New Forest / IOW

[LIZS]

Any recommendations for activities and places to visit with kids (12 & 9)in New Forest during the autumn. It is such a long time since we last visited and had no dc then ! Is Beaulieu worth it or not ?

Is it feasible to go from Lymington to IOW and over to Osborne House ? Do buses and ferries connect well ?

bump - anyone been recently or live in the area ?

We always like the otter and owl sanctuary near Ashurst. I don't think its called the otter and owl sanctuary anymore but its still the same inside.

Never been to the IOW or Beaulieu.

What gender are your kids? Beaulieu's great if they're into cars. If you pay once you get free entry for a year, and you can usually find vouchers etc online so you don't pay full price...

Other ideas...
Oceanarium at Bournemouth
Take a picnic into the New Forest itself and wander round chatting to the ponies
There's a family theme park near Bournemouth Airport - Paulton's I think it's called?
There's also an aviation museum at Bournemouth Airport - only takes about an hour though so not a whole day trip.
There's a motorcycle museum near New Milton (can you tell I have a son??)
Ferry to IOW doesn't take long and is v easy but I don't know about connections at the other end, sorry.

Go on google maps, bring up the New Forest, then click on "search nearby" and type in 'tourism', that brings up a fair bit. My boy is younger than your DC so there's probably other stuff I haven't remembered cos we discounted it.

Have fun. It's a gorgeous bit of the world.

ooh great ideas, thank you. ds is 12 , dd 9 so pretty flexible. Is the Lymington ferry passenger only ?

If you want to go to Osborne House, it would be much easier to get the car ferry from Southampton to East Cowes, as that's where Osborne House is. The Lymington ferry goes to Yarmouth, and that's the other end of the island and about atleast a half hour drive away, more if you take either the detour round the river, or taking the chain ferry across the river into account.

I second the owl and otter place! We love it :)

also the oceanarium at bournmouth is fab

beaulieu is prob great for their ages - dd (3.9) was def too young for it really.

If you want a nice pub meal then teh Royal Oak at Bank is very nice, its in teh middle of the forest and you can do nice walks from the pub to burn your lunch off!

This website is useful. My ds's (7 and 4) enjoyed Beaulieu and loved Paultons Park.

We like Beaulieu - most 12 year old boys would like it. Palace House is also interesting. here and half price for kids in fancy halloween dress apparently

Bucklers Hard is another possible place to visit, with Nelson connections. IIRC there is a walk from Beaulieu (for enthusiastic walkers).

Marwell zoo is not far away and is a good place to go, with lots to see.

The motorcycle Museum is quaint and fine fo enthusiasts but not huge and possibly your DD might not be so enthused.

We went to Exbury gardens (quite near Beaulieu) last Halloweeen here and rode the ghost train. They recruit dozens of local scouts/?guides to dress as ghouls and skeletons and the overall effect is very amusing.

We liked Osborne House. It is possible to get over either from Lymington or from Soton by car. The IOW has quite a lot of things to see and do.

Otherwise if it is fine, you are not all that far from the seaside, in Dorset.

Oh - re food

• Red Lion in East Boldre, quaint old pub, very good food, potential for incorporation into a walk

• Snakecatcher, Brockenhurst, a bit more pretentious, but it does deliver good food

-The Ship Inn, Lymington, atmospheric and recently refurbished, on the quayside

• Chez Gerard, Lymington, excellent French chain for non vegetarians, good offers / set menu / children's menus

• Brock and Bruin/ Buttery - chid friendly, small good value caffs in Brockenhurst/ Lymington

• Hungry Gardener, Fairweather Garden Centre, Beaulieu, small good value caff in Beaulieu

Paultons is at Ower nr Southampton, Adventure Wonderland is by Bournemouth Airport.