Exbury Gardens is a 200-acre informal woodland garden in the village of Exbury in the New Forest. It sits across the river from Bucklers Hard. It has a large collections of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, and is often considered the finest garden of its type in the United Kingdom. Spring is a great time to visit as the rhododendrons and azaleas are in full bloom. We weren’t the only folks to think that as the Car parks were very busy. However, due to the scale of the gardens, it never felt particularly crowded.
Exbury House (in the picture below) is privately owned and not open for visitors.
Exbury Gardens, New Forest, May 2025
From Wikipedia:
Features include the Hydrangea Walk, the Rock Garden, Iris Garden, the Sundial Garden, Centenary Garden and Camellia Walk (which takes visitors to a path alongside Beaulieu river and back via the pond).The infrastructure included a water tower, three large concrete lined ponds, and 22 miles (35 km) of underground piping. Exbury Gardens is now open to the public for most of the year, with high seasons in the spring for the flowering shrubs and the autumn for the autumn colour.
Exbury Gardens, New Forest, May 2025
Nobody knows why the side shoots of this Oriental Plane (there are three of them) have taken on these strange contorted shapes. The Mother tree – standing in the middle – is almost hollow, yet perfectly healthy with a root system that not only supports itself but also its wiggly offspring.
Exbury Gardens, New Forest, May 2025
Exbury Gardens, New Forest, May 2025
There are a series of cascading pools and a viewpoint across the river.
Exbury Gardens, New Forest, May 2025
Viewpoint at Exbury Gardens, New Forest, May 2025
More pictures are in the gallery below. Click on an image if you wish to see the full detail.
The next day we were back on the bikes for a visit to the Trusted Servant Inn for lunch.
Cycle ride to the Trusted Servant, New Forest 2025
Trusted Servant Inn, Minstead, New Forest 2025
We will probably head out on the bikes again tomorrow and then its time to pack everything away and head back to the delights of East Devon.
With some great weather in the short to medium term weather forecast, last Thursday we hitched up the caravan and headed to a Caravan and Motorhome campsite in the New Forest. Our preferred site is the one at Black Knowl, close to Brockenhurst and in the heart of the Forest itself. This wasn’t a particularly spontaneous trip because being one of the most popular sites in the CAMC network, we had booked our stay sometime last year. It’s also not the cheapest of sites with the current price close to £50 per night for a “standard” pitch.
The journey from East Devon was an un-eventful 3.5hrs and our journey took us along the south coast from East Devon – Honiton – Charmouth – Bridport – Dorchester – Ringwood – Cadnam and then south to Brockenhurst.
By Thursday evening we were fully pitched and enjoyed tea in the sunshine.
The clear skies continued through the evening.
Sunset over Black Knowl, New Forest, May 2025
We think spring is the best time to explore the New Forest. Bluebells adorn the woodland floors, the Rhodedendra and Azaleas are in full bloom and of course, during this heatwave, all the new-born foals and calves are enjoying an un-seasonally warm and dry spring.
Pony and Foal, New Forest, May 2025
Very young calf, New Forest, May 2025
Tadpoles, New Forest, May 2025
Ponies in the New Forest, May 2025
Saturday we headed out on the bikes along a disused railway line to Wootton Bridge where the stream was a popular destination for picnics and generally cooling off in the water.
Picnic at Wootten Bridge, New Forest, May 2025
Wootton Bridge, New Forest, May 2025
Sunday we headed into Brockenhurst and noticed an RHS Open garden close to the centre of the town. Wiled away an hour or two there and got some inspiration on what to replace our arch with at home. (NB The inspiration isn’t related to the “Pergola” below!).
RHS Open Garden, New Forest, May 2025
On Monday, Chris and Alison arrived from Hayling Island for a day of relaxation. Alison and Moe visited Lymington for a spot of shopping whilst Chris and I chatted about (amongst other things) motorhomes – in particular the one they are picking up next Tuesday, and the excuse they used for not staying with us at the campsite! Meanwhile, I had Motorhome envy when this Hymer Crossover parked up in an adjacent pitch.
Now, if I could ever be tempted with a Motorhome – this might well be it!
Hymer Crossover 4×4, New Forest, May 2025
Tuesday we were back on the bikes for a loop around Lyndhurst. This time I used MapMyRide to track the trip and I think I prefer the map and summary to that available on Fitbit. For what it’s worth, this will be my last Fitbit tracker. Google have totally messed up the Fitbit brand and apps.
Cycle route loop through Lyndhurst, New Forest, May 2025
We had planned on towing our caravan to Trading Boundaries before our (almost annual) break in the New Forest, but we decided that our garden at home presently requires too much attention to be away for such a long spell.
This was then, another “Nellie” only weekend and a two night stay at Heaven Farm campsite, somewhere in rural depths of East Sussex.
