Swanwick Lakes
Children will enjoy looking for signs of wildlife in and on top of the series of little lakes on this walk.
Ben's Lake
The Basics
Time: Various, with it taking less than an hour to explore the entire nature reserve
Distance: 2 miles of paths with 1 mile on surfaced paths
Terrain: Some flat and well surfaced paths whilst others are muddy and uneven with steps
Pushchair: Yes, on the yellow, blue and red loops but not the surrounding paths.
Dogs: Yes, under close control
Refreshments: None
Toilets: If the education centre is open
Public Transport: There is no public transport to this location
Parking: Free car park beside the education 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 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.
We suggest beginning by taking the path behind the study centre. Walk through the car park with the study centre on your left. You will see the path at the end of the building. This path will take you up to the road before heading into The East Valley.
As you walk through the woods, ignore the path on your left unless you want a short cut. Keep going until you almost meet a road, before swinging left with the path. The path will bring you down to a cross roads and you should take the path on your right, that goes up hill and over a stream. At a gate/fence you will see a parking area for the angling club on your right. Cross here to find the rest of the lakes.
We went right and followed the blue loop around Ben’s Lake in an anti-clockwise direction. Just after Little Lake, there is a chance to go right up some steps and follow the path anti-clockwise around Tom’s Lake and New Lake. This path was the most uneven and muddy of all of them.
This path will eventually join up with the yellow trail. We chose to go clockwise around the yellow trail to take advantage of the view point over the lakes.
Back at the angler’s car park, you can cross the track and join the red loop around New Hill. The red loop will eventually take you back to the car park whether you chose clockwise or anti-clockwise.
Did you know?
The lakes are man made, having been dug out to supply clay for the nearby Burlesdon Brickworks.
