Self Guided Walks

Walk Nine: River Hamble

Duration: 1 hr 15 mins - 1 hr 45 mins. Difficulty: 3, OS Grid Ref: SU497083.
Comments: Not at high tide.

The Walk

Walk back up Holly Hill Lane and just before the bend you will see a left hand turn into Crableck Lane. Continue along Crableck Lane until just before it veers to the right. At this point you will see a right of way heading straight ahead. Follow this route along for some way - where there is a no entry sign across the track, you will see that the path continues just to the right of the main route, running along the left hand edge of horse fields.

 

Follow this path until you reach the River Hamble then turn left along the coastal path, with the river directly to your right. Follow the coastal path southwards. (Short cut: Quite soon you will see an old narrow wooden bridge to your left. Go over this bridge and follow the path straight ahead. It will lead you out onto a lane. Follow this lane round to the left and continue along its bends until it meets with Holly Hill Lane. Turn left into Holly Hill Lane and walk up it until you get to your car). You will go over a sturdy bridge and pass some seats.

 

Continue southwards along this path, with the river on your right, past a large wetland area and just as you start being able to see the back gardens of large houses you will spot a gravel path on a spit to your left between two wetland areas.

 

Take this path and follow it along a house boundary until it leads you out onto a road. Turn left along the road until, where the road bends to the right, you will see a path straight ahead leading towards woodland and a signpost for Holly Hill. Follow this path into the woods, heading left at a junction, towards the viewing platform.

 

From the viewing platform follow the route round to the right, and continue some way along this path until you reach a set of wooden barriers. Turn left directly after the barriers, which will lead you over a wooden bridge, past small waterfalls. Continue along this path round the lakes, keeping the lakes to your right, until you reach a wooden bridge leading over the lakes.

 

Turn left away from the bridge and continue on this main track straight up to the entrance where your car is parked.

Travel directions

From M27 junction 9, follow signs for the A27. You will quickly reach a large roundabout with turnings for the A27. Take the turning for A27 West, heading towards Park Gate. Go straight across three roundabouts - you should now be on the section of the A27 known as Bridge Road, heading towards Southampton. Take the third left hand turning into Barnes Lane, then take the first right hand turn off this road (you will see Sarisbury Parish Rooms on this corner), into Holly Hill Lane. Continue along Holly Hill Lane, round a couple of bends, until you see a metal gate on the left with a sign for Holly Hill. Park at the side of the road here.

 

Nearest refreshments

The Bold Forester, Bridge Road (A27): Turn left from Holly Hill Lane into hand side of the road. Barnes Lane, then turn right onto the A27. The Bold Forester is on the left.

 

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