Heaven Farm, Uckfield, 2025
Heaven Farm campsite, Uckfield, 2025
The purpose of our visit was live music and the band “Arena” who were performing at Trading Boundaries for the second of two nights. Trading Boundaries was originally a pub and nightclub but is now a luxury wedding venue, trading post, art gallery and of course a renowned live-music venue. I thought it worked really well but the farmer and owner of Heaven Farm campsite was far less enthusiastic that his local pub and nightclub had turned into this!
It’s always difficult to know what to expect at these small venues. We had missed a trick having booked two “standing” tickets as this venue is predominantly seated and had we realised, a pair of “dining” tickets would have been more appropriate!
As holders of the budget “standing only” tickets, we couldn’t really find anywhere to stand until the dining portion of the evening was concluded. This gave us an opportunity to look around trading boundaries replete with it’s wooden elephants and scented candles. On the first floor was an exhibition by Roger Dean. Roger Dean is an English artist, designer, and publisher. He began painting posters and album covers for musicians in the late 1960s. The groups for whom he did the most art are the English rock bands Yes and Asia.
The band Arena is one of my firm favourites and this was their 30th Anniversary European tour.
Mick Pointer (the original drummer for Marillion) and Clive Nolan (keyboards) are the driving force behind the band.
Clive Nolan was educated at The King’s School, Gloucester and at the age of sixteen, Nolan became the youngest musician in England (at the time) to gain an ALCM diploma in composition from the London College of Music. Holding both a BMus and MMus, he played violin, cello and viola, although his main study while at university was composition, orchestration, musical arrangement and conducting.
Guitarist is John Mitchell, an incredibly accomplished guitarist and a multi-instrumentalist music producer and solo artist, Mitchell is also a member of several other popular bands, including Frost*, It Bites, Lonely Robot and the supergroup Asia.
Damian Wilson is now the vocalist, another talented performer who played the lead role in “Les Miserables”, and has fronted several other prog and rock bands. He interacted well with the audience and stayed around after the show to chat to folks.
Kylan Amos on bass completes the line-up.
The gig went smoothly, Mitchell was on-form on the guitar and the new singer, Damian Wilson put in a fantastic performance. There were even some standing ovations – including ones the band hadn’t asked for!
We awoke late on Sunday morning having not arrived back at the Campervan until 1:00am. Breakfast at the farm’s cafe was followed by a short drive to Sheffield Park Station, the start of the Bluebell heritage railway line. This is an 18km line which operates between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead on the old British Railways East Grinsted to Lewes line.
Bluebell Heritage Railway Line, East Sussex. 2025
Bluebell Heritage Railway Line, East Sussex. 2025
As it was May the 4th – Star Wars day – we had Darth Vader and a squad of stormtroopers on hand to check tickets.
Star Wars Days, Bluebell Line, East Sussex. 2025
The steam journey to East Grinstead from Sheffield Park is forty minutes across lush countryside with sweeping views. The carriages have been lovingly restored with real craftmanship (even 3rd class!). At one end of the train is a viewing carriage.
Bluebell Heritage Railway Line, East Sussex. 2025
Bluebell Heritage Railway Line, East Sussex. 2025
Later in the afternoon we headed to the National Trust gardens at Sheffield Park. Sheffield Park and Garden is an informal landscape garden and was originally laid out in the 18th century by Capability Brown and further developed as a woodland garden in the early 20th century by its then owner Arthur Soames. It is now part of the National Trust.
The house is not open to the public and remains privately owned.
Having only recently returned from Spain, it was perhaps a little indulgent to head off to Henley-on-Thames at the slightest of excuses. For the record, Moe was visiting family and friends and I needed to collect a second hand awning side panel from a chap on the VW California forum.
Arriving on the Wednesday, a quick turnaround, and I headed to the railway station bound for a train to Twyford. Here I met up with Ian where we spent a pleasant afternoon at the Waggon and Horses just on the outskirts of this Berkshire town.
Thursday I drove to West Oxfordshire – Carterton – to collect the awning panel. What a nightmare. New build estates popping up everywhere and the traffic was insane, particularly given my journey was well away from rush hour. Anyway, the collection was great and the awning panel virtually as new with all the expected Thule accessories neatly laid out for inspection. Here’s the pull-out awning with the new side panel attached.
Nellie’s pitch at Henley Four Oaks CAMC Site, Henley-on-Thames, 2025
Nellie’s pitch at Henley Four Oaks CAMC Site, Henley-on-Thames, 2025
Enjoying the sun, Henley |Four Oaks CAMC site, Henley-on-Thames, 2025
On the return journey i headed to Vicars game farm shop near Yattenden and stuffed a few kilograms of their finest Venison mince into the Campervan fridge. This visit was for the Venison but they also sell the famous “Sweeney Todd” pies – the very same ones available at their restaurant in central Reading.
