free to roam in the new forest, cows were blocking one road on the drive in, but we never saw any loose pigs.
It’s a little smaller than I was hoping and only one small car park in the centre, which you can easily miss, when you’re focusing on which way the donkey in front of you is going to go, the sign on the lamppost is not exactly in view, the car park entrance is on the right down a little lane.
There’s a high street, but not much to it, a few shops, garden centre at the top and the donkey of course. Just a few minutes’ walk from the high street, there’s some fantastic views of the river, on one side what looks more like a lake, where the water is held back by sluice gates and on the other another wide section of river, only this side was clearly tidal.
Albeit a very small village, with not much in the way of shops, however very picturesque and although we didn’t go, behind a wall running alongside the road, there’s Palace House and the National Motor Museum, somewhere we’d research when we look to return in the future.
There’s a high street, but not much to it, a few shops, garden centre at the top and the donkey of course. Just a few minutes’ walk from the high street, there’s some fantastic views of the river, on one side what looks more like a lake, where the water is held back by sluice gates and on the other another wide section of river, only this side was clearly tidal.
Albeit a very small village, with not much in the way of shops, however very picturesque and although we didn’t go, behind a wall running alongside the road, there’s Palace House and the National Motor Museum, somewhere we’d research when we look to return in the future.
Brockenhurst – July 2017
Following on from our visits to Beaulieu and Lymington, we were hoping for something similar, however sadly our opinion of Brockenhurst was a little boring, it’s not a big high street and we didn’t see anything of real interest. We did go for a little walk around the village, there are a few nice looking pubs and we did come across some horses roaming free and they have decided to leave their mark all over the pavements!
Following on from our visits to Beaulieu and Lymington, we were hoping for something similar, however sadly our opinion of Brockenhurst was a little boring, it’s not a big high street and we didn’t see anything of real interest. We did go for a little walk around the village, there are a few nice looking pubs and we did come across some horses roaming free and they have decided to leave their mark all over the pavements!
