One of the most visited New Forest
hot-spots, Beaulieu is remarkably pretty with it’s picturesque thatched
cottages and setting by the Beaulieu River.
Some interesting places to visit in
Beaulieu are the Motor Museum, which plays host to hundreds of cars,
bikes and buses, and the gothic Palace House. Also worth a look is
Beaulieu Abbey which was founded in the 12th century by King John.
Along Beaulieu River is the
interesting town of Bucklers Hard. Set right on the river, it’s
certainly a pleasant place to stop off and have a stroll. Here you’ll find the
Maritime Museum as well as the Master Builders House Hotel which has both
a restaurant and bar.
Slightly north of Beaulieu is the Otter
& Owl Wildlife Park, set in 25 acres of wood and parkland. Aside from
having various species of owls and otters, the park also houses different types
of deer, boars and other species.
To the North-West of Beaulie is Eling
Tide Mill – famous because it’s the only remaining and fully functional
working tide mill in the world. The mill harnesses the power of the tide in
order to make flour as well as feed for the local ponies.
To the east of Bucklers hard lies the
beautiful Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway – the gardens are a good
example of quaint English gardens and have a variety of lovely flowers including
camellias, roses, magnolias, azaleas and more. There’s a quaint little tea
room open to visitors where you can snack on cream scones and traditional
English tea.
There are a few choices for
accommodation in and around the Beaulieu region:
-
Montagu Arms Hotel (Beaulieu, New Forest)
-
Greycott (Masseys Lane, Beaulieu, New Forest)
-
Leygreen Farmhouse (Lyndhurst Road, Beaulieu, New Forest)