Barton-on-Sea clifftop and beach
Barton-on-Sea, New Forest
A stretch of council-managed clifftop open space above Christchurch Bay at Barton-on-Sea, used for walking, cycling, picnics and watching wildlife. Designated paths and steps lead down to the beach, a designated bathing water, with beach huts along the shore.
Highlights
- Clifftop open space for walks and picnics
- Designated bathing beach on Christchurch Bay
- Beach huts along the shore
- Coastal wildflower areas managed for migrating birds and insects
Good to know
- The coast here is subject to erosion, so keep well back from cliff edges, use only the marked paths and steps, and follow warning signs
- Cyclists should follow local signs and dismount where asked
- Keep dogs under control
- Flying recreational drones from the clifftop is not allowed
Getting there
Barton-on-Sea clifftop and beach, Marine Drive, Barton-on-Sea, New Milton, Hampshire, BH25 7DUParking: New Forest District Council car parks along Marine Drive: Marine Drive West (66 spaces and EV chargers), Marine Drive 3 and Marine Drive East, all with disabled bays.
Get directionsChecked on 19 October 2026 against newforest.gov.uk, newforest.gov.uk, newforest.gov.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check
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More things to do in Lymington
Nearby
Photo: Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0Milford on Sea beach and clifftop
The seafront at Milford on Sea, looked after by New Forest District Council, runs from Hordle Cliff and Paddy's Gap in the west to Hurst Road, where the shingle spit heads out towards Hurst Castle. Beach huts line the promenade, and the clifftop grassland at Hordle Cliff is managed for wild flowers and wildlife.
Photo: Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0Keyhaven and Keyhaven Marshes
A level coastal walk from Keyhaven along the sea wall of the Solent Way, between Hampshire County Council's Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Local Nature Reserve and the Wildlife Trust's offshore saltmarsh and mudflats. There are views to Hurst Castle, the Isle of Wight and the Needles, and birdlife in every season.
Hurst Castle
An artillery fortress built by Henry VIII at the seaward end of Hurst Spit to guard the narrow western entrance to the Solent, later strengthened from the Napoleonic Wars to the Second World War. Reaching it is part of the outing, by ferry from Keyhaven through the saltmarshes or on a 2-mile walk along the shingle.