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An Amble Around Hamble
Perfect for a Sunday afternoon amble with the family.
Parking is available in Hamble Square where the walk begins.
Start
at the Square and walk across Copperhill Terrace, where the great
cauldrons of tar were kept boiling for the preparation of ropes for
ship's rigging. They were kept well away from the Rope Walk in order to
reduce the risk of fire. In earlier days, this was the edge of Hamble
village and green fields stretched beyond towards Netley.
Take
the turning to Well Lane and notice the stone used to build the walls -
thought to come from Henry VIII's castle at Hamble Point. Stop to look
at the reconstruction of a water pump half-way down the lane. Prior to
this there was a dipping well with a bucket on a chain, which had to be
laboriously hauled up.
Emerging from Well Lane, enter Rope Walk - so called because
this is where ships' rope was made. A standard rope length was 120
fathoms (one fathom is 6 feet) though some ropes were up to a mile
long! The modern houses along the Walk have names relecting the trade.
Continue along Rope Walk past the Coffee House, built to
shelter sailors' widows and the elderly. It was called the Coffee
House because the benefactress was tee-total and wished to encourage
the drinking of beverages other than alcohol. It is currently under
reconstruction.
Continue along and on the right is the back of
the King and Queen pub, where another drinking-well still exists. There
is a laundrette for the use of yachtsmen.
Emerge near the
public hard and look at the four cottages now occupied by the Southern
Yacht club. These were built in 1818 and have, at times, been drinking
houses and tea shops, providing one of Hamble's well-known crab teas in
the 1920.
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A Quest for Heritage
Discover some of the historical delights of the Hamble Valley by visiting the some of the its museums.
Begin at Eastleigh Museum on a Saturday morning and learn about the history of the railway town from a 1930s locomotive drive and his wife. Remember to look at the current exhibition before you stop for refreshments in the cafe and browse the gift shop.
Fully refreshed, head to the West End Museum and discover more local history, whether your interest lies in family, property or general local history, the displays and library are informative place to browse.
With a mind full of history and discovery why not stretch those legs and give the children some fresh air with a visit to Itchen Valley Country Park in West End, which has over 44 acres of woodland and meadows to enjoy and is the perfect place for a family picnic lunch.
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Bluebell wonderland
One of the best examples of a countryside and woodland walk beside the River Hamble is along the National Trust shoreline at Curbridge.
Accessible by boat only at high tide, there is a small pontoon on the River Cur ( a small tributary of the Hamble) where you can moor up at the highest navigable point on the River.
Access by road is from the B3051 Botley Road just south of Curbridge, and there is roadside parking at Burridge Cricket Club. The nearby Horse and Jockey pub welcomes visitors to their car park and after the walk you invited to stay for a drink and fine food.
This tranquil enclave of ancient woodland can be steep and muddy, but there are constructed walkways and seating which afford spectacular views through the trees and across the water.
The woodland is celebrated for its wonderful spring displays of bluebells, which can be enjoyed at their best in late April and throughout May, when a carpet of flowers turns the steep slopes blue and the scent clings in the air. There are lots of other special seasonal flowers in the woods, which are home to many more unusual bird species including woodpeckers and warblers.
The reserve is locally known as 'Wishing Tree Woods' and hidden among the woodland is the Children's Shrine to the Fairies - a celebration of the fairies, pixies and elves that inhabit the glades and ferns.
For many years, children and families have been leaving gifts and offerings to the fairy folk, who occasionally respond with secret messages of thanks. Look carefully - you might just catch a glimpse one day!
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Eastleigh