Bucklers hard, any good??

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SolentPhill

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Just planning a 2 week trip on the boat and looking into places we not been, bucklers I've heard but never been to it.

Is it worth it? Do they have visitors? Good facilities? Local amenities? Any good places to eat or visit?

Thanks

SP
 
It's a lovely location for an overnight stop, but I was going to write a "showers: Rant" post. I might write it anyway, but in summary, the showers are fine for very very skinny and short people.

Pub is okay for drinks, and the master builders for food in the evening, although pricey for what they serve. Alternatives are further up in the village.

The small museum is worth a visit, as is the Beaulieu motor museum.

If they can't find a marina berth for you, then attaching to a buoy in the river can be fun if you have a tender.
 
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SolentPhill said:
Just planning a 2 week trip on the boat and looking into places we not been, bucklers I've heard but never been to it.

Is it worth it? Do they have visitors? Good facilities? Local amenities? Any good places to eat or visit?

Thanks

SP
Click to expand...

We really like it, Master Builder the only place to eat at BH itself, and its OK... they have a BBQ running in the garden that, after a couple of ales certainly fills a hole. A walk to Beaulieu itself is worth doing if nice, about 40mins each way, a few little shops and the Montague arms which is good.. we always have to go to the teddy bear shop for my daughter...

If you dont fancy a walk go up in a dingy and at HW you can tie up right in the village, takes about 15mins by dingy... ponys and cows wonder through the village at regular intervals which is always amusing.

Facilities at BH a bit basic in todays world, but clean and OK. Just a nice place to wake up on a quiet Sunday morning....
 
Yep its well worth visiting. Nice spot

If you are looking at spending more than one night there consider visiting Beaulieu and the motor museum.

Look at the website for details of any deals.

Catering at the Master Builder's think is probably typical of that from large hotel/restaurant chains. Fine if you are just looking for something decent to eat. Disappointing maybe if you are expecting something special.

http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/
http://www.themasterbuilders.co.uk/
http://www.bucklershard.co.uk/
 
Do they raft, or do you have your own mooring.

I'm making rough plans on the iPad almanac on boat.

Also do they have water and power?

Is it clearly marked the first leg of the river is but then there are no markers
 
just keep inside the little sticks (withies) planted along the way.
It's fairly obvious where to go most of the time.

If in doubt, keep to the middle.

Marina berths have water and power, although I usually end up not far from the fuel pontoon. Some rafting if busy.

Buoys have, Errm, some chain??
 
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SolentPhill said:
Do they raft, or do you have your own mooring.

I'm making rough plans on the iPad almanac on boat.

Also do they have water and power?

Is it clearly marked the first leg of the river is but then there are no markers
Click to expand...

you can call ahead a book into the marina (without payment), they do raft on a walk ashore pontoon and they have a larger visitor pontoon in the river just a little further up from the marina. Power and water available at marina, not on Visitors river pontoon, and unsure on walkashore pontoon availability of power, water certainly... as SWMBO forbids anything but a marina berth not too sure..

River clearly marked the whole way up, as pile markers end withies start, very easy navigation.
 
If its sunny, you have to take a white bouy 500 metres past the pontoons.
Just you, the ripple of the river and the birds.
Hotel always fails to impress. BBQ is expensive and rubbish. Stick with a pint and some crisps, sit on the lawn and watch the boats chug past.
 
Shouldn't be a problem on a mooring. Not sure how they feel about it in the Marina, particularly on A Pontoon (closest to the fuel berth :))

Unless it's improved dramatically in the past couple of months, the standards of food and service at the Master Builders pub remain resolutely mediocre. Don't know about the Hotel Restaurant because I can't afford it but other, wealthier Forumites have reported varying degrees of enthusiasm for it. Monty's Brasserie in Beaulieu itself is a bit better and it's a pleasant walk, or dinghy ride with the right tides, from BH.

I am terminally biased, because I'm moored on the River, but it's the loveliest, least spoiled spot in the Solent. :)
 
Go for it - try and do one night (or more) on a mooring - it is totally different to waking up in a marina ... ok - no power, no water - but peace and quiet (ignoring the wildlife!)

Watch out for spring low (BH time? - when they have the Bramble Cricket match) - up river can get a bit shallow - my Bav rested her keel (1.45m) for a while a couple of years go - no prob for me though ...
 
fireball said:
Go for it - try and do one night (or more) on a mooring - it is totally different to waking up in a marina ... ok - no power, no water - but peace and quiet (ignoring the wildlife!)

Watch out for spring low (BH time? - when they have the Bramble Cricket match) - up river can get a bit shallow - my Bav rested her keel (1.45m) for a while a couple of years go - no prob for me though ...
Click to expand...

That being said.. choose a big spring high and navigate with it all the way up.. choose a better day than me though

0702100003.jpg
 
oGaryo said:
I know they object to personal bbq's on the grass but am I right in saying there's no probs firing up a BBQ on the boat itself?
Click to expand...

If you ask the HM you should be able to use one of their two oil drum BBQs down at the bottom of the green. £10 if I remember right. Bring your own charcoal, food 7 drink. Big rubbish bins nearby for the debris. Very pleasant.
 
As I type this on the iPad I am at Beaulieu got on the pontoons it's really nice here this is boating at it's best, in the last week I have stayed ay Lymington, Portland, Torquay, Poole. This place is so quiet it's lovely. Did eat in master builder was expensive but the soup was one of the best I've had.

Thanks for the tips they all paid off.

Cowes for sat night.
 
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