With another evening before Moe would arrive, I decided to head out for an Indian meal. Moe doesn’t like spicy food so this was the perfect opportunity. I chose the Pokhara restaurant on the Reading road which turned out to be an excellent choice. The starter was unusual, a kind of fusion between Thai and Indian – essentially a spicy dumpling. The restaurant were very flexible allowing to to mix and match some other dishes. I’d recommend.
Pokhara Indian restaurant, Henley-on-Thames, 2025
The weather remains dry, warm and sunny.
Warm and clear skies, Henley-on-Thames, 2025
Moe arrived Friday and was immediately entertained by a neighbours dog – the dog having wandered off from its motorhome, she was attracted to my footwear and would not return my shoe… A game I had little chance of winning!
Where’s my shoe, Henley-on-Thames, 2025
Where’s my shoe, Henley-on-Thames, 2025
Saturday morning, our immediate neighbours departed – not before I’d snapped the following picture of their campervan heating system. I have fire envy!
“I want one” – Henley-on-Thames, 2025
Later that day we set off to Shiplake by train to walk back to Henley along the Thames path. Not so fast – the Thames path is still closed for repairs to the bridge at Marsh lock and the diversion route is long.
We followed the diversion through Harpsden woods and eventually arrived at Marsh lock where we watched the boats navigating through before continuing our walk along the river back to Henley.
Moe at Marsh lock, Henley-on-Thames, 2025
With the nice weather continuing unabated we headed to the Angel (on the bridge, but not the “Angel on the Bridge!”) and enjoyed late afternoon refreshments before dining at Cote. We headed back to East Devon on Sunday morning.
We drove to Taunton on Thursday 3rd April for a visit to Solar Camper solutions. Here, Roger installed two solar panels onto our California (200 watts in total) along with a Victron MPPT controller.
200w Solar Panels from Solar camper solutions, Taunton, April 2025
The panels are a laminated ETFE design, flexible, very lightweight and the vehicle still retains a height of under 2.0 m. The installation was professional, quick and everything is well thought out. It’s not the cheapest of solutions (part California “tax” and part because many of the low profile fittings just aren’t available “off the shelf”) but it looks good and the panels are bolted to the roof rails so they can be removed for cleaning etc.
Since the weather forecast was for warm and sunny weather, we headed off to the north Devon coast for a couple of nights, staying at Sparkhayes campsite, Porlock.
Sparkhayes is a lovely grass site, in the centre of this rather pretty Exmoor village. The owner has a few reviews indicating he’s perhaps a little eccentric or “unfriendly”, but scroll past those reviews and have a chat with Phil – he was very friendly and helpful to us. He wouldn’t however, commit to which of the three pubs in Porlock served the best food – suggesting we visit each one for drinks first. Sounded like a plan.
On our arrival day, we drove to Lynmouth to visit a National Trust property. There are presently some extensive roadworks in the area with diversions of many miles and in the end, we never made it to Watersmeet and instead had a brief look around Lynmouth and a coffee.
Lynmouth Harbour, April 2025
Lynmouth Harbour, April 2025
If we had had a little more time we could have taken the funicular railway to Lynton.
We also passed this shop near the harbour. If you look closely, you can see where the high water mark was in the great flood of 1952. This is described as the worst river flood in English history when a storm with heavy rainfall, combined with already saturated soil and flood debris led to the flooding of the village and the loss of 34 lives.
Lynmouth flood of 1952, April 2025
In the evening, we did go to each pub in Porlock, but the first on our list, the Royal Oak, was empty and lacking staff to serve food. Hence we gave the Royal Oak a wide berth, had a pint in the Castle before dining at the Ship Inn, also known as “The Top Ship”.
Dinner at the Top Ship, Porlock, April 2025
Porlock Church, Porlock, April 2024
Porlock church at night, Porlock, April 2025
Friday was a leisurely start but we had pre-ordered sourdough dough bread from “Bake Me Crazy” in Porlock. The shop is owned by friends of our daughter and Moe couldn’t resist buying cakes as well. In the afternoon, we walked along the coastal path from Porlock to Porlock Weir.
Coastal Path to Porlock Weir, Porlock 2025
Walk to Porlock Weir, April 2025
Memorial for a lost aircraft, near Porlock, April 2025
Walk to Porlock Weir, April 2025
Later in the evening, we ate at the Ship Inn (Porlock Weir), known locally as “The Bottom Ship”. It’s also owned by the same people as The Top Ship but the menus are different. However, new owners will be arriving in September.
The Bottom Ship, Porlock Weir, April 2025
Saturday we headed back to East Devon via an Aquatic centre near to Crediton. We needed to stock up on plants for our pond.
The solar panels performed exactly as they should.
