Solent Way

Christchurch to Emsworth 112km/70 miles

Across the south of Hampshire via marshes, heaths, ancient woodlands, riverside villages and the historic waterfronts of maritime towns like Southampton and Portsmouth. A mainly coastal trail with some inland stretches to circumnavigate estuaries and bays, originally established by Hampshire County Council in 1982. Nearly all the route forms part of European coastal path E9.

The original waymarked route starts at Milford-on-Sea but the most recent publication describes a route from Christchurch. The Bournemouth Coast Path then continues to Sandbanks, Poole, to connect with the South West Coast Path (37km/23 miles): most of this is now signed as part of the European Coastal Path E9.

Connects with Avon Valley Path, Chemins de saint Michel (via ferry Portsmouth-Cherbourg), GR2 (via ferry Portsmouth-Le Havre), GR223 (E9, via ferry Portsmouth-Cherbourg or Ouistreham), GR23 (E9, via ferry Portsmouth-Ouistreham), GR24 (E9, via ferry Portsmouth-St Malo), GR34 (E9, via ferry Porstmouth-St Malo), GR36 (via ferry Portsmouth-Ouistreham), Isle of Wight Coastal Path (E9, via ferries Lymington - Yarmouth and Portsmouth - Ryde), Pilgrim's Trail (see North Downs Way), South West Coast Path (E9, via E9/Bournemouth Coast Path and ferry Sandbanks - Studland), Staunton Way (E9), Stour Valley Way (Dorset), Sussex Border Path, Test Way (via link), Wayfarer's Walk

Highway Authorities Dorset, Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton
Bournemouth Coast Path/E9: Bournemouth, Poole

Click here to find bed & breakfast accommodation on this path.

Tourist Information Centres

• Bournemouth 0906 802 0234 (premium rate), www.bournemouth.co.uk
• Christchurch 01202 471780, www.christchurchtourism.info
• Fareham 01329 221342. www.fareham.gov.uk
• Gosport 023 9252 2944, www.gosport.gov.uk
• Lymington 01590 689000, www.thenewforest.co.uk
• Poole 01202 253253, www.poole.gov.uk/tourism
• Portsmouth 023 9282 6722, www.portsmouthcc.gov.uk/visitor
• Southampton 023 8083 3333, www.southampton.gov.uk

Booking and Luggage Transfer include Let's Go Walking

Holiday Providers include Let's Go Walking

Transport. The route runs very roughly parallel to the south coast railway line connecting Weymouth, Southampton, Portsmouth and Southampton with London, Reading, the Midlands and northern England; and Southampton with Portsmouth, London and Brighton. Some stations are some miles off the route though there are connecting bus services. There are useful stations at Poole (bus connections to Sandbanks Ferry), Bournemouth, Christchurch (bus connections to Milford), New Milton (bus connection to Barton), Brockenhurst (buses to Lymington), Southampton (buses to Beaulieu), Netley, Hamble, Burlesdon, Swanwick (buses to Warsash), Fareham (buses to Hill Head, Gosport), Porstmouth Harbour, Portsmouth and Southsea, Fratton, Hilsea, Bedhampton, Havant and Emsworth. The Chichester Harbour Bus also connects Havant and Emsworth with various destinations around the harbour including Chichester on weekends and bank holidays in summer: see Public transport: Southern England.

The route from Poole uses the following ferry services:

• Sanbanks Chain Ferry, Studland - Sandbanks (Poole), www.sandbanksferry.co.uk
• Mudeford Quay and Sandbanks, Bournemouth Boating Services, tel 01202 429119
• Hythe - Southampton, www.whitehorseferries.co.uk
• Hamble - Warsash, Blue Star Boats, tel 023 8045 4512
• Gosport - Portsmouth Harbour, www.gosportferry.co.uk

There is also a ferry connecting Keyhaven, on the route, to Hurst Castle. Tel 01590 642500.

Explorer maps OL15 (from Poole), OL22, 119, 120
Landranger maps 195, 196, 197
The route is marked on recent editions of these maps.

Publications