Buckler's Hard

Follow the Beaulieu River up to Buckler's Hard, ignore the very expensive marina, and ask the harbourmaster for a position on the piles, great for improving boat handling skills. If you want peace and quiet, he may have a spare mooring further up river if you ask. Watch out for the current when manoeuvering, it can run quite hard at times.

The Agamemnon Yard, close behind the Marina and near the pile moorings, holds the showers, loos and washing machines and there's a fuelling berth handy. Behind the fuelling jetty is where you can get ashore in your dinghy after pushing your way through dozens of others. The yard itself often has interesting boats ashore and the chandlery is now run by Bob Grier, who is trying to promote it as a "practical boatowners" chandlery selling all the nuts & bolts etc. rather than just yotty toys (phone 01590 616402, e-mail thechandlery@bucklers.co.uk  web www.bucklers.co.uk)

The village is a step back in time, some of the houses are occupied, others are open to the public giving a glimpse of life in times past. The Master Builder's pub gets packed (and overflows onto the green outside), the Maritime museum is well worth a visit (50p off with your mooring fee).

The riverside walk through the woods to Beaulieu village is a great favourite, especially with the promise of a real icecream on arrival. Beaulieu village also has a pub where you can get a meal (eaten outside if you want to fight off the donkies) and the garden centre (which keeps the wife happy) has a cafe that serves delicious, home made cakes. The green is a favourite with the kids for feeding the ducks and petting the donkies.

Guide price : Piles £12.50 (28ft 2004).

This is a most enjoyable walk with pubs, cafes and ice cream at the end.