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Buckler's Hard is located on England's south coast, four miles up the River Beaulieu. The river is accessed from the western Solent, where it begins its winding journey through the New Forest. Buckler's Hard serves as the administrative hub for the river and features a fully serviced walk-ashore marina, mid-river pontoons, and moorings, along with numerous boat facilities in an otherwise secluded location.

Buckler's Hard is located on England's south coast, four miles up the River Beaulieu. The river is accessed from the western Solent, where it begins its winding journey through the New Forest. Buckler's Hard serves as the administrative hub for the river and features a fully serviced walk-ashore marina, mid-river pontoons, and moorings, along with numerous boat facilities in an otherwise secluded location.

Set within the Solent and deep within the Beaulieu River, Bucklers Hard provides complete protection. Although the river has a moderately shallow sandbar that requires some draft consideration, access remains straightforward. It is essential to stay in the channel all the way to Bucklers Hard.
Please note

The river Beaulieu is best avoided by newcomers in developed southwesterly conditions of F5 or above. In these conditions, breakers are possible, and the acute turn to port in the entrance may be challenging. The recent addition of newly lit beacons and buoys makes the run up the river to Bucklers Hard possible at night.




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Keyfacts for Buckler's Hard
Facilities
Water hosepipe available alongsideWater available via tapWaste disposal bins availableDiesel fuel available alongsidePetrol available alongsideGas availableShop with basic provisions availableSlipway availableLaundry facilities availableShore power available alongsideShore based toilet facilitiesShowers available in the vicinity or by arrangementHot food available in the localityPublic house or wine bar in the areaMarked or notable walks in the vicinity of this locationChandlery available in the areaTrolley or cart available for unloading and loadingHaul-out capabilities via arrangementBoatyard with hard-standing available here; covered or uncoveredScrubbing posts or a place where a vessel can dry out for a scrub below the waterlineMarine engineering services available in the areaRigging services available in the areaElectronics or electronic repair available in the areaSail making or sail repair servicesBus service available in the areaTourist Information office availableShore based family recreation in the area


Nature
Marina or pontoon berthing facilitiesVisitors moorings available, or possibly by club arrangementJetty or a structure to assist landingScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinityHistoric, geographic or culturally significant location; or in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
Dangerous to enter when it is Beaufort force 4 or more from SE, SSE and S.Restriction: may be subject to a sand barNote: strong tides or currents in the area that require considerationNote: harbour fees may be charged

Protected sectors

Current wind over the protected quadrants
Minimum depth
2 metres (6.56 feet).

Approaches
4 stars: Straightforward; when unaffected by weather from difficult quadrants or tidal consideration, no overly complex dangers.
Shelter
5 stars: Complete protection; all-round shelter in all reasonable conditions.



Last modified
June 4th 2025

Summary* Restrictions apply

A completely protected location with straightforward access.


Best time to enter or exit

The Western Approaches to The Solent and the run-up to Southampton Route location provides shoreline guidance and a tidal timer.
Facilities
Water hosepipe available alongsideWater available via tapWaste disposal bins availableDiesel fuel available alongsidePetrol available alongsideGas availableShop with basic provisions availableSlipway availableLaundry facilities availableShore power available alongsideShore based toilet facilitiesShowers available in the vicinity or by arrangementHot food available in the localityPublic house or wine bar in the areaMarked or notable walks in the vicinity of this locationChandlery available in the areaTrolley or cart available for unloading and loadingHaul-out capabilities via arrangementBoatyard with hard-standing available here; covered or uncoveredScrubbing posts or a place where a vessel can dry out for a scrub below the waterlineMarine engineering services available in the areaRigging services available in the areaElectronics or electronic repair available in the areaSail making or sail repair servicesBus service available in the areaTourist Information office availableShore based family recreation in the area


Nature
Marina or pontoon berthing facilitiesVisitors moorings available, or possibly by club arrangementJetty or a structure to assist landingScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinityHistoric, geographic or culturally significant location; or in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
Dangerous to enter when it is Beaufort force 4 or more from SE, SSE and S.Restriction: may be subject to a sand barNote: strong tides or currents in the area that require considerationNote: harbour fees may be charged




Position and approaches
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Haven position

50° 48.002' N, 001° 25.294' W

This is the end of the southwest most pontoon.

What is the initial fix?

