Fishlake Meadows
On this walk, children will enjoy the wooden steps down to the water and the hides for spotting birds.
Looking for fish in the old canal
The Basics
Time: 30 mins around the nature reserve or 1hr to do the full loop
Distance: 4 km
Terrain: Flat, even paths in the nature reserve. Pavements, steps and uneven paths for full loop.
Pushchair: Yes, in the nature reserve only.
Dogs: Yes, apart from a section of the nature reserve with bird hides
Refreshments: None (although we did stop at the Esso garage for ice creams and drinks as we passed!)
Toilets: None
Public Transport: It is a fifteen minute walk from Romsey train station along along the canal to Fishlake Meadows
Parking: In Oxlease Meadows, a housing development. Take the first left signed ‘odds 3-11’ to find a small, free car park open 8-6 (Postcode: SO51 7AB - W3W - alongside/re-joins/corporate)
Birdwatching on the nature reserve
Fishlake Meadows is a wetland nature reserve in the southern Test Valley, just outside Romsey. There is a wealth of wildlife to be found here from osprey to dragonflies to water voles.
The Route
A glance of a map appears to reveal an obvious circular route around the reserve. Alas, a private property splits the footpath meaning a full circle requires some distance on a pavement at the side of the road. If you don’t want to do that, or have a pushchair, you will need to return the way you came.
Enter the nature reserve through the gate in the car park. Turn right and follow the path with the canal to your right. When you reach a low bridge to your right, turn left, away from the canal.
As you walk along this path, there will be an option to take a gate on your left and enter a spur into the main wetland area. Here there are bird hides and a chalk board detailing all the latest wildlife spottings. Dogs are not allowed in this part of the reserve. This is a dead end, so you will need to retrace your steps to get back to the main path.
To make the walk circular, turn left when you get back to the main path, entering a wooded area. Curve left with the river on your right. Cross the footbridge (steps) and turn left to walk along a path bordered by wooden fences. At the cottage, you will be forced to turn right and hit the road.
Turn left at the road and walk along the pavement. Turn left onto Fishlake Meadows Road opposite the garage, signposted to an industrial estate. Walk over two bridges then follow the pavement with the nature reserve behind scrub to your left. Pass straight on at two junctions on your right with Robert Whitworth Drive and then look out for the footpath on your right behind a metal barrier, just before the next bridge.
This path will shortly bring you back to the canal, where you should turn left under the bridge to return to your start point.
it is possible to do this walk beginning along the canal path from the centre of Romsey
Did you know?
Running along side Fishlake Meadows is one of the few remaining sections of The Andover Barge Canal. Most traces of the canal have completely disappeared, but here wildlife flourishes in the waterway and you may be lucky enough to spot an otter or a kingfisher.
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