Wellesley Woodlands

Wellesley Woodlands is a network of woodland

 

 

 

 

and pathways in and around Aldershot

 

 

 

 

 

and along the beautiful Basingstoke Canal.  

 

 

 

 

 

Activity Trails

There are lots of activity trails to try in the What To Do section of their website,

 

 

 

 

including brass rubbing, orienteering and Go Wild challenges.  

 

 

 

 

 

The Brass Rubbing Trail

This took us about an hour to walk around. It was an easy walk on mostly flat paths. 

 

 

 

 

The brass rubbing trail map is available on the Wellesley Woodlands website and has spaces for each of the brass rubbing posts. 

Nearest Town: Aldershot
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU11 1QA

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There are several car parks you can try. The one at the start of the brass rubbing trail is next to Wellington’s statue (GU11 1QA).
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: August 2022

 

Hurst Spit

Hurst Spit separates the sea and the Lymington River Estuary.  

 

 

 

 

To one side it has mudflats and salt marshes.  

 

 

 

 

To the other it has the sea and views to the Isle of Wight and the Needles. 

 

 

 

 

Swimming or using inflatables in the sea here is not recommended as the currents are very strong.

 

 

 

 

Walking to Hurst Castle

The walk to the castle is about two miles and is part of the Solent Way.

It is not the easiest of walks.  Sturdy footwear is recommended and it is hard going with a buggy.

 

 

You can pick up the path to Hurst Spit and Hurst Castle from Keyhaven Car Park – just head for the Hurst Castle Ferry and then keep walking.  

 

 

 

Sailing to Hurst Castle

If you would like to visit Hurst Castle but don’t fancy the walk or have little ones with you, then consider the Hurst Castle ferry.  

 

 

 

It is a beautiful 20 minute ferry ride through salt marshes, mud flats and moored boats. 

 

 

 

 

Hurst Castle

Hurst Castle is an artillery fort that was built in the 16th century by Henry VIII to protect the Solent, Southampton and Portsmouth.

 

 

 

It is one of the best preserved of Henry VIII’s castles and had an active military role until the mid-20th century.

 

Nearest Town: Lymington, New Forest
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO41 0TP takes you to Keyhaven Car Park and if you keep driving, Hurst Spit. 

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost Range: Hurst Spit is free but there are various costs for castle entry – please see the websites for details.
Child Cost Range: Hurst Spit is free but there are various costs for castle entry – please see the websites for details.
Free if: Hurst Spit is free. Children under 5 years enter the castle for free.

Where to Eat: Eat at the Hurst Castle cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: There are toilets and accessible toilets inside Hurt Castle. There are no toilets available for people not visiting the castle. There is a cafe outside the castle that is available to all visitors.

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Not buggy friendly. 

Parking: Pay and display car park at Keyhaven. 
Cost of Parking: From £3 for two hours.

Wildlife You Might See: Fish, crabs, seabirds and sea creatures.

Information Written: January 2023

 

Hurst Castle

The castle is strategically placed at the end of Hurst Spit, halfway between the mainland and the Isle of Wight. It can only be reached by a little ferry or on foot. 

 

 

 

The castle is a coastal fort so it does not look like a traditional castle. It is low to the ground to make the smallest possible target for enemy ships,

 

 

 

and has thick walls to withstand bombardment.

 

 

 

 

Inside the walls is a labyrinth of passageways, stairs

 

 

 

 

and some enormous guns on display.

 

 

 

 

 

There are also some beautiful views from the ramparts.

 

 

 

 

 

The Ferry – Sailing to Hurst Castle

Our favourite part of the trip was the beautiful twenty minute ferry ride on a boat that takes you past salt marshes, mud flats and moored boats.

 

 

 

The ferries were running every 20 to 30 minutes when we visited. 

 

 

 

 

 

Hurst Spit – Walking to Hurst Castle

You can walk to the castle along Hurst Spit, which is about a two mile walk along the sea. This walk is part of the Solent Way.

