Lymington
Children will enjoy Woodside Park, the marina, crabbing at the quay and plenty of ice cream shops.
You can see the ferries crossing over to the Isle of Wight on the horizon.
The Basics
Time: 2 hours
Distance: 6.8 km / 4.2 miles
Terrain: Well surfaced park and sea wall paths, pavements and some quiet roads with no pavement. Mostly flat, with a gradual climb up the high street.
Pushchairs: Pushchairs will make it around. There are a few steps, but these could probably be negotiated.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk, but you will want them on a lead in the park and through town.
Refreshments: A variety of options in Lymington town centre including ice creams shops and independent and chain cafes.
Toilets: There are public toilets at Woodside Gardens, at Bath Road near the swimming baths and at the quay.
Public Transport: Lymington has a train station and we suggest walking to the quay and joining the walk there.
Parking: Free car park for around 14 cars at Woodside Gardens, Rookes Lane (Postcode: SO41 8FP - W3W: ///orange.plums.prouder)
Lymington is famed for its pretty cobbled street leading down to the quay.
The pretty coastal town of Lymington is a must for any family staying in the New Forest. Cobbled streets take you down to the quay, where families gather to catch crabs. Our walk includes much more than just this popular spot and begins at Woodside Gardens, with well tended flower beds, a fairy garden, a tree you can climb inside and an excellent play area. It then follows the wonderfully refurbished paths of the wider park, past a free dog agility paddock down to the sea. Turning left, you will walk along the spectacular sea wall towards the marina with views of the Isle of Wight and the Needles.
The Route
Entering the gardens from the car park, you will first pass the toilets. Turn right after the toilets and you will spot the play area on your right. It is enclosed with no dogs allowed in, but there are benches where you can watch children from. Keep the play area to your right and then turn left when you see the rose arbour. Walk with this to your right and follow the path. On the left there are lots of trees where children will enjoy playing, and you should keep looking left as you walk for the fairy garden too. There are various windows and doors nailed to the trees and one tree that children can climb inside.
After the fairy garden, continue forward and walk down the wisteria tunnel. As you come out of the tunnel, follow the new looking path and then take the right fork. Go through a gate and pass a dog agility trail in a paddock on your right (free for public use). Keep with the path and go through another gate at the bottom which will take you to a short section of boardwalk over a wetland. After the boardwalk, take the path turning left and go out of the park, passing a bin and a metal height barrier.
At Poles Lane, turn left. At a junction cross over with the grassy triangle, telegraph pole and a bench on your left. Follow the signs saying Maiden Lane leading to Normandy Lane. When you see the sign for Normandy Lane, take the right hand fork and after a few metres on your left you will see the start of the footpath.
The gravelly path will lead you down the left-hand edge of Eight Acre Pond. Follow the sea wall as it bends to the left a couple of times, before bearing left again for a long stretch of sea wall with views of the Isle of Wight to your right. Veer left once again as the path completes the next side of the ‘C’ shape and continue forward towards the boats of the marina.
As you approach the marina, fork left and head down the steps. The path will bring you to the boatyard, where white bollards will direct you across the middle. At the road on the other side, cross and turn right, following the yellow figures painted onto the tarmac. Pass The Haven on your right and then join the gravel path ahead with a long pontoon to your right. Pass the Sea Water Swimming Baths and keep walking with the water and boats to your right until you reach Bath Road Recreation Ground.
Cross the park with the play area to your right and turn right at the road on the other side. This road will bring you to the quayside, which is a popular place to go crabbing. Walk up the cobbles of Quay Hill, passing lots of cafes, gift shops and ice cream shops. Cross Gosport Road and walk up the High Street.
Continue up the High Street until the church and take Church Lane opposite. Turn right when you reach Daniel’s Walk and then turn left at Belmore Lane. When you reach the roundabout, you should see an entrance to Woodside Gardens just over the road. Turn right and walk through the park back to the car park.
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Did you know?
The Seawater Baths are the oldest in the UK and date back to 1833 and would make a refreshing half-way stop on this walk. There are inflatables, bathing, paddle boarding and aqua-jousting!
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try another stretch of the sea wall just along the coast at Keyhaven Marshes.
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