The following Beaulieu River Entrance Initial Fix will set up a final approach:
50° 46.585' N, 001° 21.390' W
This is set on the 324° T transit adjacent to the Yellow Buoy Fl.Y 4s (Mar - Oct), establishing the ideal approach to the Beaulieu Dolphin and, subsequently, to the entrance.


What are the key points of the approach?

The entry and the run-up thorough The Solent and Southampton Water are covered in
The Solent and Isle of Wight Route location coastal overview.

  • Keep outside the marks approaching the entrance to avoid seaward extending banks.

  • Intercept the 324° T alignment of the front Port red No. 2 pile on west end of Lepe House from the yellow spherical racing buoy and proceed in.

  • Pass The Beaulieu Spit dolphin 40 metres to port then steer for the entrance's Millennium Beacon.

  • Follow a mid-channel path through the closely spaced port and starboard piles through the entrance and the lower part of the river, withies further upriver.

  • Berth as directed; designated visitor moorings in the river, Bucklers Hard mid-river pontoon, starboard side of the river, or the marina, port side of the river.


Not what you need?
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Below are the ten nearest havens to Buckler's Hard for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
  1. Gins Farm - 0.9 nautical miles SSE
  2. Gull Island - 1.7 nautical miles SE
  3. Ashlett - 3.6 nautical miles ENE
  4. Salt Mead Ledge - 4.1 nautical miles SSE
  5. Thorness Bay - 4.1 nautical miles SSE
  6. Newtown River Entrance - 4.4 nautical miles S
  7. Hythe Marina Village - 4.6 nautical miles N
  8. Newtown River - 4.6 nautical miles S
  9. Netley - 4.7 nautical miles NE
  10. Lymington Harbour - 4.8 nautical miles SW
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
  1. Gins Farm - 0.9 miles SSE
  2. Gull Island - 1.7 miles SE
  3. Ashlett - 3.6 miles ENE
  4. Salt Mead Ledge - 4.1 miles SSE
  5. Thorness Bay - 4.1 miles SSE
  6. Newtown River Entrance - 4.4 miles S
  7. Hythe Marina Village - 4.6 miles N
  8. Newtown River - 4.6 miles S
  9. Netley - 4.7 miles NE
  10. Lymington Harbour - 4.8 miles SW
To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

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Chart
Please use our integrated Navionics chart to appraise the haven and its approaches. Navionics charts feature in premier plotters from B&G, Raymarine, Magellan and are also available on tablets. Open the chart in a larger viewing area by clicking the expand to 'new tab' or the 'full screen' option.

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What's the story here?
Historic Buckler's Hard on the banks of the Beaulieu River
Image: Michael Harpur


Buckler's Hard is a historic hamlet situated on the western bank of the beautiful Beaulieu River about four miles upriver from the entrance. The river is part of the Beaulieu Estate and is one of the few privately owned rivers worldwide. Its private ownership and setting, within the heart of the New Forest National Park, have left it largely unspoilt, making it one of the Solent's quietest and most beautiful locations.


Buckler’s Hard offers a unique and tranquil destination
Image: Michael Harpur


The Beaulieu River Harbour Master's offerings were expanded during a significant enlargement and redevelopment in 2024. This included connecting to the old mid-river pontoon (shown separated in our photography), which provided 66 new berths.

The Beaulieu River Harbour Master now offers two berthing options:

  • • Secure a marina berth in Buckler's Hard Yacht Harbour, which features over 182 fully serviced marina berths, plus 46 visitor berths. It can accommodate vessels of up to 25 metres (82 ft.) LOA and has a maintained depth of 1.8 metres (6 ft.) below mean low water springs.

  • • Picking up visitor mooring. More than 300 swinging moorings are available on the river, and those with a yellow pick-up buoy marked with a black 'V' plate are designated for visitors.



Beaulieu River Harbour Office Buckler's Hard
Image: Michael Harpur


The marina berths and dedicated visitor moorings can be reserved in advance by contacting the Harbour Master's Office. This is manned 0800-2100 in summer; 0800-1800 in winter (0900-1800 weekends in winter) and are contactable by VHF Ch. 68 [Beaulieu River Radio], Landline+44 1590 616200, E-mailharbour.office@beaulieu.co.uk, Websitewww.beaulieuriver.co.uk. The helpful river staff will be encountered afloat during the summer, and they carry a list of suitable moorings, so they are delighted to assist.



