Considered one of a string of forts constructed by Henry VIII on the south coast, a time out at Hurst Fort with children is a correct journey, proper from the journey to the historic web site, the place Charles I used to be additionally held prisoner.
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However in contrast to numerous different castles within the UK, this isn’t only a piece of historical past frozen in time – when you can nonetheless discover the Tudor coronary heart of the fortress, it has been used for defence proper from the Napoleonic Wars within the Nineteenth century to the First and Second World Wars.
All helped alongside by the truth that Hurst Fort sits proper on the finish of a spit of land by the sting of the New Forest, looking throughout the Solent to the Isle of Wight, so the one technique to get there may be both by ferry, or a stroll alongside the shingle which stretches for round two miles from the mainland.
As we had huge plans to go strolling elsewhere within the New Forest later within the day, we took the simple choice and boarded the little ferry which runs from Keyhaven out to Hurst Fort – though I by no means say no to a ship journey, and it’s exhausting to consider a greater technique to begin a stunning sunny summer season’s day than cruising previous the wetlands throughout the water.
Though I knew there have been greater than 500 years of historical past to find at Hurst Fort with children, I wasn’t positive how lengthy it might really preserve my daughter entertained. However in the long run, it stunned us each, with some enjoyable household actions, some superb views and a string of quirky shows within the previous fortress buildings.
The unique fortress was constructed between 1541 and 1543, with a 12-sided Tudor tower surrounded by a courtyard and three partitions, a part of Henry VIII’s plan to maintain England protected from doable invasion by the highly effective Francis I of France and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V after his divorce from Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn.
Ultimately, the French invaded in 1545, barely additional alongside the Solent at Portsmouth – the battle the place the Mary Rose sank – earlier than making an attempt to take the Isle of Wight, and finally slicing their losses and heading again to France three days later.
There’s an excellent set of data boards within the Tudor tower supplying you with a potted historical past of Hurst Fort, so it’s an excellent place to start out – and journey ahead chronologically by time too, after all.
Throughout our go to in the summertime holidays, the tower was additionally arrange with a string of conventional video games, together with bean bag toss and large noughts and crosses, however there are additionally some brass rubbings to attempt of creatures which reside round Hurst Fort.
And a particular flag path to observe, in case your children want persuading to discover each inch of the fortress – one way or the other, regardless of trying excessive, low and from finish to finish, we nonetheless managed to overlook one, however labored out the anagram anyway.
Take a look at my video of a day at Hurst Fort with children
When you’ve discover inside, head as much as the close by battlements for some spectacular views – there are a number of towers the place you possibly can look out again in direction of Hampshire in addition to over to the Isle of Wight, which appeared extremely shut on a sunny day.
Shut sufficient, in truth, to identify the Needles rock formations simply off the coast, in addition to a string of little crusing ships scudding alongside the water.
Hurst Fort was famend as a horrible place to be posted, so bleak within the late 18th century that there was hardly a dry room. I can think about that within the winter, it’s nonetheless freezing, windy and really inhospitable, however on a sunny day, it’s fairly merely beautiful.
For extra issues to do within the New Forest with children, take a look at my high picks, in addition to extra concepts for household days out in Hampshire and my information to the Isle of Wight with children
For round 250 years, not a lot modified at Hurst Fort – and you may nonetheless discover loads of different historic particulars to identify, together with an enormous iron studded wood door, the previous portcullis and a really previous bathroom (mainly only a gap inside a stone seat. Very Horrible Histories).
Alongside the best way, Charles I used to be briefly held prisoner right here after his time at Carisbrooke Fort on the Isle of Wight, earlier than being taken to London for execution, whereas it was additionally used as a jail for a priest, convicted of selling or practising Catholicism, which was unlawful on the time.
However when conflict broke out with France in 1793, and particularly as soon as Napoleon got here to energy, Hurst Fort turned an important a part of the coastal defences as soon as once more.
New gun batteries and heavier cannon had been added to the fortress, with an even bigger garrison housed right here too, earlier than much more adjustments had been made within the mid-Nineteenth century because of the concern of invasion from (as soon as once more) France – this time emperor Napoleon III.
Two big wings had been added to both facet of the Tudor fortress, designed to deal with as many as 61 weapons, earlier than the twentieth century noticed new smaller fast firing weapons added when conflict broke out.
As you wander, you’ll discover completely different areas arrange as they might have been used through the First and Second World Warfare, from communications in a nook of the Tudor Tower, to bunks for First World Warfare troops and even a theatre arrange through the Second World Warfare.
It looks like there are infinite corners to find; when you’ve climbed as much as the battlements and towers, you may also enterprise down into basements, by slim corridors and discover little previous rooms used for storage, together with munitions
As you go, there are just a few particular shows to look out for too, together with one set of twentieth century reveals close to the doorway.
Together with uniforms and different First and Second World Warfare artefacts, there are posters warning of all the things from sharing data to the way to recognise the distinction between German and British plane.
One of the crucial uncommon areas contains a number of rooms devoted to shows on lighthouses, together with loads of probabilities to get palms on.
There’s just a little mannequin of a lightship, the place you may make it mild up, or uncover how particular prisms had been used for the glass in lighthouses which my daughter helpfully demonstrated with an evidence of how they labored – because of her latest physics classes.
