Swanwick Lakes
Swanwick
Children will enjoy looking for signs of wildlife around the little lakes and in the various habitats in the wild garden on this walk.
Ben's Lake
The Basics
Time: Our walk is 50 minutes, although there are other quicker signed alternatives.
Distance: Our walk is 2.7 km / 1.7 miles, although there are other shorter signed alternatives.
Terrain: Our walk is a combination of flat, surfaced paths as well as some rougher woodland paths with mud and steps. There are some shorter alternatives that are entirely on surfaced paths.
Pushchair: Our walk is not pushchair friendly, but there are some shorter, signed alternatives that are.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome but must be on leads throughout the reserve and they should not enter the water.
Refreshments: There are no refreshment opportunities on this walk.
Toilets: If the education centre is open, there are toilets that the public may use.
Public Transport: There is no public transport to this location.
Parking: Free car park off Sopwith Way, just before the entrance to the Air Traffic Control Centre (Postcode: SO31 7AY - W3W: ///jaws.sideboard.shapes)
Ben's Lake
Once a claypit for the local brickworks, this nature reserve is now a wildlife oasis with a series of little lakes and a woodland alive with birds. In between Portsmouth and Southampton, and close to the M27, it is easy to access and easy to explore.
The Route
There are three colour marked trails around the lakes and surrounding woodland that can easily be followed using the on site maps. Each one is quite short, so we joined together the three loops and added in some of the other surrounding footpaths to make our own walk:
Begin by by taking the path just beyond the study centre, which should be to your left. Pass the wildlife garden on your left and follow the path up into the woods of the East Valley. When you come to a fork where right will take you to the road, keep left over the little wooden bridge. Follow the path as it winds its way through the woods. After you come up some small steps, the path will fork again and you should take the right-hand fork. When you reach a gate exiting the reserve, turn left to stay inside the reserve. Walk down the gravelly path and turn right at a T-junction. Continue straight on down the hill until you arrive at an area where there is cluster of signs and information boards.
Continue forward and go around the large metal gate, crossing the access track on the other side. Re-join the reserve through the metal kissing gate and then immediately turn right, following a blue marker. This path will bring you around Ben’s Lake, keeping the water to your left.
As you round the lake, and the smaller Little Lake comes into view on your right, look out for a large memorial bench. Just after this you have the opportunity to make a choice. In the drier months, you can turn right and follow a summer path around Tom’s Lake and New Lake. In winter, when it is wet, the path closes so in this instance you will need to continue your circuit of Ben’s Lake.
Taking the summer route, you will walk on a rougher path over boardwalks and steps with the water to your left. After a set of longer, steeper steps, you will meet a gate and a bench beyond. Go through the gate and find yourself on a much firmer path again. Where there is a tiny (sometimes dry) pond to your right, the path will fork. Keep left and the landscape will change to predominantly oak woodland and grassy clearings. Pass a bench and a giant ‘photo frame’ to your left. When you hit a concrete path with a yellow trail marker, turn right and walk along the much wider pathway. Shortly, turn left off the tarmac path, following the yellow markers. Pass a little viewpoint on your left with a bench and bend to the right with the path. Turn left after the kissing gate.
At this point, the summer route and the winter route meet again. Go through the gate and cross the access track again. This time, turn immediately right on the other side of the reserve, now following the red route.
As the red route bends left, you will walk with the security fencing to your right along a long, straight stretch of path. When the path veers away from the security fencing, keep left and arrive back at the car park and education centre.
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Did you know?
The lakes are man made, having been dug out to supply clay for the nearby Burlesdon Brickworks.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this walk at Testwood Lakes with another series of ponds
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