Flawlessly linking the New Forest’s ancient woodlands to the sea and Isle of Wight, is the elegant, Georgian market town of Lymington. This active marine town is famous for its sailing and you’ll notice plenty of sailors donned in appropriate gear strolling around the town.
1. Sailing There are two large marinas in Lymington – Berthon and Haven, plus two sailing clubs: Royal Lymington Yacht Club and Lymington Town. There are sailing events, competitions and regattas throughout the year, culminating in the world-famous Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight, when the town swells in size to accommodate friends, families and onlookers who come to Lymington to watch the action.
2.Weekly Street Market and Independent Shops It’s not just the sailing that draws visitors to the town. The High street remains quaint and traditional, with boutique and independent shops out-numbering high-street chains. Locals from the surrounding villages head to Lymington on Saturdays to shop at the busy weekly market on the high street, which is well worth a visit.
3. Quay Hill. At the bottom of the high street is Quay Hill, a cobble stone street which leads to Lymington Town Quay. It’s picture perfect and flanked by little shops, which make photo lovely opportunities.
4. Lymington Quay. You can spend hours here watching fishing boats come and go and visiting yachts moor up. The quay is also the perfect spot to take a bucket and bait for a few hours of ‘crabbing’. Local shops stock everything you’ll need.
5. Boat Tours. From the Quay, there’s a ferry taking day trippers over to the Isle of Wight and cruises around the Solent. You’ll also find providers offering exhilarating RIB rides, sailing, fishing trips and more.
6. Lymington Train Station. If you’re leaving your car at home, Lymington has its own station, as a branch line, from the mainline station in Brockenhurst. Buses are frequent and The New Forest Tour Open Top Bus stops off in the town on two of its three routes.
7. Keyhaven Nature Reserve. An easy walk past the marinas and yacht clubs, to the west of the town is Keyhaven Nature reserve. An area of outstanding beauty as well as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a bird watcher’s paradise and heavenly setting for nature lovers. Come for a walk, picnic or just to sit and look out over the reed beds, mud flats and lagoons.
8. Lymington Saltwater Bath. If it’s hot and you fancy a dip in a lovely swimming pool, pop to the open-air seawater bath. They first opened in 1833 – making it one of the oldest of its kind in Britain.
9. Solent Way Walk. The Solent Way is a 60-mile footpath linking the neighbouring village, Milford on Sea to Emsworth Harbour, north of Chichester harbour. It’s a wonderful walk which can be done in stages, one of those passing through Key Haven Nature Reserve and Lymington. You’ll find the path way marked as a green background with a picture of a sea bird.
10. Lymington Yacht Haven. For a wander and nosey to see what the rich and wealthy spend their money on, Lymington Yacht Haven will offer a good idea of what luxury on the water looks like. The Haven Bar and Restaurant overlooking the marina is a lovely place to stop for a bite to eat whilst watching the hive of activity bobbing on the water.
Discover more about Lymington and book a stay in one of our beautiful holiday properties, here: www.newforestcottages.co.uk/destination/lymington