Friday 20 July 2007

Beaulieu River and Lepe


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Beaulieu SU 388 023
Buckler's Hard SU 408 002
Lepe SZ 454 985

The Beaulieu River is a privately owned water way, in the ownership of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. As such, expect to get stung for harbour dues if you paddle this river. The harbour master is very active, rushing about at high speeds in a number launches. We were lucky...

Unusually, the river is navigable to all manner of craft from the approach channel at Lepe, all the way to Beaulieu village, 5.5 nautical miles up the river. This is due to there being no bridges at all. The banks on both sides are privately owned (imagine the money involved!), except public landing is permitted at Buckler's Hard at the marina. Again, expect to be charged. The Master Builder pub is a good spot for refreshments.
Further up the river, the channel winds it way northwards, leaving the yacht moorings behind until you reach the quay wall on the right side. The bank here is hard shingle and the grass makes for a good picnic spot.



The sluice gate next to the quay marks the head of the navigable river. Just out of sight is the Montagu Arms Hotel, however you won't be able to keep any eye on your kayak, unless you walk up to the car park.

Timing your trip around high water means that you can come up on the flood and return on the ebb. I've done the trip at low water and did not find fighting the flood to be a problem. Allow 4 hours if you are going against the tide or the weather is less than favourable.

Buckler's Hard is approximately half way up the river and provides a convenient stop, or shorter trip for paddlers with less endurance. The river is quite scenic, more so than the other rivers on the north side of the Solent.

Lepe is a handy start point for river trips, or passages along the coast in either direction. Parking at the waterfront is £3 for 4 hours. In stronger winds, the sea in the Lepe approach channel can be very confused, with a three foot swell from several directions at once. Launching or landing could be tricky in these sea states. It was for me!

Lepe at low tide - the start of our trip. The white building on the right is an old coast guard cottage. The car park is behind it.

Lepe, four hours later - after an exciting surf through cross-seas. Gav holds off the beach just out of the surf, so I can get the camera ready!


Access / Put-ins:

Lepe beach has two large car parks - bring money for the pay and display.

Beaulieu village could be a launch point, but parking will be an issue.
would be easy however public parking is at a premium.

Features:

Plenty of shelter for a paddle in foul weather. Many boats and two pubs.

Nature:

I have never seen such an abundance of wading birds. There are many oyster catchers and curlews on the weedy mud banks. Lots of other bird life also present.

History:

Buckler's Hard is an ornamental village. Beaulieu is equally quaint.

Waterside Pubs:
The Master Builder at Buckler's Hard.

The Montagu Arms at Beaulieu.


Hazards:
A dangerous seaway can develop at Lepe. Be prepared if you started there in nice conditions. It can be very different on your return.

4 comments:

  1. Great write up of a trip I really enjoy and I fully agree that Lepe is a good launch point - I use it regularly living 10 mins away. Depending on tide/wind will either head up Beaulieu River, down to Calshot Spit or along the coast to Lymington (a longer paddle).

    Cafe has a reasonable take-away kiosk for a cuppa and bacon roll after a paddle.

    Also worth saying hello to the Solent Rescue folks who are based there - an independent lifeboat set-up that does very good work.

    I've written up some info on Lepe myself at Solent Sea Kayaking

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  2. I'm a newbie with a Bic Tobago, and was hoping to kayak up the Beaulieu River. I would especially like to camp somewhere and return the next day. You say the banks are all private - does that mean there's nowhere to camp? Do I pay harbour fees whilst out there, if I get pulled over? Is there anywhere around that area I could camp over if not the river?

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  3. I would suggest that camping anywhere other than around the entrance at Lepe is going to be a problem. The land is all privately own by people who are not short of a penny. There is little shore line that would be discrete. The harbour master charges up and down the river in fast launches, but I was not stopped for any dues.

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  4. Thanks for your feedback Neil, much appreciated. I've traded down from the Bic Tobago to a single-seat sit-on jobbie (probably more of a toy than a proper sea kayak to be fair) but something I'm hoping to get my sea legs with. Am really excited by the prospect of paddling up to Beaulieu, but I do feel I should really, eventually invest in something more sea-kayak focussed. Thanks for your excellent write up and advice :-)

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