Beaulieu
Beaulieu is a beautiful town on the Beaulieu estate in the middle of the New Forest in Hampshire. As the ‘estate’ part suggests, the town is operated by Beaulieu Enterprises Ltd - all owned by the Montagu family whose legacy in Beaulieu goes back four centuries.
It is a gorgeous town and though it’s small there is enough to do that it’s worth visiting. It’s also beautiful enough that even if there wasn’t anything to do you could just enjoy sitting on the estuary bank watching the herons come and go.
Getting To The Town
Getting to the town is simple if you’ve got a car or prepared to wait until Summer for the New Forest Tour bus. However if you are coming out of season and do not have a car - I’m sorry to say it’s a bit awkward. Do not get the train to Bournemouth and get off at the (very misleadingly named) Beaulieu Road stop. It’s in the middle of nowhere and not even walking distance to the town. My honest advice is to wait until high season or hire a car.
In terms of parking, again it’s best in low season and you can either park Beaulieu Car Park (just behind the New Forest Classic Cars show room) or be a wee bit cheeky and go in the Garden Centre, (just make sure to buy some new compost or a packet of geraniums).
Doing In Beaulieu
Beaulieu is - as I have already said - on the small side. So it’s great for a day trip, not so much for a two week stay, unless of course you’re renting out one of the beautiful homes that line the estuary in which case please invite me!
There is of course the high street, Buckler’s Hard, the Motor Museum, beautiful walking country and cosy boutiques. So, here is how to spend a day in Beaulieu - a place that caters very well for everyone of every age.
Beaulieu River
It’s hard to talk about Beaulieu without mentioning the River. Beaulieu is inland but is centred around a tidal estuary called Beaulieu River, (formerly the River Exe). The river goes from Lyndhurst just up the road and - if you follow it - will take you into the Solent directly opposite the Isle of Wight. The estuary used to be a key space for shipbuilding in the area, hence why you have Buckler’s Hard which was a huge exporter of wooden ships both naval and merchant vessels. The river itself is hugely important though I won’t bore you with it all here, it used to power a mill in the village and though it’s mainly only usable for small craft has - since 2000 - been marked by the Beaulieu River Beacon.
Due to being tidal there are lots of beautiful birdlife, especially if as in the pictures below, you visit when the mud flats are exposed. Stay quiet long enough and follow the road out to find some less popular spots - unfortunately the road is very close so not ideal for letting the dog off or having kids run free. Especially since the mud is sinking. But it’s a lovely spot if you don’t mind sitting with the road noise to get a gorgeous view of the town and to perhaps see a heron.
Beaulieu Motor Museum, Palace House etc
Car enthusiasts will know Beaulieu for the motor museum. I went when I was very young so there are no photos here! However I can remember the grounds being very beautiful and the car collection was truly enormous - even for a girl who loved cars it was quite enough. There is of course the Top Gear experience which came around when I was no longer admitting to liking cars and would have rather thrown myself in the estuary than be seen out in the world - however I have heard good things.
Palace House is - as might be imagined - a beautiful house with extensive grounds and gardens - what’s not to like? It’s also next to Beaulieu Abbey so you can get your fill of historical goodness then go for a decadent lunch somewhere delightful. You can get tours around the manor - and the grounds really are gorgeous. I would suggest adding this to your itinerary especially if you have little ones you are trying to keep entertained. Bring a picnic and have a snack among the hydrangea bushes.
Walking: Beaulieu to Buckler’s Hard
You can walk from Beaulieu to Buckler’s Hard, I would suggest parking in the long stay section. It is a good walk but unfortunately not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies. You must keep dogs on a lead through the estate grounds and it doesn’t go by the river but instead cuts inland. However it makes a beautiful walk and even goes through semi-ancient woodland. Again because it is cultivated estate land there are no ponies but that means children can roam happily without you needing to worry about them being kicked.
I’m a fan of walking, especially in places as beautiful as the New Forest. Even though I would call myself a local I still find new places to explore and even find that day by day it all changes. So bring your walking boots with you, get an OS map or just follow your nose
The New Forest is home not only to cows and deer but also wild ponies and pigs. The key word here is wild. The Forest is utterly magical and deserves the attention it receives as a nature reserve and national park. If you do go out walking in it - and I seriously suggest you do - please be respectful and bear in mind that it is a wild place. There are marshes, bogs, woods so thick you can easily loose your way and animals who do not care what car you drive or how important you are in your job. Take all litter home with you, do not light barbecues or fires and do not feed the ponies or drive recklessly/aggressively. Please.
In The Area
Usually I don’t do a section like this but there is so much to explore in this area especially if you’re staying Beaulieu way. So here’s a list:
Exbury Gardens: stunning, heavenly, utterly beautiful - just take a day and mooch.
Lyndhurst: pretty and quaint but hell driving in and out during high season. Beautiful walks out Beaulieu side.
Brockenhurst: ditto - my advice would be to not go during term time otherwise you have college students to contend with. It’s on the main trainline with a direct to Lymington that gets you to the Isle of Wight so it’s very central. Pretty walks and good pubs
Food In Beaulieu
Food, coffee and ice cream are easy to find and range from long dinners at Monty’s Inn or The Terrace to the tea-room experience at Pallets Tea & Coffee House. Whatever your budget or requirements, you can probably find something to cater to every need.
Beaulieu Bakehouse
Unpretentious, cosy and home-made without making you feel squeamish the Beaulieu Bakehouse is my recommendation for lunch or elevenses when you come to Beaulieu. It’s up the lane from the main car park and has outdoor bench seating as well as indoor options. Dogs are welcome so you don’t need to leave your bestie in the cold tied up by the boots. We were not ready for lunch so indulged in a huge scone each covered in lashings of butter and homemade jam. The hot chocolate had thick shavings of chocolate on top and the Americano was piping hot and strong. We sat on a bench outside in the sun with a chatty little chaffinch keeping us company - it was utterly lovely and just off the high street as well.
Shopping In Beaulieu
Beaulieu is - as already mentioned - owned by the Montagu family. Probably as a result of this there are no chain shops in the town, which is so lovely to discover. Boutiquey shops and artisan craft shops can be found all down the high street, so bring lots of spending money - especially since there’s a chocolate shop that sells handmade chocolate made on-site. Here were my favourites:
Beaulieu Chocolate Studio
Norris Gifts & Furnishings
Belle & Blossom Florists
