History, wildlife and mythical tales feature in innovative audio guide for New Forest train and cross-Solent ferry passengers, provided by New Forest Community Rail Partnership, Cross Country Trains and Wightlink

LOCAL history and tales of headless coachmen and witches feature in an innovative new audio guide for New Forest train and ferry passengers.

The New Forest Community Rail Partnership, Cross Country Trains and Wightlink have teamed up to provide content for the guide delivered by smartphone app Window Seater.

It’s available to those travelling between Ashurst and Brockenhurst to Sway, Lymington, and then sailing to Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.

Aimed at helping passengers discover more about the countryside and coastline, the guide automatically plays as they reach places of interest.

The Window Seater app features the voices of people who live and work in the Forest and across the Solent, including historians, writers, New Forest commoners, and one of Wightlink’s captains.

As well as the mythical tales, there is information on the ancient practice of commoning, Brockenhurst’s role in wartime, and the coastal birdlife. The poetry of Tennyson also features.

Window Seater managing director Marcus Allender said: “Our partners have embraced innovation to bring the extraordinary living history of the New Forest and Solent crossing to life.

“I’ve no doubt it will entertain and educate passengers young and old.”

New Forest Community Rail Partnership’s Bobby Lock said: “Window Seater New Forest and the Solent offers a great narrative of clips from history to folklore.

“This has been a lovely project to work on, in partnership with funder Cross Country Trains, Wightlink and our volunteers.”

Wightlink captain Phil Husband highlighted the variety of wildlife that can be seen when crossing the Solent.

“White-tailed eagles now live in the Lymington River - you can’t miss them as they’re enormous,” he explained.

“There are plenty of migrating birds in winter and Wightlink crews have also spotted seals, dolphins and otters.”

To access the free download, search ‘Window Seater’ on the app store and Google Play.

For more information visit windowseater.com