The Warsash Common loop

The Warsash Common loop

We asked Frances of WhyMummyWalks to take us on the 4.6-mile walk looping around Warsash Common.

It looks like it was a treat – follow her on Instagram for more!

Whatever the season this walk is two things; a) a flat easy‐ish way to get outside and enjoy our beautiful area and b) muddy. Take it from one who knows (and has failed before), wear your wellies! There are usually some large puddles and wet farmland just to keep things interesting!

In spring and early summer, the shingle shoreline here is dotted with wildflowers such as sea poppies and sea kale but in Winter we are blessed to be the nesting ground for many migrating birds and it’s a great way to spend a couple of hours.

Beginning in the mature woodland of Warsash common, you are in jungle-like terrain, we were followed today by the sound of a woodpecker and there are often deer and many other creatures to spot.

Winding your way down Hook Park Road you re‐enter the woodland of Hook with Warsash Nature Reserve. A short stretch more of the quiet lane you can cut into the reed beds down the side of the Naval College.

Upon reaching the shoreline, turn left and follow the Solent Way to the mouth
of the River Hamble and then, onwards around to Southampton Water. With the estuary to your right and the nature reserve to your left the beach here is packed with shells and wetland flora and fauna along the shingle scrub.

Carefully along the cliff, the walk turns inland before Solent Breezes, first onto a bridleway and then across squidgy farmland back to Hook Park Road. Take the footpath after Francliffe house and before a pretty thatch cottage and the footpath will drop back down to the lane where you can carefully walk back to where you started.

Today I was lucky enough to spot Turnstone and Ringed Plover amongst the wading and wetland birds and I was unlucky enough to discover that my Wellington Boots have a hole. Oh well, I’ll take that as an overall win!

There are 5 stiles on the walk and I usually (respectfully) street park in the New Road/Fleet End Road area.