One in every 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 plenty of 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, searching throughout the Solent to the Isle of Wight, so the one approach 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 large plans to go strolling elsewhere within the New Forest later within the day, we took the simple possibility and boarded the little ferry which runs from Keyhaven out to Hurst Fort – though I by no means say no to a ship trip, and it’s exhausting to consider a greater approach to begin a beautiful sunny summer time’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 certain how lengthy it will truly maintain my daughter entertained. However in the long run, it shocked us each, with some enjoyable household actions, some wonderful 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 ultimately chopping their losses and heading again to France three days later.
There’s a fantastic set of knowledge boards within the Tudor tower supplying you with a potted historical past of Hurst Fort, so it’s a fantastic place to begin – 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 strive of creatures which dwell round Hurst Fort.
And a particular flag path to observe, in case your children want persuading to discover each inch of the fortress – in some way, regardless of wanting excessive, low and from finish to finish, we nonetheless managed to overlook one, however labored out the anagram anyway.
Try 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’ll be able to look out again in the direction of Hampshire in addition to over to the Isle of Wight, which appeared extremely shut on a sunny day.
Shut sufficient, in reality, 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, try 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’ll nonetheless discover loads of different historic particulars to identify, together with an enormous iron studded picket door, the previous portcullis and a really previous bathroom (mainly only a gap inside a stone seat. Very Horrible Histories).
Alongside the way in which, 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 have been added to the fortress, with an even bigger garrison housed right here too, earlier than much more modifications have 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 large wings have 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 totally different areas arrange as they might have been used through the First and Second World Conflict, from communications in a nook of the Tudor Tower, to bunks for First World Conflict troops and even a theatre arrange through the Second World Conflict.
It appears like there are countless corners to find; when you’ve climbed as much as the battlements and towers, you too can enterprise down into basements, by slender corridors and discover little previous rooms used for storage, together with munitions
As you go, there are a number of particular shows to look out for too, together with one set of twentieth century displays close to the doorway.
Together with uniforms and different First and Second World Conflict artefacts, there are posters warning of every part from sharing data to how you can recognise the distinction between German and British plane.
One of the vital uncommon areas consists of a number of rooms devoted to shows on lighthouses, together with loads of possibilities to get arms on.
There’s somewhat mannequin of a lightship, the place you may make it mild up, or uncover how particular prisms have been used for the glass in lighthouses which my daughter helpfully demonstrated with a proof of how they labored – because of her current 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 have been anticipated to put on – regardless of being probably the most remoted jobs round, they nonetheless gave the impression to be in full uniform!
If you happen to maintain your eyes open as you go, there’s at all times one thing else to find as you wander too, from large 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 present present process renovations too, so there’ll be much more to see in a number of years as effectively.
And when you’ve explored inside, you too can take a wander across the outdoors the fortress – stroll over to the gleamingly white lighthouse constructing, and even if you happen to’re not strolling the entire again alongside the shingle path, amble somewhat approach 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 a number of of the most effective castles within the UK, this was undoubtedly probably the most uncommon. Whether or not you’re in search of historical past, wonderful 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’s not doable to drive there.
The ferry to Hurst Fort
It pays to get there early in summer time as the primary boat of the day was a small one (12 passengers max) however when it stuffed up, we truly 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 could solely be used at excessive tide. It takes round 20 minutes every approach and you should buy return tickets. The ferry dock is just a few minutes from a public automobile park at Keyhaven (you should utilize the RingGo app to pay, though knowledge is proscribed) – postcode SO41 0TP.
Ferries run from April 1 to November 2. The primary ferry leaves formally at 10am, and so they 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 possibly can’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 may be exhausting work, so do put on correct sneakers and permit loads of time – enable a minimum of 40 minutes, and keep in mind that if it’s windy, it’s going to be gradual going.
You possibly can scamble right down to barely extra protected paths by the wetlands for a few of it, and the views are implausible. 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 automobile park is at Milford-on-Sea – there are a pair by the seafront, though Sturt Pond and Hurst Highway East automobile park shaves round 5 minutes off your stroll vs Hurst Highway, plus some free parking on the roadside.
If you happen to solely wish 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 automobile park in Milford on Sea. It doesn’t actually save a lot time/effort however is one approach to strive each.
How lengthy to spend at Hurst Fort
The one restrict in your time is the ferry timetable (except 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 simple to fill longer in order for you. Round two hours offers loads of time to see every part, or enable a bit longer if you happen to’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 a minimum of three if you happen to’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 possibly can’t purchase membership on the web site, so that you’ll have to have it prematurely.
The location itself is operated by Hurst Marine, so if you happen to’re shopping for tickets, you’ll be able to prebook these by their web site or purchase them on arrival.
We prebooked and I made certain I had a screengrab of the QR code as I wasn’t certain how a lot knowledge there’d be given the fortress’s location, however I don’t assume you should – you’ll be able to 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 completely from November 3- March 31.
Amenities at Hurst Fort
There are bathrooms contained in the fortress (just for guests) and a small cafe simply outdoors the fortress entrance, with picnic benches inside and out of doors.
There is no such thing as a operating consuming water on the fortress (the water for laundry arms 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, try 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 publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions on visiting Hurst Fort with children are my very own
Photographs copyright MummyTravels
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