Hampshire coastal walk: Lepe Country Park and Exbury

With the sea at its warmest in September, it’s the ideal time for a coastal walk, enjoying a swim or paddle, too. Although most of the New Forest’s Solent coastline is regrettably inaccessible on foot, there is one section along it where you can enjoy both a walk and a dip in the sea. Head to the south-east corner of the National Park where you’ll find Lepe, one of Hampshire’s most popular country parks. Here there are beaches, wildflower meadows and fine views from the pine-fringed cliffs across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.

Lepe is also a topical choice given this year’s 80th anniversary D-Day commemorations, for it played a key part in the preparations, with three important roles. Firstly, it was used as a departure point for troops, vehicles and supplies, secondly as a construction site for floating Mulberry Harbours and lastly as the base for the PLUTO pipeline. The building of the harbours (floated across the Channel) was an immense task. Lepe was one of a number of construction sites chosen to manufacture the huge concrete caissons (boxes). Today there’s plenty of evidence of wartime activity to be seen if you walk along the beach or track eastwards from the car park.

Exbury Gardens stuns throughout the year. (Image: Getty) Exbury House, which lies a short distance inland to the north-west, also played a part. Exbury estate was bought in 1919 by the banker Lionel Nathan de Rothschild, who remodelled the house and created the beautiful 200-acre woodland garden, famous for its colourful collection of camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas. Following his death in 1942, the house was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and used for the planning and operation of the Dieppe raids and D-Day landings. After the war the house and gardens were restored, and the latter opened to the public in 1955. There is a large car park (free parking) which walkers are welcome to use if intending to visit. This walk starts from Lepe Country Park, with an alternative option starting from Exbury.

Although an optional extension, either at the beginning or end of the walk, it’s well worth a stroll along the cliff top from the Country Park, continuing alongside the beach past the nature reserve and D-Day remains. You can go as far as the boundary fence (1 mile) and turn round there, or beforehand if preferred. Although Lepe can be busy, especially on sunny weekends, there’s plenty of space to spread out and you’ll find it very peaceful elsewhere on the walk.

Lepe lighthouse, aka Beaulieu Millennium Beacon (Image: Fiona Barltrop) THE WALK

1. (SZ455985) From the entrance to the Beach car park, follow the coast road pavement, crossing Dark Water bridge. Continue on the gravel path as the coast road bears away to the right, soon passing the Watch House. In the 18th century Lepe was a small village with a harbour used for ship building. This narrow part of the Solent became much used by smugglers, so during the following century coastguards were installed here to combat the illegal trade. Cottages were built for the Chief Preventative Officer and his boatman and the Watch House stored their wooden rowing boat. On the far side of it continue along the boardwalk path passing below the lighthouse. Beaulieu Millennium Beacon, as it’s officially known, was built to mark the entrance to Beaulieu River and named to commemorate the year 2000. It is located in the private grounds of Lepe House, in the Beaulieu Estate. The 25ft high traditional style lighthouse assists boats sailing in and out of the river, which runs alongside the south-eastern shores of the Beaulieu Estate. The estuary is privately owned by the Montagu family. Atop the lighthouse is a weathervane which includes the three red diamonds that are the symbol of the Beaulieu Estate. Carry on along the shingle beach below Lepe House

View back along the beach to the Watch House (Image: Fiona Barltrop) 2. (SZ445986) At a fingerpost there is a choice of route: low and high tide. For the former continue along the beach below low cliffs, then foreshore with oak trees growing along the water’s edge. Carry on to the road. If the tide is too high, fork right up to the lane and turn left along it.

3. (SZ433986) From the beach bear left along the lane and follow it up past a house to where it bends left by the gravelled area on the right. Turn right and follow the path into the trees and continue through woodland.

4. (SZ433911) Go through a gate into the open field and turn left along the edge. Bear round to the right at the far end and keep ahead through a gate and then another, continuing to a junction (Exbury ½, signed to left, although Gardens are 1 mile. Optional out-and-back detour.)

5. (SZ432996) Turn right and continue along the field edge to the road. Go straight across and follow the gravel drive, passing a left turn. Keep ahead, joining a surfaced lane, ignore a right fork (drive) and pass a white cottage on the left.

Dark Water river estuary (Image: Fiona Barltrop) 6. (SZ446999) Just after it where the concrete drive bends right, continue on a narrow footpath which bends right and heads down to a T-junction. Turn right along the path which bends left, soon emerging from trees. Keep ahead along a path through the field, go through a gap in the hedge and continue through the following fields. Gently descend to cross a bridge.

7. (SZ450988) Bear left up to the top left corner of the field and go through a kissing gate (by an information panel). Continue across the grass past pines on the right to another kissing gate leading into a car park. Follow the drive out to the coast road and turn left back to the start.

Lepe Spit (Image: Fiona Barltrop) COMPASS POINTS

Start/finish: Lepe Country Park car park (SZ455985). Alternatively Exbury Gardens car park: free parking, gates locked in evening, (SU425005).

Map: OS Explorer OL22

Distance: 5 miles (8km); optional out-and-back extension along coast past D-Day remains: 2 miles (3.2km); optional out-and-back extension to Exbury Gardens also 2 miles (3.2km)

Terrain: Easy walking along cliff top, sand and shingle beach and foreshore; quiet country lanes, fields and woodland. Much of the route follows waymarked Lepe Loop (green waymarks). If swimming, beware strong currents (no lifeguards at Lepe, although there is an NCI lookout station) and stick to the Family Beach in front of The Lookout café.

Time: 2½ hours (plus extra for extensions)

Refreshments: The Lookout restaurant/café at Lepe Country Park (023 8089 2991); Mr Eddy’s Tea Rooms, Exbury Gardens (023 8089 8737);

Further information: Lepe Country Park (023 8089 9108); Exbury Gardens (023 8089 1203): exbury.co.uk.