Buckler's Hard

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Things to do in Buckler's Hard

Visit The Buckler's Hard Story to find out more about its origins, the building of ships for Nelson's Navy, the role of the River in the D-Day landings, and Chichester's epic round the world voyages. The displays and exhibits include ship models, photographs, a scale model depicting the village in 1803, and a Puckle's gun, designed to fire round bullets at Christians and square ones at everyone else!

You can cruise on the tranquil Beaulieu River in Swiftsure. While you slowly meander down the River you can enjoy its beauty and see the abundant wildlife that lines its banks as you cruise down the River to the North Solent National Nature Reserve, past Exbury Gardens renowned for its rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias.

The Beaulieu river and its bank form part of a National Nature Reserve, which is particularly noted for its bird life. Need's Ore, at the mouth of the river, is home to the largest colony of Black Headed Gulls in the country. The river is also an important wetland for waterfowl and supports many rare species including Dark Bellied Brent Geese, Teal, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, and four different types of Terns. Other birds that can regularly be seen on the river's edge include Shelduck, Curlew, Redshank and Oyster Catchers.

There is an exciting range of Canoeing and Kayaking activities from Buckler's Hard on Beaulieu River.

There is a picturesque footpath between Buckler's Hard and Beaulieu of about 2 1/4 miles. The path starts at the back of the Yacht Harbour and Agamemnon Boatyard and then leads through to Keeping Copse. At this point, the path divides into two tracks, the riverside walk running close to the river bank, and the main footpath straight through the woods. Here, trees were grown with shipbuilding in mind and they were encouraged to produce the heavy side branches from which different parts of the ship's frame could be cut. Several of these trees can still be seen.

After passing through Jarvis' Copse, the footpath runs through the meadows between Beaulieu village and the banks of the river. The path emerges next to the Montagu Arms Hotel, at which point most walkers turns left, either to visit the high street, or to walk on to the National Motor Museum.

Bucklers Hard has a number of attractions least of which is the Maritime Museum itself which shows the history of the village including various rooms which have been recreated to portray life in 1973.

Buckler's Hard Marina is one of the most picturesque marinas on the south coast of England offering access to the Solent and beyond. The Marina welcomes both visiting yachtsman and visitor alike.

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