TV locations for the Famous Five series

[Chrissie777]

I suppose that Gary will provide some information about the location in his book, which then could serve as a road book.

Hi Dick,

Could you tell me more about Gary's book.
Has it been published in the meantime?
Thanks!

[Chrissie777]

Actually my umbrella is quite noticeable, but only when it's up. It's fairly large and covered with scenes from Renoir's 'The Umbrellas'!

Hi Anita,

Please tell me, where did you find this Renoir umbrella???
I'm curious, because on a trip along the US west coast in 1997 I happened to discover an antique store in Sonoma, CA, which had lots of Renoir umbrellas with different motives/motifs.
I've never seen them in another store ever since.

[Nick Capaldi]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickcapald ... 183610554/

Just a quick note to say i've now uploaded a good selection of photos we took while visiting the filming locations of the 70s series. Hope you like them

[Anita Bensoussane]

A brilliant set of pictures, Nick. Thanks for posting the link. I'd love to see the lighthouse, and the little hut by the sea.

Chrissie, I won my Renoir umbrella in a competition about ten years ago. It's big with a wooden handle and is still going strong! I think the competition was in a magazine or brochure produced by a musuem.

[Chrissie777]

Chrissie, I won my Renoir umbrella in a competition about ten years ago. It's big with a wooden handle and is still going strong! I think the competition was in a magazine or brochure produced by a musuem.

Yes, Nick, those are beautiful photos. Thank you!

Hello Anita,

I will try to find a Renoir umbrella online. Thanks !

[number 6]

Great photos, Nick! A little known fact that may be of interest to you ... The shop front of the little 'Odd Spot' building in Burley isn't the original from the series. The whole front was completely demolished several years ago, when a lorry crashed into it!!

[Nick Capaldi]

hey Number 6! Wowsers, thats a shame. So I wonder if that was when the two little petrol pumps became no more. I hope the shop was closed when that happened.

I guess the wooden panelling survived as you can see markings where the old lettering used to be. Here's a photo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickcapald ... hotostream

[poddys]

Wow you have some great photos of the area. We were only in Burley in October, it's a great part of The New Forest. Never been to Exbury or Hurst Castle though, even though I have lived in Dorset and Hampshire much of my life. Must rectify that.

[Moonraker]

Burley has been a favourite spot of ours for over 40 years. We love the walk on the old railway track from Upper Burley (my name for it) towards Holmsley and Brockenhurst. Wonderful as Burley is, it is no Castaway though. There has been much speculation of the inspiration for this location in Enid's mind, I rather think it is totally fictional.

[poddys]

Many (many, many, many) moons ago, my Dad used to play the organ in the Queens Head in Burley.
It's changed a lot since then, and the village has got fairly touristy.

The walk along the old railway tracks is a good one. In October we did part of it, using an internet download of a walk that started in the village, went across the heathland, then along the railway for about 1/2 mile, and back up through the heathland and some woods. Looking forward to going back when the weather decides to improve.

[number 6]

I guess the wooden panelling survived as you can see markings where the old lettering used to be.

Yes, the panelling survived. It was from the panelling down (ie the original windows/frames & pumps) that weren't so lucky! I will double check when I go to Burley in July.

[Francis]

What a superb set of pictures - thanks to Nick and Andrea. When I get the dvd
of the series I will be looking at the pictures again!

[KarenW]

Excellent piccies and you've included and identified some locations I've missed. I visit the New Forest area each year and always look out for the filming locations. Some have hardly changed since the late 70's.

[JustMatt]

I was in Hampshire last week, saw Highcliffe House and Highcliffe Beach and went all round St Leonards and Mudeford Quay too. I need to get to Exbury Gardens and Blackfield though. Great places and hard to imagine it all happened there 30 + years ago!

[number 6]

I need to get to Exbury Gardens and Blackfield though.

@JustMatt.... The best way to get to Exbury, if you don't know, is by the the New Forest Tour Bus. This drops off in Exbury Gardens car park. Exbury Village is but a stones throw from the car park & Lepe Farm/House/ beach are only 1.5 miles South of the Village....about 25 mins if walking. You can also get to Gatewood Bridge from the Village within 15 mins(walking) as well. I usually get the tour bus from Brockenhurst Train Station or Lyndhurst Tourist info centre car park. The cost is £10 for a day ticket, which allows you to get on/off anywhere along the designated route. Unless you arrive by car, this is the easiest way to get to Exbury. 0L15 New Forest map is useful to find the F5 locations in & around Exbury.