Pennington, Oxey and Keyhaven Marshes

Almost as soon as you leave the Sea Wall car park, you pass some of the ponds which make this area of such importance for bird conservation, with at least 258 bird species recorded. In summer, saltmarsh islands provide breeding grounds for black-headed gulls, terns, oystercatchers, ringed plovers, redshanks, and mallards, while winter brings over-wintering visitors such as brent geese, shelducks, wigeons, and teals.

Along the walk you will see signs of the dykes and salt ponds of an earlier salt industry dating back to the 12th century. Seawater was drawn into trenches and shallow ponds (saltpans) to evaporate into a strong saline solution before being boiled down. By the 18th century, 163 saltpans were active in the area.

Part of the walk follows the top of a sea wall (rebuilt following severe flooding in Lymington during the winter of 1989–1990). You can also extend the walk by exploring the fishing and sailing village of Keyhaven or following the Solent Way to the tip of Hurst Spit, where Hurst Castle (commissioned by Henry VIII) stands guard across the strait facing Fort Albert on the Isle of Wight.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.