Lakeside Country Park
Eastleigh
On this walk, children will enjoy the miniature steam railway, lakes and small play area.
The lakes are popular places for practicing watersports
The Basics
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 2 km / 1.2 miles
Terrain: Well maintained and surfaced paths.
Pushchair: The paths are suitable for pushchairs.
Dogs: See boards around park which show zones for dogs on leads, dogs off leads and no dogs at all (in the nature reserve).
Refreshments: Plenty of space for picnics or The Lakeside Café.
Toilets: There are public toilets near the lakes.
Public Transport: The park has its own bus stop or it is a five minute walk from Southampton Airport Parkway station.
Parking: Car park off Doncaster Drove is free at weekends and four hours free on weekdays (Postcode: SO50 5DP - W3W: ///deputy.judges.hills)
The art trail goes through the meadows
A walk and a ride on a train! This little country park on the edge of Eastleigh has a very easy and short circular walk passing ponds, a mini train station, a play area, mini golf and a nature reserve.
The Route
Begin from the miniature railway car park, with the station on your right and the parking to your left. You should see a gap that will lead you down to a path. Turn left at the path and follow it until you reach the first lake.
Keep the lake to your right and the buildings to your left and follow the path that makes its way around the lake. The path will curve round to your right and you should always have the lakes to your right.
As you round the northern corner of the park, just after the end of Concorde Lake, you will spot a path forking to the left that will take you upwards to Monk’s Brook Halt picnic area/train stop. Over the train tracks and through a gate by the train stop is a play area.
For your return, you can head back to the lakes and complete the clockwise circuit by keeping the water to your right. Look out for a giant bench and then a lawn by the pontoon where geese tend to gather.
Alternatively, from Monk’s Brook Halt, you can continue along the path from the train stop, keeping the tracks to your right. Walk in a straight line for around 500 metres/ten minutes until the path bends away to your right. At this point, you can continue past the amphitheatre on your left towards the parking areas, or take one of the gates on the other side of the tracks and explore some of the paths in the nature reserve (no dogs). There are some metal artworks of wildlife in the reserve that children might like to look out for.
The train is the highlight of a visit to the park with miniature locomotives, replica station, mini golf, shop and cafe. It is £5.50 for an adult return and £4.50 for a child return (2-15yrs). The return journey is the best as it includes the tunnel!
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Did you know?
As well as walking, train rides, fishing, orienteering, weightlifting, cycling and running, you can take part in organised water sport activities such as learning to paddle board.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one at Riverside Park in Southampton, which also has a mini steam train.
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