Solent Way - Lymington to Beaulieu
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
Cross Lymington River and head inland, with occasional glimpses of the Solent through the trees. Continue into the New Forest to Sowley Pond.
Then along the lanes and curl inland to Buckler's Hard village on the Beaulieu River. There is a fragment of an 18th century village remaining here, and a Maritime Museum that tells the story of shipbuilding at Buckler's Hard.
Follow the route inland up the east bank of the river to arrive at the Montagu Arms pub in Beaulieu.