Lutterell's Tower

Reviews:

(Provided by Hugo and Cindy, Cambridge) ....Very nice building, with a lovely living room, massively high ceiling, good fireplace and splendid views of the solent from the immense oriel window. Very spacious and comfortable, though we suspect it might be cold in winter if you don't light a fire. The tower which goes higher again by about 30 feet is a great place to look at stuff, though there's not much room up there; the roof of the main part of the building was locked and so inaccessible. A guess as to why: Eaglehurst, the associated house, now divided into multiple dwellings, is rather closer than the guide suggests, 100 yards top. Perhaps they think they'd be unduly overlooked from the main roof. But the view from the living room makes up for it anyway. The beach is about 20 yards away, down steps or the tunnel. The village is rather dead; the Flying Boat inn - ex mess of the military base - is shut and the Village Stores boarded up (May 2001). But the council-sponsored leisure centre on the spit serves good food and OK beer though its atmosphere is that of a leisure-centre bar, all windsurfers and wetsuits rather than pub-like. The Jolly Sailor over in Fawley (Ashlett) is fine though, and there's no shortage of shops a little further inland on the main road. We recommend a drive out and ferry to Hurst Castle, it's excellent. 8/10 - lovely building, great views, average village.

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