The western Solent and the River Beaulieu are quite accessible from Chicklade and provide a plethora of things to do. Beaulieu is host to the National Motor Museum, with a fascinating collection of motor vehicles including many historic F1 cars. Not far away is Buckler’s Hard, a historic shipbuilding village and museum.

Lepe Country Park, on the banks of the Solent, has lovely walks along the coast – and out into the water on sand spits, depending on tidal conditions – as well as the interesting remains of some of the D-Day preparations, including the place where many of the Mulberry Floating Harbour pontoons were created. A little further along is Calshott Castle, a coastal defence fort constructed by Henry VIII, which was also the venue for several crucial Schneider Trophy seaplane races in the late twenties and early thirties.

Distance 47 miles