 

 

 

Hurst Spit is a shingle bank that juts into The Solent, linking Keyhaven and Hurst Castle. It separates the sea from the Lymington River Estuary. 

 

 

 

As this walk takes you over shingle, sturdy footwear is recommended. It is hard going with a buggy.

Swimming or using inflatables in the sea here is not recommended as the currents are very strong.

 

 

You can pick up the path to Hurst Spit and Hurst Castle from Keyhaven Car Park – just head for the Hurst Castle Ferry and then keep walking.  

 

Nearest Town: Lymington, New Forest
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO41 0TP

Opens: There are various opening times depending on the time of year. Please see the websites for details.

Adult Cost Range: Various costs for the ferry and for castle entry – please see the websites for details.
Child Cost Range: Various costs for the ferry and for castle entry – please see the websites for details.
Free if: Under 3 years for the ferry. Under 5 years for the castle.

Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: There are toilets and accessible toilets inside Hurt Castle. There are no toilets available for people not visiting the castle. There is a cafe outside the castle that is available to all visitors.

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Not buggy friendly but you could bring a buggy if you were prepared to leave it somewhere as you explore the castle, which has lots of steps. I wouldn’t take a buggy onto Hurst Spit as it would be too hard to push. 

Parking: Pay and display car park at Keyhaven. 
Cost of Parking: From £3 for two hours.

Wildlife You Might See: Fish, crabs, seabirds and sea creatures.

Information Written: June 2020
Information Checked: July 2022

 

Samuel Franklin Cody

Samuel Franklin Cody is an exiting and charismatic local character who the museum, and its wonderfully enthusiastic volunteers, have worked hard to bring to life. 

 

 

 

Cody was born in the USA and became a famous Wild West showman.

Later in life he became interested in kites and aviation. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cody Flyer 

In 1908, Cody flew British Army Aeroplane No.1A, or The Cody Flyer, over Farnborough for 27 seconds and became the first person to fly a heavier-than-air machine in Britain.

This historic moment marked the beginning of a new era for British aviation. 

 

 

The Cody Flyer Replica

Volunteers have built an impressive and full-size replica of The Cody Flyer.

You can try flying it yourself in a flight simulator.

 

 

 

*The Wind Tunnels at Farnborough

These wind tunnels were used for research from the 1930s until the 1990s. Today these are listed buildings that you can see on a private tour, which includes visiting a tunnel that is 24 feet wide and also the Sea Plane Tank. 

I haven’t taken this tour yet but hope to over the summer. For further information on the Wind Tunnels, please visit the Wind Tunnels section of the Farnbrough Air Sciences Trust Museum website. 

 

Farnborough Airport

The museum is next to Farnborough Airport so you might also see aeroplanes flying over you. 

 

Nearest Town: Farnborough
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU14 6TF

Opens: Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.
Cost: Free and donations are welcome.

Where to Eat: There is a coffee shop.
Facilities: Coffee shop, snacks, drinks, toilets, accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free.

Information Written: June 2022

 

Millyford Bridge Inclosure

From the car park there is a main path that follows the Highland Water to a wooden gate.

 

 

 

 

Beyond this gate is a network of paths to explore.

 

 

 

 

The Highland Water continues to the left.

 

 

 

 

On the right is woodland and some other streams. 

 

 

 

 

The Portuguese Fireplace

Depending on which way you drive to Millyford Bridge, you may notice a fireplace standing all alone in the middle of nowhere.

This known as the Portuguese Fireplace and it is the last remnant of a camp established by the Portuguese army during World War 1 to assist in the production of timber.

 

Finding the Car Park

The closest post code I could find to Millyford Bridge is SO43 7GQ, which takes you to the car park for Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary. From here, follow the road to Lyndhurst and the Millyford Bridge car park is on your left.

As the post code is close but not exact, please be sure to have a look at map before you go.

 

Nearest Town: Near Lyndhurst
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO43 7GQ – but please see note above on finding the car park.

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a blanket and a picnic.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Choose a buggy that can handle stony paths.

Parking: There is a car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Ponies, fish, insects, butterflies, rabbits and birds.

Information Written: June 2022