Swanwick Lakes
This walk visits the Swanwick Lakes Nature Reserve in the Hampshire village of Swanwick.
Here you can enjoy a series of footpaths taking you around the site's woodland, meadows and lakes which are made from the former clay pits.
There's lots of wildlife to see with birds including marsh tits and woodpeckers. Wildflowers in the summer include orchids and knapweed attracting lots of butterflies such as marbled white, meadow brown and gatekeeper.
To continue your walking in the area head north over the River Hamble to visit Manor Farm and Country Park. There's some fine cycling and walking trails with 600 year old historic buildings including the 13th century St Bartholomew's church.
Postcode
SO31 7AY - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsSwanwick Lakes Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Swanwick Lakes Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Swanwick Lakes OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Swanwick Lakes Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To the west of the reserve you can pick up the River Hamble Walk which runs from the mouth of the River Hamble at Warsash to Bursledon. Hamble Common can also be accessed in this area.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Swanwick Reserve Centre. At this educational facility children can learn about the natural environment.
Clay Pit. Old clay pit associated with brick making.
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Early spring at Swanwick Lakes
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Field and woodland
Gate offering access to Bens Lake. A peculiar stile or gate design I haven't seen before. The counter-weight is sufficiently light so that the bars shut into their horizontal position under their own weight. To photograph this I had to hold the thing open and then snap it quickly as it fell shut. Of course, the design leaves a rather large, and certainly not stock-proof hole under the counter-weight.
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Ben's Lake