The marina and boatyard prior to the 2024 redevelopment
Image: Michael Harpur


It is always best to contact the Harbour Office 24 hours in advance to make berthing arrangements. This is particularly the case regarding walk-ashore berths in the marina that can be reserved in advance. At peak times, such as bank holidays, it is advisable to reserve a berth as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment. Once reserved berths have been allocated, all vessels are dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis. All overnight visits in the marina must be pre-booked and paid for in advance.


It is always best to make marina berthing arrangements in advance
Image: Michael Harpur


With that said, it can generally be understood that visitor moorings marked with a yellow 'V' label may be freely picked up. If a designated visitor mooring cannot be found, using an unattended mooring with no tender is permissible. After doing so, the Harbour Office must be contacted immediately to confirm its availability. Please do not leave the vessel until it is confirmed that the mooring may be used. If, in the meantime, the mooring's owner returns, it should be vacated upon request.


2025 Season rates for visiting yachts, all vessels per meter, per vessel, per night, are as follows:

  • • Walk Ashore Pontoon £5.35 inc electricity (short stay, between 12:00 and 15:30, £2.50)

  • • River Moorings (upstream of Needs Ore) £3.00 (short stay £1.00)

The moorings inside the entrance near Gull Island and the Beaulieu River Sailing Club (1 – 8 marked with a white pickup buoy and a green 'V' plate) are only £15 per night, up to a max of 7 nights. Anchoring is possible in this area (between navigation piles 20 and 22) for £10 per night. The Harbourmaster requests overnight visitors to vacate their mooring/berth by midday.


Beaulieu River Sandbar

The entrance to the Beaulieu River, which leads up to Buckler's Hard, features a moderately shallow sandbar about 250 metres offshore near the river mouth. Although it is well covered and, thus, not overly restrictive, it remains an essential navigational consideration for vessels entering the river.


The prominent Beaulieu Spit dolphin marking the entrance to the Beaulieu River
Image: Michael Harpur


The bar's location is marked by a conspicuous port-hand tripod, called The Beaulieu Spit dolphin, Fl.R.5s, which makes its position unmistakable. Depths over the bar vary slightly according to the preceding winter storms. A reasonable expectation would be to find 1 metre over it at LW Springs. A more conservative measure to work a tidal calculation off would be 0.9 metres of water over it at CD, representing an extremely low water spring tide.

Therefore, it can be generally taken that the majority of leisure vessels can easily enter and exit the Beaulieu River by avoiding low water levels. Most visiting yachts will clear the bar by avoiding the two hours on either side of LW Springs or one hour on either side of LW Neaps. Moderate draft vessels carrying 1.5 metres only need to avoid making an entry an hour and a half on either side of LW Springs or an hour on either side of LW Neaps.


The summer house on the south side of the river where the river shallows
Image: Michael Harpur


An applicable local rule of thumb for when it comes to departing Bucklers Hard. There is a hump in the channel just off the summer house, near the No. 26 pile and 600 metres below the marina, which is about the same as the bar. So if this is cleared, the bar will also be cleared.


Other Considerations

Newcomers should avoid the Beaulieu River in any south-westerly conditions approaching Force 5. A Force 5 and above running up The Solent could lead to breakers in the approach. It would also involve a very terse rounding up immediately within the narrow entrance, all executed with the appropriately named Stone Point being the lee shore.

In the past, no night entry should be made unless it is a bright full moon with very good visibility, and the entering vessel has the benefit of local knowledge. Even then, it was inadvisable. In 2019, the harbour office added several lights to the river on some of the piles and introduced six new lit buoys, all aimed at making it much easier to enter at night and proceed upriver to Bucklers Hard. Each light provides a safe bearing to the next without impediments from the banks.

This makes entry and the accent of the river possible at any time of day. All new marks can be found on the updated Navionics and Admiralty charts and recent almanacs. If there is any uncertainty at night, it is entirely possible to come in the entrance and pick up a mooring near Gull Island or anchor off and then continue up to Bucklers Hard the next day in daylight.


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Stone Point and the Beaulieu River entrance through to Gin's Farm
Image: Mike Nicholls retired Beaulieu River Harbour Master


Convergance Point Refer to Western Approaches to the Solent Route location for appropriate navigational guidance. The well-marked river entrance is located about ¾ of a mile westward of Stansore Point.

