The Beaulieu River is fairly regarded as one of the most romantic and fascinating areas of Southern England. Situated on the South Coast of Hampshire, the 12 mile long river runs from the New Forest National Park to the internationally renowned sailing area of the Solent (a 30 mile strip of sea seperating Hampsphire and the Isle of Wight).
Unusually for a river in England, the river at Beaulieu is entirely privately owned, by the Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, and has been since 1926, along with the foreshore, and a large amount of the surrounding countryside. It was previously Crown property, but was given away by King John in the 13th century to the monks who founded the Beaulieu Abbey.
Starting near Lyndhurst in the New Forest, it runs through the forest heaths to the village of Beaulieu where it becomes tidal. The river flows through the forest to the historic ship building village of Buckler’s Hard, before emerging into the sea (the Solent), where the entrance to the river is marked by the Millennium Beacon. South West of the river entrance, just a few miles across the Solent, lies Cowes, a extremely famous sailing town on the north coast of the Isle of Wight, that hosts the worlds largest sailing race every summer.
Most of the river is navigable to small craft at high tide, making it ideal for a Solent rib charter, however a 5 knot speed limit applies to the whole river, so it would be an extremely pleasant cruise (especially for kids and seniors) and would not exactly be a white knuckle ride.
There are a large number of moorings in the river, an anchorage opposite Gull Island, and a marina at Buckler’s Hard between them offer generous berthing for your Solent boat charer, but be aware that the entrance to the river can be tricky, and should not be attempted at low tide.
Apart from the river itself, the most popular sightseeing attractions include:
Buckler’s Hard, which owing to its maritime history, including building wooden warships for Nelson’s fleet,(his favourite was the Agamemnon), maritime museum, real life reconstruction of life in the 18th Century and comprehensive facilities for boats and yachtsmen is a fascinating spot to stop at, and you would be in very good company. Sir Francis Chichester who was the first person to sail single-handedly around the world in Moth IV chose Buckler’s Hard for his home port, and you will have the opportunity to browse some exhibits relating to this voyage.
The most famous of the master shipbuilders who worked at Buckler’s Hard was Henry Adams, who lived at what is now the amazing Master Builder’s House Hotel. This is a place you really have to see, have a drink or a meal at, and even stay at if possible.
Beaulieu, which is one of the South of England’s top day visitor attractions which contains a good variety of exhibits such as the National Motor Museum, the World of Top Gear, the James Bond Experience, the Jaguar Jamboree and the Secret Army Exhibition. It also contains the historic Beaulieu Abbey and the Palace House.
The Riverside Walk links Buckler’s Hard and Beaulieu, is rich in birdlife, and your time would be well rewarded.
A few minutes walk from Bucker’s Hard (on the west bank of the river) you will find Exbury Gardens. This is a 200 acre earthly paradise, famous for its Rothschild Collection of plants, shrubs and trees. It also has its own steam railway.
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A Solent yacht charter provides you with a memorable sailing experience because the waters of the Solent are such an outstanding playground for sailing. Located between the South Coast of England and the Isle of Wight, the Solent is about thirty miles long by three to five miles wide. A rich diversity of landscapes and sailing conditions can be found here. Solent Yacht Chartering is the way to see and see and experience all of them.
There are a huge variety of marinas and harbours for you to choose from. For instance, you can choose a quiet natural harbour such as Newtown Creek, a nature reserve, a commercial one such as Southampton, or Portsmouth, with its historic dockyard containing Nelson’s flagship the HMS Victory, and home to the Royal Navy. The Solent itself is shielded to some extent from the worst of the weather by the island, and numerous other places are within easy reach, including the Jurassic Coast (the UK’s first World Heritage Site), the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, or France.
You will find many features (such as the Spinnaker Tower), attractions (such as Henry VIII’s ship, the Mary Rose), and obstacles await you in the Solent.
For example, what you will find includes: an historic ship wreck, tides exceeding four knots, dangerous rocks, a curved ledge with a trap in its hook, high speed catamarans and ribs, oil tankers, container ships and cruise ships, an offshore sandbank that is good enough to play cricket on, the greatest yacht race in the world, radar speed traps, pile moorings, a large number of marinas, a nature reserve that is a National Trust property, ferries and hovercraft, submerged submarine barriers, and mid channel defensive forts.
Ocean liners, warships, a naval dockyard, a small boat channel, fishing vessels, active minesweepers, floating railway sleepers, lighthouses, lateral buoys, cardinal buoys, safe water and remote hazard marks, locks, firing range area that is dangerous, sand bars, chain ferry and underwater pipelines that are marked by a fresnal lens are some other obstacles.
Due to the variety, the Solent is considered to be a sailing heaven and is the home of yachting. The Cowes Week event held annually has the Solent packed with many different types of boats, yachts and ships, which participate in simultaneous races throughout the week, that it is almost impossible to plot a straight course. It is this fantasticly rich diversity that allows for so many sailing schools, clubs and boat charter companies to thrive here. While the scenery might not be as magnificent as the West Coast of Scotland, or as warm as the Mediterranean is, there is no other place to be to enjoy sailing, and enjoy the unparalled variety of history, nature and sailing conditions.
When chartering a Solent yacht, motor yacht or powerboat, you can choose between bareboat charter (where you skipper the boat yourself if you have sufficient experience) or a skippered charter, where a skipper (and crew if the boat is large enough) takes charge of this for you.
A Solent yacht charter is ideal for families, friends, colleagues (as team building exercises etc) and potential clients (Corporate Events etc). You can also hire a yacht for a single day or weekend, so they are also brilliant for Stag & Hen parties.
Yacht charter can be tailored to suit most requirements and budget, from the fairly basic to the ultimate in luxury yachts.
A fantasic sailing adventure in the Solent awaits you, so start making enquiries now about your Solent charter. Bon Voyage !
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