Eling Tide Mill
Southampton
On this walk, children will enjoy playing on the shoreline, crabbing, a pirate ship shaped play area or a visit to the mill.
There are plenty of boats to watch in the marina beside the tide mill
The Basics
Time: 40 minutes
Distance: 2.3 km / 1.4 miles
Terrain: Flat, even paths and boardwalk. A rougher path if you walk up to the church.
Pushchair: This route is suitable for pushchairs with the exception of the short section up to the church.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk and they are allowed inside the mill and café.
Refreshments: Mill Café at the visitor’s centre, The Anchor Inn or there is a picnic area with tables beside the quay.
Toilets: There are public toilets in the car park.
Public Transport: Totton train station is a ten minute walk away. Bluestar bus service 6 between Southampton and Lymington, or 8 between Southampton and Calshot, stop at Batts Corner in Totton - follow the fingerpost to Eling Waterfront.
Parking: The main car park is free, but to access it from the east you will need to cross a toll bridge (£1). You can get that refunded if you visit the mill. Alternatively, there is some free parking on the quay on the eastern side, near The Anchor Inn (Postcode: SO40 9HB - W3W: ///rescue.vibe.forgot)
The easy loop is full of bridges and boardwalks, from which you can view the wetlands.
A gentle stroll, starting at Eling Quay will take you past Eling Tide Mill, Eling Great Marsh, Goatee Beach, Eling Church, Bartley Reach and will finish at the visitor centre and café. The whole route has undergone improvements making it wheelchair and pushchair friendly (with the exception of the small section up to the church).
The Route
We parked on the quay near The Anchor Inn and began the route by passing the Tide Mill Experience and then walking over the toll bridge. On the other side of the bridge, you will see the main car park on your right. If you parked here, you can start the walk from this point.
Take the small road opposite the car park entrance and walk past Grove Lodge and Tide Waters. This will bring you down to a recreation ground with a small play area shaped like a pirate ship. After enjoying this, continue onwards along Goatee Beach with the water to your left. You will have views across the water to Southampton Docks. If you have a pushchair or wheelchair, you will need to return to the toll bridge the way you came after enjoying the area. Those on foot can make a small loop past St. Mary’s 12th century Church.
To continue the loop up to the church you will need to look for a path heading right across the grass, perpendicular to the water. It starts by a green marker post for boats in the water and follows a few rough bushes and then an avenue of young oak trees. It has a red dog poop bin at the far end. When you reach the dog poop bin, you will then enter the trees and head upwards through an old kissing gate into the graveyard. Pass by the church on your right and then drop down onto the road. Turn right and follow the road back down to the tide bridge.
This time, do not cross the bridge, but turn left into the car park. Cross the car park to the opposite side, passing the toilets on your left and then entering the cemetery. On the other side of the cemetery, you will hit the boardwalk and should follow this, passing under some old oak trees. You will sometimes pass viewing platforms and the mill pond should always be to your right. There were a few fairy doors scattered around.
The boardwalks will bend around to your right, giving views back to the mill. Cross the wooden bridge going over Bartley Water and then turn right. Look out for a reed bed island on your right where swans nest.
Follow the path to return to the mill. You will arrive back beside the picnic area. The shop, visitor centre and café area are also all in this area and the quay is also a popular place to go crabbing.
As a member, you gain instant access to all 169 PDF files. Members also benefit from special members-only discounts at some of our favourite pit-stops.
Did you know?
There is reference to there being a mill at Eling in The Domesday Book in 1086, but some historians think there could have been a mill here as far back as Roman times. The current building is about 200 years old and visitors can see a restored wheel and millstones, and observe how the grain would have been milled here.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this coastal stroll at Hamble Le Rice
We are passionate about keeping The Ambling Path as a free resource available to everyone, forever. If you have enjoyed using our walking guides, then please consider leaving us a donation. This will help to cover our costs as well as rewarding the considerable time and effort needed to maintain the site. Thank you.
Follow us on social media to see our new walks and get regular updates on our old ones:
