Southampton to New Forest?

[grayjay]

We'll have a port day in Southampton at the end of July. We have cruised in and out of Southampton and once spent a day pre-cruise, but we never had the opportunity to take an excursion on a port day before leaving for Rotterdam..

"Queen Elizabeth" docks at the Ocean Terminal, right? Is it easy to reach the ferry to Hythe or the bus terminal from there - on foot, by taxi? We thought we might use one of the HopOnHopOff buses that tour the New Forest on three different routes but are unsure how to get there ( and be back in time, of course....)

Please advise if this is a feasible plan !!

 

Thank you for your answers.

[John Bull]

Ocean Terminal (berth 46, Cunard Road) is only a 10 minute walk from the Hythe Ferry.

But Cunard also use QE11 terminal (berth 38/9, Test Road) - it's a longer walk and on a busy port road where in places you're separated from truck traffic by only a yellow-painted line, and I'd advise a short hop in a taxi at about £6.

The Hythe ferry will cross the stern of your ship, whichever of those terminals she berths at.

Hythe (Hythe, Hampshire - not Hythe, Kent) has a very long pier, but your ferry ticket includes the little narrow-gauge train to the shoreline.

From there you can catch the New Forest ho-ho to Lyndhurst & switch to the red route, or stay on the green route to Lymington and/or Exbury Gardens.

.

Alternatively walk or take a taxi to the bus stop at West Quay for the hourly No 6 Blue Star bus to Lyndhurst.

The biggest village in the New Forest, Lyndhurst is the self-styled "capital" of the New Forest. Lots of tea shops, pubs, shops etc, and where two ho-ho bus routes meet.

Depending on timing you might be able to do a circuit on the red route, then most of the green route before getting off at Hythe & catching the ferry back.

 

A further alternative is the train from Southampton central to Brockenhurst to catch the green route there, or a train connection at Brockenhurst to Lymington & switch to the green route there.

 

Beaulieu's National Motor Museum / Bishop's Palace / Abbey ruins complex is on the green route. but it's worth a full day by itself. So if you choose it, skip the ho-ho & instead take the Hythe ferry, taxi from the rank at Hythe pier for the 6 miles to Beaulieu & arrange with the driver to collect you at a suitable time for the return trip - there's no taxi rank at Beaulieu, the useful "beach bus" service has ceased trading and the local bus frequency is truly abysmal.

 

Because you'll be on a large bus the routes are constrained & you don't get to go down leafy lanes & such.

But the only other option is renting a car for the day - if you want to do that I can suggest a route which takes you deeper into the forests and heathlands.

 

Lots of options, lots of combinations, but figuring a combination that suits the various timetables will be a bit of a juggling game and you probably won't achieve as much as you want.

You particularly need to figure your Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, etc options for late in the day - but at least you have a variety of transport options back to the ship/

Can I suggest you google the highlighted place-names, then pour yourself a stiff drink before you dive into these websites.......

 

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/live_information/shipping_movements_and_cruise_ship_schedule/cruise_ship_schedule/

 

https://goo.gl/maps/sqM9oMMaMRu

 

http://hytheferry.co.uk/

 

http://www.bluestarbus.co.uk/service.shtml?serviceid=3854

 

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

 

http://www.thenewforesttour.info/

 

https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/

 

JB :)

[turnip eater]

I’m sure John Bull will give you a detailed reply, but I’ll give you a quick reply.

It looks like you will be docked at the Queen Elizabeth II cruise terminal. http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/live_information/shipping_movements_and_cruise_ship_schedule/cruise_ship_schedule/

From there you can walk to the Hythe Ferry approx 10 min walk,(JB will confirm if this is possible :()

http://hytheferry.co.uk/discover-newforest/

From Hythe you can catch the New Forest bus, Green Route, http://www.thenewforesttour.info/new-forest-tour-routes

 

Hope that this info. will help you decide if you have time to visit the New Forest on the HoHo bus. Perhaps you will have time to visit via one or two routes, depends how many times you get off to look around. One tiip, on the bus, if you sit upstairs, sit on the right side, otherwise you may have to duck to avoid tree branches!

Didn’t see JB’s post.......😄😄😄😄

Edited June 8, 2018 by turnip eater
JB posted First!

[grayjay]

What a wealth of information - thank you both!! As we are used to driving on the wrong side of the road ;) renting a car for the day is not really an option. 40 years ago all these roundabouts didn't bother us, now they do. So taking the ferry and having one or two rounds on the HoHo bus seems to be a good possibility to spend the day.

I'll pour myself another cup of tea now and browse through the links you provided - thank you again!

[turnip eater]

You’re very welcome. Hope you enjoy your time in the New Forest.