Solent Way - Hamble to Hill Head
A short history of the Solent Way
The Solent Way is a 60-mile long-distance coastal walking route from the seaside town of Milford-on-Sea to Emsworth Harbour. It passes the hustle and bustle of seafronts, quiet yachting harbours, deserted marshland and saltings.
The Way has been divided into 8 sections, each providing a really good day out. Choose between deserted coastal marshes or promenades and candy-floss. Or choose cosy riverside pubs or seaside picnics and shingle beaches with exhilarating views. There are castles and forts to explore, ships, submarines and museums to visit - and always with the smell and sound of the sea beside you. Walk past some of the finest marshes and lagoons in the south. Look for rare species such as foxtail stonewart, lagoon shrimp and starlet sea anemone.
The route is well waymarked with a Tern on a green arrow. Ordnance Survey maps Explorer OL22, 119 and 120 at 1:25 000 scale show the route in detail. These maps show the route with a green diamond and the name Solent Way.
Key
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- Route
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- Temporarily closed
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- Restricted use
Directions
Take the ferry to Warsash and walk south to the mouth of the River Hamble. You will pass the Hook-with-Warsash Nature Reserve with its intertidal mudflats, shoreline and a variety of habitats to explore.
The route continues to the low sand cliffs of Chilling and Bronwich. There are large stretches of undeveloped open farmland before reaching the Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve. This reserve of reedbeds, saltings and marshes is another great birdwatching site with hides and a Visitor Centre. It’s only a short distance from here to Hill Head Harbour.