Going to the seaside

On Xmas day we make some sandwiches, hop in the car, and head to the coast. Whizzing past trees, this year in unexpected sunshine - we found ourself in the New Forest, famous for its wild ponies - which appear around every corner, it seems (and are very photogenic!)

Driving through Beaulieu and finding Bucklers Hard historic village closed (well, it would be, on xmas day) we followed the sign to St Leonards, which wasn't on our map. And this huge wall appeared --

Turns out this is the biggest medieval barn in England, 210 feet by 70 feet. Modern barns are small in comparison. Note the clouds moving in from the chilly east.

Soon, a glimpse of the sea - or estuary at least - at Lymington -

and a spot to eat our picnic lunch (the sign doesn't specify "no picnicking") - Ever westward we travelled, turning at the sign for Hurst Castle.

Beyond the floodgates and saltmarsh, the hills are actually the Isle of Wight -

Ah yes the saltmarsh - catching the sun as it broke through the clouds -

We got out for a brisk walk on Hurst Spit
to find a streak of sunset beyond the rocks -
124,000 tons of rock had been brought over from Norway to shore up the coastline, along with 300,000 cubic metres of shingle.