‘It is not the cheaper things that we want to possess, but expensive things that cost a lot less’ – John Ruskin
Buckler's Hard Village
This event has been planned for three years and should have taken place in 2021.
The main location is the luxury Master Builder's hotel at Buckler's Hard, the facade of which you can see at the end of the row of cottages on the left-hand side, where we are based for four nights at the end of the tour. This stunning location, on the Beaulieu River and part of the Maritime museum, is ideal for visiting the Montagu Motor Museum and exploring the New Forest.
Entries are restricted to just twenty-six places as that is the total number of rooms at the hotel and news the tour will finally be taking place has elicited a great amount of interest and a large priority list so reserving your place early is highly recommended! Once the twenty-six rooms are reached a reserve list will be started.
Listed below is the itinerary for the event, which, as usual with all Country Lane Tours events, is designed to be a relaxing holiday with your car, not just an old car rally. There is no night driving, and absolutely no competition, other than getting to the bar first!
Friday, September 16th. Arrivals during the day at Old Thorns Hotel & Golf Resort, Liphook, Hampshire. Set in four hundred acres of glorious countryside the hotel has an 18-hole championship golf course, large indoor swimming pool, and state-of-the-art health club and spa facilities. Prosecco reception at 7pm followed by dinner.
Saturday, September 17th. After breakfast we take a short run to Portsmouth and the Historic Dockyard Museum. There's a great deal to see and experience, especially Henry the Eighth's favourite warship the Mary Rose, raised from the seabed in 1982 after over four hundred years buried in the mud and now housed in a bespoke building. Nelson's Victory, HMS Warrior and the static displays will keep you intrigued.
Leaving the dockyard we travel a short distance and board the ferry to Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight.
The Lakeside Park Hotel and Spa is just a mile and a half from the ferry terminal.
Dinner 7.30pm. Mileage for day - 30
Sunday September 18th. We start the day with a trip on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway before heading to Osborne House, Queen Victoria's favourite residence, with its ornate rooms and spectacular gardens. A light lunch is arranged for 1pm.
Once you've finished the visit the rest of the afternoon is free so you might decide to visit Cowes or perhaps return to the hotel and relax.
Dinner 7.30pm.
Monday September 19th. Today we take a scenic route along the south and west coasts of the island, calling for coffee and possible retail therapy at Isle of Wight Pearl before arriving at The Needles, one of the seven natural wonders of the UK.
After a light lunch there will be a glass blowing demonstration at Alum Bay Glass.
The next stop is ferry port at Yarmouth and the thirty-five minute crossing to Lymington on the mainland.
It's eight miles from Lymington to the Master Builder's Hotel at Bucklers Hard and there will be plenty of time to relax before dinner which each evening is 7.30pm. Mileage for day - 60 (approx)
Monday September 20th. A relaxed day with a chance to explore your surroundings. The hotel is in Buckler's Hard village which is part of the Maritime Museum complex. There will be the opportunity to take a short boat tour on the Beaulieu river. Mileage for day - 0
Tuesday September 21st. National Motor Museum and Beaulieu Palace House. The group has reserved parking inside the grounds of and access to all attractions, including the monorail. Lunch will be in the Brabazon restaurant.
Beaulieu Palace House has been the home of the Montagu family since 1538 and features many interesting artefacts. Beaulieu Abbey has a display of art and needlework by Belinda, Lady Montagu.
Wednesday, September 22nd. A scenic run through the New Forest with visits to Ringwood Brewery and Eling Tide Mill. Of course, should you feel strong enough, you could do a slight detour to Ower, the location of Peppa Pig World, where you could bump into Boris!
Thursday, September 23rd. Departure for home.
Above: New Forest Traffic Calming
What's included in the cost?
- One night's D,B&B accommodation at Old Thorn's Hotel & Spa, Liphook
- Prosecco reception at Old Thorns
- Entry to all attractions at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
- Light lunch at Historic Dockyard
- Ferry Portsmouth - Fishbourne
- Two nights' D,B&B at Lakeside Park Hotel, Ryde
- Trip on Isle Of Wight Steam Railway
- Entry to Osborne House & gardens
- Light lunch at Osborne House
- Coffee & cake at Isle of Wight Pearl
- Alum Bay Glass experience
- Light lunch
- Ferry Yarmouth - Lymington
- Four nights' dinner, bed & breakfast at Master Builders Hotel
- Entry to National Motor Museum and all other attractions
- Ringwood Brewery tour
- Entry to Eling Tidal Mill
- Wednesday light lunch at a venue to be decided
- Detailed road book
- Rally plates
- Windscreen sticker
- Sundry extras
- Presence of tour organiser throughout to deal with any problems
The Master Builders has only twenty-six rooms so the tour is restricted to twenty-six entries which will be allocated on a first-come, first served basis.
There's some great scenery, interesting and varied attractions, as well as pleasant driving roads once clear of Portsmouth.
For the first time on a Country Lane Tours event ALL meals are included because of how the tour is constructed. It does mean you only need to pay for fuel and drinks, unless, of course, you're tempted to purchase something at the Isle of Wight Pearl Centre!
I have done two preliminary reconnoitres of the tour and a third (and hopefully final!) one will be done in order to produce the road book.
One of the problems with organising UK tours is the serious escalation in the cost of everything, especially hotels trying to claw back some money from the shut down period. That said, the Isle of Wight ferry is the most expensive in the world on the basis of distance travelled!
The cost for this all inclusive tour is £1,695 per person based on two people sharing and £475 PER PERSON deposit, refundable until June 30th 2023 less £10 admin fee secures a place.
The balance is payable by July 1st 2023 - an invoice will be sent.
Above: HMS Warrior
BOOKING FORM - SOUTH COAST & ISLE OF WIGHT
Name (driver)...............................................Co-driver..............................................
Address…………………………………….....................................................................
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Post Code.............................................
Phone number(landline)………………………………….Mobile.................................
Email Address…………………………………….........Date.........................................
Car Make/Model………………………………...................Year………………….......
Reg. No…………………
Number of people in party………………Amount of payment included………………
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS? (double / twin beds, bath, diet, etc). This is very important and will be treated in strictest confidence. If ANY mobility problems please let me know so I can arrange rooms close to lifts, etc.
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Please send completed form and payment to Country Lane Tours, Tirionfa, Bodfari Road, Llandyrnog, Denbigh, LL16 4HP. For more details email countrylanetours@gmail.com, or call me, Ian Glass, on 01824 790280 for a chat.
If you wish to pay by transfer the bank details are as follows:
Bank: Santander
Account Name: Country Lane Tours
Account Number: 02149028
Sort Code:09-01-50
PLEASE NOTE!!! IT IS VERY IMPORTANT IF PAYING BY TRANSFER THAT YOU MARK THE ENTRY FORM TRANSFER AND THE AMOUNT!
