Step Back in Time at Bucklers Hard

River Cruise Boat

On the Bank Holiday weekend of 3rd- 5th May, visitors to the normally peaceful village of Buckler’s Hard, on the banks of the Beaulieu River, will hear the musical sounds of axes and saws on wood, just how the village would have sounded 200 years ago when it was a thriving centre for shipbuilding where ships for Nelson’s Trafalgar fleet were built.

Visitors can watch as archaeology students from the University of Southampton get hands-on experience of using tools and shipbuilding techniques from the 18th and 19th centuries, converting oak timbers from the Beaulieu Estate, into the main components of the framework of a ship, discovering the challenges faced by shipbuilders of the time, and how they overcame them.

Living History Guides will be on hand to tell visitors what life was like, living and working in the village during its shipbuilding years.  See how the humble labourer’s cottage and the shipwright’s cottage across the road would have looked in the early 1800s and in the New Inn, hear residents from the time, gossiping about local matters.

Learning Shipwright skills

The Maritime Museum reveals the story of this unique village and the ships that were built here for more than a hundred years. In its more recent history, Buckler’s Hard and the Beaulieu River played an important role during WWII. Sections of the ‘Mulberry Harbour’ were made here, and hundreds of craft sailed from the Beaulieu River in the D-Day landings.

The Beaulieu River was believed to be a major landing point for smuggled goods from the late 18th century, with the cottage that is now a chapel, a centre of operations.  A viewing window in the floor beside the altar reveals the cellar below, probably used as a store for smuggled

Following the Woodland Walk, children can learn how the local timber at Buckler’s Hard was used to construct ships in the 18th & 19th centuries and the whole family can enjoy a tranquil River Cruise*, which transports you on a journey along the river with a commentary revealing the history of the Beaulieu River and the abundant wildlife that inhabits its riverbanks.

Follow the fun family quiz trail around the village, with a daily prize to be won.

Buckler’s Hard is a place for relaxation, as well as exploration. The Captain’s Cabin Tea Rooms serves a range of light refreshments and drinks throughout the day, including a delicious Towey cream tea, which celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Towey, the last Naval Ship to be built at Buckler’s Hard, in 1814.

Buckler’s Hard is open every day from 10am. For more information visit www.bucklershard.co.uk

* Separate charges apply

Super Showdown Bank Holiday Monday 26th August at Beaulieu

Pagani Zonda S

Supercar Showdown

A Dodge Viper gets a smoking start

Lamborghini Murcielago

The summer is hotting up, and so is Beaulieu’s events season, with just over a month to go until the massively popular Supercar Showdown roars into action on Bank Holiday Monday 26th August. The show will see over one hundred high-performance supercars displayed in the stunning parkland surrounding the National Motor Museum, and revving into action throughout the day.

Undoubtedly one of the most exciting aspects of the event will be watching the participating supercars being put through their paces on the Demonstration Run, twice during the day at 12pm and 3pm, to wow the crowds. The length of the Run has been newly extended for this year, giving visitors an even better view as the supercars thunder through the parkland.

There will be lots of stunning cars to look out for at this year’s event, including Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Audis, Porsches, Fords and Mercedes, plus a rare opportunity to see a Pagani Huayra which is booked to attend – reportedly the only one of its kind for personal use in Europe.*

A large number of car clubs have already confirmed attendance, with members of Porsche Club GB, Wessex Car Club and the GT40 Enthusiasts Club bringing along their own vehicles for the day.

Local dealerships including Westover Nissan, Porsche Bournemouth, Meridien Motors, Bentley Hampshire and Morgan UK will also be out in force at the event, showing a selection of their most powerful and up-to-date models – you might even see some of them roaring to life on the Demonstration Run!

Blackball Media will be supporting the event, displaying on its stand some of the cars used in Car Dealer magazine’s latest supercar feature. The team will be on hand to chat to visitors and hand out copies of a variety of their publications.

Supercar Showdown is always a busy, colourful event, providing the perfect opportunity for enthusiastic photographers to take some fantastic motoring shots. Beaulieu invites you to grab your camera, get snapping at the event and enter your best photograph into the Supercar Showdown Photography Competition for the chance to win a family ticket to the Beaulieu Fireworks Spectacular on 26th October 2013. For more information on the prize and how to enter, please visit www.beaulieu.co.uk/photo-competition

In the People’s Choice Awards, visitors will be able to vote for their favourite supercar by filling in a voting form, available at the Entrance Hall on the day. The top seven supercars will take part in a cavalcade through the grounds to Palace House for the afternoon presentation ceremony. Event presenter, Kevin Harris, will be announcing the winner, who will receive a Beaulieu Trophy, with all the runners-up receiving a gift kindly provided by Autoglym, the car care specialists, who will also have their own stand at the event.

If this sounds like your kind of show, move quickly to take advantage of our extra special Early Bird Discount. If you order tickets before the end of Sunday 11th August 2013, you can purchase discounted Supercar Showdown Visitor tickets at Adult £14, Child £9 and Family £40. If booking after the 11th August, visitors to Supercar Showdown must purchase normal Beaulieu attraction tickets. Tickets are available online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk or on telephone no. 01590 612888.

Admission to the event includes entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction; the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the gardens.

Don’t miss one of the last opportunities to see BOND IN MOTION, the world’s largest ever exhibition of original James Bond film vehicles. It displays some of the most iconic and best-loved vehicles from the films and is due to close at the end of 2013.

Opening times are from 10am – make sure you get there early enough to find yourself a good viewing spot for the Demonstration Run!

Visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk or join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #supercarshowdown

*Vehicles are subject to change

We are always on the lookout for new supercars to take part in Supercar Showdown, so if you are a supercar owner and would like to participate in the show with your vehicle, please get in contact via one of the following methods:
Fill in an online booking form, available at www.beaulieu.co.uk/beaulieu-events/supercar-showdown
Email the Events Team at events@beaulieu.co.uk
Telephone the Events Team on no. 01590 614614.

All applications will be considered and we will notify you if your application has been successful.