Keyhaven Marshes

The National Park Authority route is an easy 3.5-mile (5.6 km) loop of roughly 1 to 2 hours. It follows the Solent Way along the seawall, then turns inland along an ancient highway track before returning to Keyhaven. It is mainly level, with two gates fitted with accessible latches. Many people stretch it into a few hours by stopping often to scan the water, so allow more time than the distance suggests.

The adjacent Wildlife Trust reserve covers around 738 hectares and is a serious birdwatching spot.

Little egret, teal, avocet, marsh harrier, reed bunting, stonechat and linnet are all part of the cast here. Nothing is guaranteed, so bring binoculars and patience.

• Winter brings the biggest numbers of waders and wildfowl, including wigeon, brent geese, curlew, redshank, grey plover, dunlin and black-tailed godwit.
• Spring and autumn are the times for migrants, with spoonbills a possibility.
• Summer is important for breeding terns and gulls, plus salt-tolerant shingle plants.

The flat ground and straight channels are not natural accidents. This coast was the heart of the Solent salt industry, established by medieval times and peaking with 163 saltpans in the early 18th century before the last saltern closed in 1865. The Moses, Maiden and Pennington salt docks survive as preserved historical features of the reserve, part of the story behind this shaped coastline.

Start near the Keyhaven public car park, where there are toilets and the Gun Inn nearby; a second access point is at the end of Lower Pennington Lane. Parking at Keyhaven is charged. The reserve itself is open at all times. Check the tide before you set out, since this is an intertidal landscape and the tide state changes what you can see and how much mud is exposed. Early or late light is best for views and photography.

There is no direct access onto the mudflats or saltmarsh, which are difficult and potentially dangerous to cross, so this is a place you view from the seawall rather than walk into. Only assistance dogs are allowed on the reserve, though dogs under control are fine on the adjacent seawall path. This is also a viewing-and-waiting sort of place: if you want a varied woodland walk or guaranteed wildlife sightings rather than patient scanning across open water, it may disappoint.