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Solent Way

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The Solent Way is a 60 mile long-distance footpath in Hampshire, southern England. With the exception of a few inland diversions, the path follows the coast of the Solent, the sea straight that separates the mainland England from the Isle of Wight. The Solent Way forms part of the E9 European Coastal Path, which runs for 5000 km (3125 miles) from Cape St Vincent in Portugal to Narva-Jõesuu in Estonia.

The Solent Way starts in the seaside resort of Milford-on-Sea and follows the coastline and the shingle spit to the fortifications of Hurst Castle. From Hurst Castle there are two alternative routing, one involving retracing steps along the shingle spit, the other catching the seasonal ferry to Keyhaven. From Keyhaven the route follows the marshes and former saltings to the port and sailing centre of Lymington.

From Lymington the Solent Way heads inland through the New Forest and the villages of Bucklers Hard and Beaulieu to Hythe on the west bank of the Southampton Water. From Hythe the path takes the Hythe Ferry across Southampton Water to the Town Quay in the centre of the port city of Southampton.

From Southampton the Solent Way passes through the city centre, crossing the River Itchen by the high Itchen Bridge and follows the northern shore of Southampton Water to the yachting centre of Hamble-le-Rice. Here it crosses the River Hamble on a small pedestrian ferry to the village of Warsash.

From Warsash, the north shore of the Solent is regained, and followed through the seaside centres of Hill Head and Lee-on-Solent to the town of Gosport on the western side of Portsmouth Harbour. Here the Gosport Ferry is used to cross Portsmouth Harbour to Portsmouth Harbour railway station in the centre of the naval city of Portsmouth.

The Solent Way then follows the seaside promenade through the resort of Southsea, and along the western and northern shores of Langstone Harbour to the village of Emsworth.

The way is marked by circular discs bearing a green arrow and a picture of a tern. These are attached to wooden posts and street furniture along the route.

See also