Western Approach Local hazards for vessels approaching the entrance from the west include the mud banks off Warren Flat and Beaulieu Spit to the west. Shallow water extends out for ½ a mile to Lepe Middle, which has seasonal yellow spherical racing buoys moored on its perimeter. These should not be confused with the Raymarine Buoy, which marks the approach to the Beaulieu Spit dolphin and the entrance.

Eastern Approach The dangers to the east of the entrance are Stone Point, marked by a south cardinal that should be avoided. Stone Point is the greater of the dangers, as Beaulieu Spit is largely sand and mud.

In both cases, it is best to stand off the shoreline and commence an approach from the initial fix.


The Beaulieu Spit dolphin with Leap House seen in the backdrop
Image: Michael Harpur


Initial fix location The initial fix is adjacent to the yellow spherical Raymarine racing buoy, ⅓ of a mile from the Beaulieu Spit dolphin and ⅔ of a mile out from the Millennium Tower on the shoreline.

The piles inside the dolphin, Leap House, the Millennium Tower, Coastguard
Cottages and boathouse

Image: Michael Harpur


From there, it is essential to pick out the key features that mark the entrance to the River Beaulieu. In addition to the Millennium Tower, which will be obvious, the red-roofed Leap House, situated on the tower's west side, should be visible. A line of old coastguard cottages will be seen east of the tower, with a prominent white boathouse on the shoreline. After that, it is a matter of identifying the Beaulieu Spit dolphin and, most importantly, the Port Red No. 2 pile, which is the first pile from the dolphin.


The 324° T alignment of the No. 2 pile on west end of Lepe House drawing in
Image: Michael Harpur


From there, the traditional approach to the river entrance involves intercepting the well-established leading marks described on most charts and pilots. This corresponds to the 324° T alignment of the front Port red No. 2 pile on the left (west) side of Lepe House, which is situated on the shoreline within the entrance. The transit moves through the shallow water on either side of the leading line and then breaks off for the entrance when the No. 1 Beaulieu Spit dolphin is about 80 metres abeam.


The best water can be found by taking a central course through the beacons
Image: Michael Harpur


However, this leading in alignment takes a few moments to work out, as there are a few structures to clarify on the shore, and it can be challenging to determine which beacon is the Port No. 2 pile.


Millennium Tower is the central navigation feature
Image: Michael Harpur


Millennium Beacon - Lighthouse OC WRG 4s 13m 4/3 position: 50° 47.120'N, 001° 21.888'W

However, since the Millennium Tower has been established, this legacy approach to the entrance can overly complicate the navigation. With a good measure of water showing on the sounder, it is perfectly acceptable to steer from the initial fix, located 50 metres east of the Raymarine yellow spherical racing buoy, to pass 80 metres to port of the outermost Beaulieu Spit dolphin and then commence towards the Millennium Tower. By night, follow in the white sector, 334°T of the Dir Oc.WRG.4s Lt on the Millennium Beacon.

In all cases, the key is to maintain a constant track on the selected marks and not be pushed off course by the Solent's strong cross currents. Outside the entrance, these streams are generally eastbound on the flood and westbound on the ebb. The shallower water is on the west side of the approach path.


Yacht exiting through the substantial marks
Image: Michael Harpur


From 80 metres abrest and east of the Beaulieu Spit dolphin the path leads between substantial No. 1 / No. 2 piles that mark the channel entrance. They are located close north of Beaulieu Spit dolphin and are quickly followed by the closely spaced No. 3 / No. 4 and the No. 5 / No. 6, describing the channel behind. The Millennium Beacon will be seen in the middle. Once between the No. 1 / No. 2 piles, the channel deepens. The best water at the entrance will be found on the starboard side of the channel.


Within the entrance, the channel turns abruptly to port and proceeds west by
southwest

Image: Michael Harpur


Within the entrance, the channel turns abruptly to port and proceeds west by southwest. It continues to be marked by substantial port and starboard-hand pile beacons for 1¼ miles as far as Needs Ore Point. Seven beacons exhibit lights at night, with the remaining piles carrying red and green reflectors. The green piles mark the mainland's north side of the channel. This commences as a shale beach at the foot of the Millennium Tower and then transitions to mud flats and marshland.


