As per the Solent programme a drive to Shaftesbury, home of Gold Hill and the famous Hovis bread advert (for those of us who are old enough to remember it) is planned for Sunday 15th May.
The drive will start from the west end of the car park in Rownhams services on the westbound M27. Meet at 0945 for a start time of 1030.
The drive will take in the northern part of the New Forest, lovely countryside, villages and towns, not to mention zig-zag hill, before finishing at The Kings Arms pub in Bleke Street, Shaftesbury.
Gold Hill is just a short walk from the Bell Street car park, which is Pay and Display (The Kings Arms does not have a dedicated car park, unfortunately). The pub does do some tasty food, but it does not do a carvery Sunday lunch.
PLEASE NOTE: UPDATE ON THE VENUE FOR LUNCH
Due to Shaftesbury and Gold Hill being so popular during the summer, and particularly when it’s good weather, the Bell Street car park adjacent to The Kings Arms pub gets extremely crowded, consequently the ability to park our 5’s will be impossible on a Sunday (I’ve tried it!).
Therefore the drive will now finish for lunch at The Coppleridge Inn at Motcombe, which is approx. 3 miles outside of Shaftesbury. It has a huge car park and an excellent menu which Mal will promulgate in a later post. Tina, the landlady, requires each persons food order and a £10 per person deposit, which can be paid into Mal’s PayPal account, which is malrowland21@gmail.com., by Wednesday evening of the 11th May.
Anybody wishing to go back to Shaftesbury and see Gold Hill after lunch, and later in the afternoon, will probably get a better chance to park in Bell Street carpark.
Apologies for any inconvenience to your original plans!
Ron & Angela