Lymington
Sailing, Sea Air and a Rather Pleasant Old Town
Lymington is one of those Hampshire towns that seems to have got the balance about right. Sitting on the western Solent, with the Isle of Wight clearly visible across the water, it combines a handsome old town with a busy harbour, sailing, ferries and easy access to the New Forest.
It is also a place where you can happily spend a few hours without feeling obliged to tick off a list of twenty-seven attractions.
The Old Town
Lymington's historic centre is particularly attractive, with Georgian buildings, narrow streets and plenty of independent shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants.The town slopes gently down towards the harbour, and High Street is the obvious place to start exploring. It has retained much of its character and, thankfully, hasn't been completely taken over by the usual collection of identical chain shops.
One of the best times to visit is on a Saturday, when the famous Lymington market takes over the High Street. It has been held here for centuries and is still a lively affair, with stalls selling food, produce, clothes, crafts and all sorts of things you probably didn't come looking for but may nevertheless end up buying.
The Harbour
The harbour is really the heart of Lymington.There are yachts and sailing boats everywhere, and the waterfront has a wonderfully busy maritime atmosphere. This is a serious sailing area rather than somewhere where boats are merely parked for tourists to photograph.
Walk along the quay and you'll get excellent views across the Solent towards the Isle of Wight. On a decent day, it is a particularly pleasant place to simply sit and watch the world go by.
And if you fancy exploring further, Lymington is the departure point for the ferry to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. The crossing takes around forty minutes and is a very pleasant way to reach the island, particularly when the alternative involves fighting your way through Southampton and onto another ferry.
The New Forest
One of Lymington's great advantages is its location.The New Forest is virtually on the doorstep, so Lymington makes an excellent base for exploring the forest, with its ancient woodland, open heathland and famous free-roaming ponies.
You can quite easily combine a morning wandering around Lymington with an afternoon exploring the forest, making it a particularly good destination for a day out.
The Verdict
Lymington is a very pleasant place to visit without being overly complicated.
It has an attractive old town, a proper working harbour, the excellent Saturday market, views across to the Isle of Wight and the New Forest practically next door.
It is also one of those places where the best attraction is simply the place itself. Have a wander, look around the shops, sit beside the harbour, watch the boats and have a decent lunch.
You don't necessarily need an itinerary.
And sometimes that's exactly what makes a place enjoyable.
Lymington isn't trying desperately to be the next Brighton, Bournemouth or Southampton.
It's quite happy being Lymington.
And long may it remain so.
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