We are the Eastleigh Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
This walk follows the Coastal Path westward from Yarmouth to Alum Bay, then along Tennyson Down to Freshwater Bay. Leaving the Coastal Path, the route turns north through Afton Marsh Nature Reserve and returns to Yarmouth via a disused railway line along the Yar estuary.
This is a little longer than our usual weekend jaunt but very much worth the extra effort and makes for a grand day out! It’s wonderfully varied, offers fabulous views, on good paths, with a couple of road crossings, no stiles and plenty of public toilets. There are a couple of steady climbs and a descent section which needs extra care, so walking poles are advisable. Afton Marsh may be muddy if it’s rained prior to the walk.
Please bring provisions for a couple of refreshment/refuelling stops, a picnic lunch, extra snacks to get you through those extra couple of miles and plenty of fluid if it’s a hot day.
This walk has been graded as moderate and should therefore be suitable for anyone who regularly attends our weekend walks and/or has a good level of fitness. We’ll need steady progress in view of catching the ferry back but this will be at our normal leisurely to moderate pace, with plenty of refreshment stops and a nice easy going 4 miles at the end!
As a novice walk leader, I’d love you to come along but please help me to keep the walk safe and enjoyable for everyone by:-
If you need any further details about the walk please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Meeting Point
Wightlink Lymington Ferry Port, Undershore Road, Lymington, SO41 5SB - at the end of the carpark nearest the terminal
Meeting Time
09:30
Ferry Journey Outward
Boarding Time 09:45
Sailing Time 10:00
Journey Time 40 minutes
Ferry Journey Return
Boarding Time 17:50
Sailing Time 18:05
Journey Time 40 minutes
To note – a return time is required in order to purchase a ticket but if we make good time we can hop on an earlier ferry
Parking
There is plenty of parking on site (plus an overflow carpark). At time of writing, parking is £9.00 for up to 16 hours https://www.wightlink.co.uk/facilities/parking#parking-locations
Public transport
A regular train service operates from Brockenhurst direct to Lymington Pier station, adjacent to the port. Brockenhurst is on the South Western Railway London main line.
Additional Info
Please book/purchase foot passenger tickets for an Outward 10:00am - Return 18:05pm journey
As foot passengers, if we make good time we can just hop on an earlier ferry back.
If you intend to purchase tickets at the port, please allow extra time
https://www.wightlink.co.uk/travel-advice/travelling-on-foot
If you need any further details about the walk please don’t hesitate to contact me.
To note - there are alternatives to shorten the walk by taking the Needles Breezer bus back to Yarmouth but this would be at your own discretion, should you choose to leave the walk. Information and timetables are available via https://www.islandbuses.info/needles-breezer
Wightlink Lymington Ferry Port, Undershore Road, Lymington, SO41 5SB (at the end of the carpark nearest the terminal)