Yacht on moorings off Gull Island
Image: Michael Harpur


On the opposite southern side is the Beaulieu Spit, awash or drying and rising westward towards Needs Ore Point. It is possible to anchor or pick up Beaulieu River Harbour Master moorings in this first reach of the river as separately covered in the Gull Island Click to view havenentry.


Two vessels proceeding upriver past Needs Ore Point
Image: Michael Harpur


Above Needs Ore Point, the river turns northwest for ¾ of a mile to the separately covered Gins Farm Click to view haven, home to Royal Southampton Yacht Club.


Royal Southampton Yacht Club jetty after which the river snakes northward
Image: Mike Nicholls retired Beaulieu River Harbour Master


After Needs Ore Point, the channel is marked by red and green willow branches, known as withies, that stand at the edges of the channel. Withies are branches of willow, red for port and green for starboard, which are set into the riverbed to mark the edges of the navigable channel upstream towards Buckler's Hard.


A starboard river 'withie'
Image: Michael Harpur

A mid-channel approach through the increasing lines of moored vessels, which themselves serve to describe the lay of the channel and its deeper water.


Outbound yacht following the starboard 'withies' opposite Gins Farm
Image: Michael Harpur


The Royal Southampton Yacht Club midriver pontoon at Gins Farm, situated opposite their clubhouse and jetty on the western bank, should be passed to starboard.


Local boat moorings in the river upstream of Gin's Farm
Image: Michael Harpur


From here, the lovely river continues northward for a mile. It begins to narrow as it winds between oak and beech-lined river banks. These tresses conceal enviable country houses set into this attractive wildlife reserve.


Bucklers Hard reveals itself around a river bend
Image: Michael Harpur


At the head of this mile-long northern reach, the narrowing wooded river swings hard to the west or port. Buckler's Hard reveals itself, nestled into a bend on the river's western shore. With the exception of the aforementioned mud patch 600 metres downstream of the marina and just off the summer house, near the No. 26 pile, a LWS depth of at least 1.8 metres can be found as far as Buckler's Hard.


Bucklers Hard nested into a bend of the river
(Before the 2024 redevelopment)

Image: Michael Harpur



Haven location Berth as directed by the harbour master's office on river moorings or alongside in the marina. If in doubt, come alongside the first long pontoon with the fuel berth at its head and the tenders on the inside. This leads to the marina office above.


Buckler's Hard Pontoon Plan
Image: Beaulieu River External link



After Buckler's Hard, the river begins to shallow. Between Buckler's Hard and Bailey's Hard, 1.6 miles upstream and made conspicuous by the tall brick chimney of the estate's old brickworks, the river has a least draft of 0.3 metres and is navigable for about eight hours daily.


Beaulieu River above Buckler's Hard
Image: Mike Nicholls retired Beaulieu River Harbour Master


The last mile to the quaint old world village of Beaulieu dries out to mud banks and can only be navigated at high water. It is possible to reach the village by dinghy at high water. Alternatively, there is a pleasant 2¼ miles gravelled forest footpath walk from Bucklers Hard to Beaulieu.

The very quaint village of Beaulieu is accessible by tender at high water
Image: Michael Harpur



Why visit here?
The name Bucklers Hard was first recorded in 1768. It took its name from the Buckler family, who have been recorded as living there as early as 1664. The term 'hard', primarily used in Hampshire, was added to indicate this was a firm place that could be utilised for hauling boats out of the water.


Georgian cottages overlooking the River Beaulieu at Bucklers Hard
Image: Michael Harpur


The name Bucklers Hard, however, was nearly superseded by 'Montague Town' after the 2nd Duke of Montague. In 1720, he planned to establish a duty-free port focused on importing and exporting sugar from the West Indies. King George I had made him governor of the islands of St. Vincent and St. Lucia, and John was establishing an expeditionary force to secure his islands. Before his ships could reach the islands, the French captured and irrevocably secured them. With the loss of the islands, the plans for 'Montague Town' faded, and the name drifted back to its locally held 'Buckler's Hard'. Despite losing the free port, the location thrived by trading its ready supply of New Forest timber. In the 17th century, this ample supply of good English oak spawned a rural ship industry focused on constructing merchant and naval vessels.


