Keyhaven and Keyhaven Marshes
Keyhaven, New Forest
Photo: Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0Photo: Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0
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.
Highlights
- Brent geese, wigeon, pintail and waders in winter
- Views across to Hurst Castle and the Needles
- Fishtail Lagoon with its bird nesting island
- Remains of the area's medieval salt-making industry
Good to know
- Dogs under close control are allowed on the sea wall path, but not on the Wildlife Trust reserve itself
- Stay on the paths, as the marsh and mudflats are dangerous and birds nest there
- Cattle and sometimes ponies graze along the sea wall path
- Swimming is not allowed on Wildlife Trust reserves
Getting there
Keyhaven and Keyhaven Marshes, Lower Pennington Lane, Keyhaven, near Milford on Sea, Hampshire, SO41 0TGParking: Keyhaven public car park and toilets are on Lower Pennington Lane, with another small car park at the far end of the lane.
Get directionsChecked on 19 October 2026 against hants.gov.uk, hiwwt.org.uk, newforestnpa.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.
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.
Lymington Town Quay and seafront
The cobbled streets of Quay Hill lead down to Lymington's Town Quay, where yachts fill the harbour and the waterside path carries on along Bath Road past the sea water baths. The New Forest National Park Authority's 2-mile town trail links the quay, seafront and Georgian High Street in a level loop.