Exploring Hound
A short description of The Parish of Hound
The Parish of Hound has a wealth of rights of way. These provide a fantastic opportunity to explore the surrounding countryside.
The Parish is home to the magnificent Royal Victoria Country Park. This is an area of woodland, parkland and foreshore. It is also the site of Netley Chapel and the remains of the famous Royal Victoria Military Hospital.
In the west of the Parish, another great place to visit is Westwood Woodland Park. Westwood is a 200 acre Nature Reserve of ancient woodland and rolling grassland.
Key
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- Route
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- Temporarily closed
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- Restricted use
Directions
From Netley Railway Station, follow the route down Station Road. Near the entrance to Netley Lodge Close there is a way marked path (Footpath 17) leading into the Seaview Estate.
Continue in a direct line through the Estate to its junction with New Road. Turn left and on the opposite side of the road you will find an unmarked path. Follow this and emerge onto Victoria Road near Sedgemead Flats.
Turn left and make your way to the foreshore and Netley Hard. Here you can enjoy views over Southampton Water. Opposite the Hard you will find Sophie’s Pond where many species of wildfowl can be found.
Enter Royal Victoria Country Park and take the turning on the left, along the service road to the rear of the Park. On your right you will see the splendid former officers’ mess which once housed 55 officers. This building is now private dwellings. You will also see Netley Chapel, and the site of the Military Hospital, built in 1856 under influence of Florence Nightingale. Bear left and emerge onto Hound Road via the rear entrance.
Upon exiting, you will find an unmarked fenced path on your left which will take you back to Netley Railway Station.