buckler

This is the village of Buckler's Hard, and the indentations are where for about 100 years to the end of the Napoleonic Wars some of Britain's biggest naval ships were built, as well as lots of smaller vessels.

Shipbuilding at Buckler's Hard was on an almost industrial scale, especially at times of war when the naval yards at Depfford, Greenwich and Woolwich were overloaded.

My wife and I packed in walks, a visit to Beaulieu motor museum, drinks at a country pub, a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant, bed and breakfast and a trip to Buckler's Hard, a living museum of a village from the days when England's wooden ships ruled the oceans.

After checking out, we rounded off our trip to the New Forest with a trip to Buckler's Hard, a fascinating glimpse back to days gone by when this now sleepy spot was a hive of shipbuilding.