Coastal marshes, lagoons and former salt marshes particularly important for wintering birds.
Hampshire County Council began purchasing the area in 1974 when it bought Normandy Farm. Pennington Marshes were bought in 1979 followed in 1984 by Keyhaven Marshes. This far-sighted policy was a response to the rapid rate of development and loss of habitat in previous decades.
Bringing this area into public ownership was the only way to protect it for future generations to enjoy. By 2006 the reserve extended from the mouth of the Lymington River almost to the village of Keyhaven and covered over 500 acres.

MCW73

October 4, 2024

Hiking

Coastal lagoons are bodies of salt or brackish water that are partially connected to the sea through narrow openings or permeable barriers. On the Lymington-Keyhaven marshes the lagoons lie just inside the seawall. They are connected to the sea by sluices. Salt water also percolates through the sands and gravel below. The lagoons vary in size from less that 2m to over 200m in width. For most of their length the lagoons are relatively narrow ditches about 50 cm deep with muddy bottoms.

MCW73

October 4, 2024

Hiking

Archaeological finds show that a sea salt industry has operated in the Solent for at least 2000 years. The industry flourished and by medieval times was firmly established at Lymington. …

Routes here

Best routes to Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve

4.8

(34)

294

hikers

1. Keyhaven Harbour – Normandy Lagoon Nature Reserve loop from Milford-on-Sea

20.9km

05:15

20m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Hard

4.8

(25)

274

hikers

2. Lymington Town Quay – Normandy Lagoon Nature Reserve loop from Lymington Town

11.2km

02:50

10m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

5.0

(8)

hikers

3. Normandy Lagoon Nature Reserve – Keyhaven Harbour loop from Lymington Town

22.4km

05:42

70m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Hard

Details

Informations

Distance 1.03 km

Uphill 10 m

Downhill 0 m

Weather

Today

Sunday 22 February

13°C

9°C

76 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 31.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See routes here

Take Me There

Add komoot as a preferred source in your Google results

Add now

Location: Lymington And Pennington, New Forest, Hampshire, South East England, England, United Kingdom

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Hurst Castle

Fort Victoria Country Park

Tennyson Monument

Lymington River Footbridge

Keyhaven Saltgrass Lane

Country Lane to Keyhaven

Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve

Salt Marshes and New Forest Coast

Colwell Bay

Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve

1. Keyhaven Harbour – Normandy Lagoon Nature Reserve loop from Milford-on-Sea

2. Lymington Town Quay – Normandy Lagoon Nature Reserve loop from Lymington Town

3. Normandy Lagoon Nature Reserve – Keyhaven Harbour loop from Lymington Town

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️