I couldn’t determine whether or not I used to be extra fascinated by the previous management field for Beachy Head lighthouse, or the uniform lighthouse keepers had been anticipated to put on – regardless of being probably the most remoted jobs round, they nonetheless gave the impression to be in full uniform!
When you preserve your eyes open as you go, there’s all the time one thing else to find as you wander too, from big weapons to little decorations on cannons, an previous lighthouse now rusted into the previous partitions (its weathervane is close by within the grounds).
There’s even a memorial to all those that served at Hurst Fort over the 5 centuries it operated as a navy base.
The east wing of the fortress (and elements of the west wing) is at the moment present process renovations too, so there’ll be much more to see in just a few years as properly.
And when you’ve explored inside, you may also take a wander across the exterior the fortress – stroll over to the gleamingly white lighthouse constructing, and even in the event you’re not strolling the entire again alongside the shingle path, amble just a little means alongthe spit of land connecting the fortress to the mainland.
Ultimately, we spent round two hours right here, and will have stayed longer if the ferry hadn’t pulled up simply as I used to be planning lunch and our afternoon’s enjoyable!
Whereas we’ve ticked off fairly just a few of the greatest castles within the UK, this was undoubtedly probably the most uncommon. Whether or not you’re in search of historical past, superb views, some household enjoyable, or a little bit of an journey to get there, there’s one thing for everybody at Hurst Fort with children.
Visiting Hurst Fort with children: Must know
There are solely two methods to get to Hurst Fort, by way of the little ferry from Keyhaven or on foot – it isn’t doable to drive there.
The ferry to Hurst Fort
It pays to get there early in summer season as the primary boat of the day was a small one (12 passengers max) however when it stuffed up, we really set off earlier than the official departure time and ended up attending to the fortress because it opened at 10am.
By the point we left at lunchtime, the larger 94-seat ferry was operating with extra space for tons extra passengers, though it may possibly solely be used at excessive tide. It takes round 20 minutes every means and you should buy return tickets. The ferry dock is only some minutes from a public automotive park at Keyhaven (you should utilize the RingGo app to pay, though information is restricted) – postcode SO41 0TP.
Ferries run from April 1 to November 2. The primary ferry leaves formally at 10am, they usually run each 20-Half-hour all through the day, with the ultimate ferry at 5.30pm (4pm from October 25-November 2), though occasions can differ relying on the climate and the tide, in addition to how full the ferry is.
You’ll be able to’t prebook tickets, simply purchase them on board (there’s a card machine) or on the fortress for a return journey. They’re dog-friendly (as is Hurst Fort itself) and accessible.
Strolling to Hurst Fort with children
The stroll to Hurst Fort is round 1.5-2 miles, nevertheless it’s all alongside shingle which could be exhausting work, so do put on correct sneakers and permit loads of time – enable at the very least 40 minutes, and keep in mind that if it’s windy, it’s going to be gradual going.
You’ll be able to scamble right down to barely extra protected paths by the wetlands for a few of it, and the views are incredible. Whereas I wouldn’t fancy doing it with a toddler (and also you couldn’t simply get a regular buggy alongside the trail), it’s undoubtedly doable with older children.
The closest automotive park is at Milford-on-Sea – there are a pair by the seafront, though Sturt Pond and Hurst Street East automotive park shaves round 5 minutes off your stroll vs Hurst Street, plus some free parking on the roadside.
When you solely need to stroll a method, it makes most sense to park right here, stroll over the shingle spit then get the ferry again, with round a 30-minute stroll from the ferry dock again to the automotive park in Milford on Sea. It doesn’t actually save a lot time/effort however is one technique to attempt each.
How lengthy to spend at Hurst Fort
The one restrict in your time is the ferry timetable (until you’re strolling) – and Hurst Fort recommends households enable round 4 to 5 hours.
Personally, I’d say that’s most likely greater than you want, though it’s straightforward to fill longer if you’d like. Round two hours offers loads of time to see all the things, or enable a bit longer in the event you’re additionally stopping for lunch.
Because the ferry journey takes one other 45-60 minutes, and the stroll each methods takes round 90 minutes, you do want at the very least three in the event you’re hoping to discover correctly.
Tickets to Hurst Fort
Hurst Fort is an English Heritage property, so it’s free to members (the ferry continues to be paid, even if you’re a member). You’ll be able to’t purchase membership on the web site, so that you’ll have to have it upfront.
The positioning itself is operated by Hurst Marine, so in the event you’re shopping for tickets, you possibly can prebook these by their web site or purchase them on arrival.
We prebooked and I made positive I had a screengrab of the QR code as I wasn’t positive how a lot information there’d be given the fortress’s location, however I don’t suppose you have to – you possibly can pay by money and card on arrival.
The fortress is open from April 1 to November 2, from 10am to five.30pm (aside from October 25-November 2, when it closes at 4pm). Final entry is Half-hour earlier than closing, and the fortress is closed solely from November 3- March 31.
Amenities at Hurst Fort
There are bathrooms contained in the fortress (just for guests) and a small cafe simply exterior the fortress entrance, with picnic benches inside and out of doors.
There isn’t any operating consuming water on the fortress (the water for laundry palms within the bathrooms is salt water) so that you do have to convey lots or be ready to purchase it.
For extra issues to do within the New Forest with children, take a look at my high picks, in addition to extra concepts for household days out in Hampshire and my information to the Isle of Wight with children
Disclosure: This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee. All opinions on visiting Hurst Fort with children are my very own
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