The river-facing launch ways and an 18th-century shipbuilding village can be seen on
approach

Image: Michael Harpur


The first naval vessel to be built on the Beaulieu River was the 48-gun Salisbury. This was constructed in 1698 at Baileys Hard, which is located 1.6 miles upriver, where a tall brick chimney is situated today, which dates back to a 1910-20 estate brickworks. Shipbuilding at Bucklers Hard gathered pace in 1744 when it came under the control of the master builder Henry Adams. He came to live in the house at the end of the terrace, now the 'Master Builder hotel and bar'.


H.M.S. Euryalus launch at Bucklers Hard in 1803
Image: CC0 1.0 Universal


Over the next sixty years, Adams and his descendants constructed more than 50 Royal Navy ships. The village's two rows of Georgian cottages accommodated shipwrights and labourers, and the broad open green was frequently filled with timber and shipbuilding activity. Many of Buckler Hard's ships served in Admiral Nelson's fleet, including HMS Euryalus, HMS Swiftsure, and HMS Agamemnon, all of which fought at the Battle of Trafalgar. The most famous of these ships must be Agamemnon, after which the Bucklers Hard boat yard is named today. Launched here in 1781, it was Admiral Lord Nelson's first command and his favourite ship. The wooden shipbuilding industry declined in the 19th century. The lines of picturesque Georgian cottages leading down to the River Beaulieu are preserved today just as they were during the shipbuilding heyday.


The Battle of Trafalgar by William Clarkson Stanfield
Image: CC0 1.0 Universal


The River Beaulieu, pronounced bew-lee, took its name from the abbey to which it belonged. The Cistercian Abbey was founded in the present village of Beaulieu in 1203 – 1204, a delightful 2¼ miles forest walk from Bucklers Hard. Its Latin name was Bellus Locus Regis, meaning 'The beautiful place of the king'. Over time, the monks contracted the monastery's name to Beau, French for beauty, and lieu from Latin meaning locus, place meaning 'beautiful place'.


Beaulieu Abbey as depicted in the 1800s
Image: CC0 1.0 Universal


The original name referred to King John, who endowed it with land and resources. King John's relationship with the Cistercian Order was complex, and he quarrelled with various ecclesiastical bodies throughout his reign (1199-1216). But in his latter days, he was inspired by a terrifying dream of damnation to establish Beaulieu Abbey as a significant act of atonement. The founding of Beaulieu Abbey in 1203 was intended to secure the monks' prayers for his soul and benefit from the spiritual intercession of the Cistercian Order. From its inception, Beaulieu was envisioned as a prominent royal foundation. John populated it with thirty monks specially dispatched from the mother abbey of Cîteaux in France.


Beaulieu Abbey today
Image: Karen Roe via CC BY-SA 2.0


Beaulieu Abbey flourished significantly from this royal beginning. By 1270, it had become England's largest Cistercian abbey, supporting approximately 200 monks. Its economic reach was extensive; the 'Great Close of Beaulieu' managed no fewer than five granges (outlying agricultural estates) spread across the country, a remarkable number compared to the typical one possessed by most abbeys. Beaulieu continued to prosper until its eventual dissolution under Henry VIII's Suppression of the Monasteries in 1538.


Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton (as depicted in 1505)
Image: CC0 1.0 Universal


After this, the Beaulieu Estate's river, fertile lands, woods and monastic rights passed into the hands of a secular owner, Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton. Wriothesley was 'Clerk to the Signet', a leading royal servant, and 'right-hand-man' to Thomas Cromwell, the chief architect of the 'Dissolution of the Monasteries'. He is a direct ancestor of the present owners, the Montagu of Beaulieu. His house alongside the Beaulieu River, called Palace House, has remained the home of the Montagu family ever since.


The village's two rows of Georgian cottages housed shipwrights and labourers
Image: Michael Harpur


The river is quite unusual, with complete ownership of Beaulieu Abbey vested entirely in the Montagu family. It is one of the very few private rivers in the world. The Montagu family and their stewardship of the 9,000 acres (36 km²) Beaulieu Estate have ensured that the river's development has been largely controlled. As a result, it is both a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSI). Likewise, the village of Beaulieu, like Buckler's Hard, has retained its old-world charm as the quintessential English village.


