BUCKLERS HARD

For people who enjoy walking trails, Bucklers Hard, on the west bank of the Beaulieu River, can be reached from Lymington by means of a portion of the Solent Way, a 60-mile trail stretching from Milford On Sea to Emsworth on the border with West Sussex. The walk includes a corner of the New Forest, which lies just inland of this stretch of coast. Otherwise, Bucklers Hard is reached by means of a series of minor roads. Unfortunately, it is not possible to just turn up and wander round this picturesque riverside village and former naval shipyard. The whole village is a museum, and there is an entrance fee to get in. However, it is a worthwhile diversion, especially for history buffs.

Lord Nelson owed the existence of two of his fleet of ships to Bucklers Hard. His favourite ship, Agamemnon, was built in 1781, and saw action in the French Revolutionary, American Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Sadly, she came to an ignominious end in the River Plate during her service in South America, when she became grounded while seeking refuge from a storm. HMS Euryalus, built in 1803, took part in the Battle of Trafalgar and the War of 1812, but ended up in the breaker’s yard in Gibraltar in 1860.

A short distance further along the Solent Way from Bucklers Hard is the village of Beaulieu, which is famous as the location of the National Motor Museum.

Map of the area.

Bucklers Hard Village - geograph.org.uk - 1105043. Photo by Barry Shimmon, via Wikimedia Commons.