Testwood Lakes
On this walk, children will enjoy the frame of a reconstructed ship, a bronze age roundhouse and bird hides - bring some binoculars!
Testwood Lake is the biggest of the two lakes
The Basics
Time: Approximately 1 hour to see everything
Distance: 2.2 km
Terrain: Well maintained gravel paths
Pushchair: Yes - there are some kissing gates, but the clearance is quite wide
Dogs: Yes, around Testwood and Little Testwood lakes, but not around Meadow Lake or The Scrapes. Avoid them entering the water due to blue green algae
Refreshments: None
Toilets: When the visitor centre is open
Public Transport: Bluestar No. 12 runs every half hour, Monday to Saturday and every hour on Sundays from Southampton calling at Testwood Crescent which is ½ mile from the reserve. Wilts & Dorset X7 runs hourly Monday to Saturday from Southampton to Testwood Crescent.
Parking: Free car park open every day between 8am and 4pm during winter and 8am until 5pm during the summer (Postcode: SO40 3WX - W3W: manliness/contained/headlines)
This structure represents the boat discovered here during excavations
Testwood Lakes is a wildlife haven on the edge of Southampton. You would never guess how close you are to the M27 while you are enjoying easy paths around the beautiful nature reserve.
The Route
This is a really easy walk to follow. Broad, surfaced paths will lead you around the lakes. We turned right from the car park and walked around Testwood Lake and Little Testwood Lake. There are maps on boards or they are available to download online.
You can extend your walk without dogs by walking through the gates up past The Scrapes and Meadow Lake. There are hides here for some bird watching.
On the River Blackwater side of Testwood Lake you will find a wooden frame depicting a boat that was found here during construction of the lakes. You will also find some wildlife screens with viewing holes. Beside Meadow Lake there is a reconstructed roundhouse from the Bronze Age.
Children should enjoy a paddle in wellies only and dogs and should avoid entering the water due to often high quantities of blue green algae.
Did you know?
During construction of Testwood Lakes, Wessex Archaeology discovered plenty of evidence of bronze age society including part of the earliest bridge discovered in England.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one at Swanick Lakes which has a similar selection of little man made lakes to walk around.