The wide green was often filled with timber and shipbuilding activity
Image: Michael Harpur


Today, Buckler's Hard has become a destination for tourism, supported by its small maritime museum, hotel, marina, and adjacent boating facilities. The harbour office, situated in Buckler's Hard, serves as the hub of all boating activities along the river. From this point, the harbour master's team manages the river's 300 moorings, 110 marina berths, and the approximately 7,500 yachts that visit each year. However, aside from these numerous moorings and the marina, little has changed since the days when wooden warships were constructed here. The 18th-century village remains untouched by the passage of time, and at low tide, the old launch way timbers from bygone eras are still visible. The excellent small museum offers a wonderful insight into the history of this 18th-century shipbuilding village, focusing not only on its vessels but also on the lives of those who built them. The superbly located 'Master Builder's Hotel', overlooking the Beaulieu River, is a delightful spot to enjoy a drink or partake in their waterfront BBQ on a summer's day.


Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the National Motor Museum
Image: Michael Gaylard via CC BY-SA 2.0


Beaulieu is now world-famous for being the home of the National Motor Museum. It contains one of the finest collections of vintage and classic vehicles worldwide. The Montagu family's Palace House is kept in the Victorian era style, with household staff in period costume. Visitors can enjoy music in the Lower Drawing Room and play traditional games outside on the lawns. Just beyond the formal gardens are the remains of the Cistercian Abbey, which houses an exhibition of monastic life.


Adams house is now the The Master Builder's House Hotel is now the house
and there is no nicer place to slake a thirst

Image: Michael Harpur


From a boating perspective, it should not be overlooked that Buckler's Hard was where Sir Francis Chichester began and finished his single-handed voyage around the world in Gipsy Moth IV. The keen eye of the master sailor, to pick the peaceful haven of Buckler's Hard for this purpose, only illustrates that this is one of the perfect sailing havens in England.


What facilities are available?
All pontoons, including the mid-river pontoon, provide water and power. Diesel fuel, petrol and water are available from the fuel pontoon. Ashore the marina has lavatories, showers and a very good coin-operated launderette. The Harbour Master's Office stocks a small selection of necessities such as milk, eggs bread etc. Skips and recycling bins are located within the main refuse compound in the boatyard. There is a slipway that dries out at low water and should not be used 2 hours either side of low water, as it drops off steeply. The harbour office also has a scrubbing grid that may be made use of.

In the yard, there is a chandlery who could not be more helpful, and a boatyard with comprehensive capabilities, sail making & repair, marine engineering, riggers etc. There is also a specialist facility for outboard engines, spares, repairs, accessories, servicing, winterising, are all taken care of here. The yard also has a Renner mobile boat hoist and offers lift out and lay-up and storage facilities.

Eating out in The Master Builder's House hotel’s BBQ overlooking the river is a prerequisite, which serves hot and cold foods and a bar. The museum also has a tea shop.

Marginally better provisioning may found by taking the dinghy, at high water, to the small village Beaulieu. This may be reached via a walk along a 2¼ miles gravelled forest footpath that passes through the heart of the Beaulieu Estate. Beaulieu also has a post office and further dining out opportunities.

The only public transport available is the very useful hourly summer Beach Bus. It runs from the Saltwater Baths in Lymington, stopping at popular attractions such as Lepe Country Park, Exbury Gardens, the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, to terminate at the Hythe Ferry.


Any security concerns?
Never an issue known to have occurred to a vessel in the Beaulieu River.


With thanks to:
Mike Nicholls, Retired Beaulieu River Harbour Master and Adam Lewis, Deputy Harbour Master.







Navigating The Beaulieu River with Tom Cunliffe





Tourist information



A photograph is worth a thousand words. We are always looking for bright sunny photographs that show this haven and its identifiable features at its best. If you have some images that we could use please upload them here. All we need to know is how you would like to be credited for your work and a brief description of the image if it is not readily apparent. If you would like us to add a hyperlink from the image that goes back to your site please include the desired link and we will be delighted to that for you.


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Please note eOceanic makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, we have not visited this haven and do not have first-hand experience to qualify the data. Although the contributors are vetted by peer review as practised authorities, they are in no way, whatsoever, responsible for the accuracy of their contributions. It is essential that you thoroughly check the accuracy and suitability for your vessel of any waypoints offered in any context plus the precision of your GPS. Any data provided on this page is entirely used at your own risk and you must read our legal page if you view data on this site. Free to use sea charts courtesy of Navionics.