Make tracks to Liphook

Above: Marvel at the steam engines

Above: Old fairground rides

Above: The carousel

Now that the sun officially has its hat on it’s time to make the most of your weekends and get out and about around Hampshire. This month our featured town is Liphook and what better way to while away a Sunday than take a trip to their local attraction, Hollycombe Steam Engine and Fairground Collection.
Taking its name from the Hollycombe estate situated on the edge of the Quarry Railway, the attraction boasts a superb collection of Edwardian fairground rides mixed with a characteristic selection of steam engines.
To see Hollycombe at its best you would need to get there around noon when you can take in the breathtaking views and watch as the hard working staff set up for the day.

Blooming marvellous
Take some time to indulge in an ice cream and then go for a wander around the beautiful gardens. Belonging to the late Commander Baldock, the garden is Victorian in origin and boasts the most beautiful azalea walk, spanning over a quarter of a mile.
Commander Baldock took over the keeping of the gardens in 1952 and spent much of his time tending and caring to the vast collection of trees and plants that you will see there today. The gardens span from Hollycombe House and run alongside the railway ending at the azalea walk. Now is the best time to go if you want to experience the gardens in full bloom, guaranteed to leave you in awe.

Saving the engines
It was Mr Baldock’s love of steam engines that is the foundation for the magnificent collection that lies at Hollycombe today. Following the Second World War he realised that many road steam engines were being scrapped and so took it upon himself to start saving them, his first engine being the Burrell tractor Sunset No.2.
After his death, Mr Baldock’s son David took over the keeping of his father’s beloved collection: “I remember spending many a weekend searching for and collecting old rides and engines with my father. He had a great love for the traditional countryside and I think starting his collection was his way of making sure that a key piece of our history was savoured.”

Fun of the fair
During the 1960s the engines gained a new member to their steam family in the form of an old Edwardian fairground ride. Since then the collection has grown in size and you can now see a fine set of beautifully decorated rides and organs.
The entrance fee includes unlimited access to the rides and it is a real treat to step back in time and enjoy all the fun of the fair. The Edwardian thrill seeker rides seem light-years away from the modern day roller coasters that can be seen in some of our best theme parks but at the time they were both highly technical and revolutionary. People would come from far and wide for a spin on the Razzle Dazzle or to lose their stomachs on the Steam Yacht Neptune and even today these rides can give our modern fair a run for its money.

Engines great and small
If you have had enough adrenaline for one day, beyond the fair is Hollycombe’s garden railway. Travel through the lush forest surrounding the fair on some of the collection’s miniature engines and observe some of the wonderful wildlife close up. It’s great for the kids and together with Bob and Pauline (the two locomotives) you can prepare yourself for the real thing.
The main railway at Hollycombe is an attraction not to be missed. The train leaves at allotted times during the day and takes you on a journey past the quarry and breathtaking views overlooking the Hampshire and West Sussex borders. There is all sorts of wildlife along the way from horses and sheep to lamas in the neighbouring fields.
The engine itself, the Caledonia, was built in 1931 in Kilmarnock for the Durham water board and was later sold to the Dinorwic Quarries. It came to Hollycombe in 1968 and took centre stage within the station canopy, which was salvaged, from Hayling Island Station after the line was discontinued.
If you happen to miss the train then there is tractor service that runs throughout the day, which pulls you around the estate in a trailer. The steam road tractor, Sunset No.2, would have worked on the roads along the south coast and is a favourite among the staff at Hollycombe.

Make a day of it
Once you have returned from your voyage then a perfect way to end the day is to have a stroll down towards the
steam farm. There you can feed the animals and go back in time as you
watch over how much of the machinery would have operated some hundred
years ago.
Hollycombe is run entirely by volunteers and is an excellent way to get out and
enjoy the countryside. It was nearly lost during the 1980s as Mr Baldock began to find it impossible to maintain the upkeep of the estate, but thankfully, the Hollycombe Steam and Woodland Garden Society stepped in to organise the day-to-day running of the museum. Roy Hodder, whose family has volunteered at Hollycombe for generations said: “Hollycombe is a great day out for families and it is lovely to see how much the centre has changed throughout the year. I’m just glad we can all give something back to our local community.”

All steamed up
The entrance fee is £11 and is used to ensure that Hollycombe remains on the map for future generations to enjoy. 
If you would like further information or can’t wait to plan your day out then why not take a look at their website at www.hollycombe.co.uk. There you will find a comprehensive list of times, events and general information about the collection and directions on how
to get there.
Alternatively, call 01428 724900 or email info@hollycombe.co.uk