My sister lives in Netley, maybe she can provide tea and cakes.

12 on this walk, including one walker we had not seen in two and a half years, on a day of hot sun and sultry cloud (in about equal measures). The train down started fairly empty but got busier and busier - there was some event on in Portsmouth, I think.

Once in Botley, and free of the early section along the main road, we split into two groups - one that was aware of the alternative route along the river and another that was not. The former got to the swimming spot on the Hamble River to find it at absolute high tide. Three of us had a very pleasant swim (two going right across to the far side), while two later arrivals got as far as wading into the water and then though better of it.

Of the other group I understand three or four had lunch at the Steakhouse and were very pleased with it. We saw them briefly outside it but soon got separated from them again amid the busy main road traffic. The rest of us found a perch a bit later on the estuary on which to have our sandwiches.

Hurrying down this long but beautiful riverside stretch (with sea asters coming into flower, and at one point a possible otter that we decided eventually was probably a vole…) we came to the pretty pink ferry across to Hamble village. The sun was out at this point and the water sparkled. Nearly the whole group was united at the cafe by the landing jetty to have tea, wine or (in two cases) lunch.

Kids were swimming in the blue waters here and I looked forward eagerly to a late afternoon dip at Netley. But once we got to the shores of Southampton Water, sultry cloud was back in charge. It was also low tide. I went for a swim regardless, and three followed me, but the water was barely a metre deep even 80 metres out from the shore, like trying to swim in a puddle. Two of my companions were kind enough to describe this as their worst sea swim ever….

We then had a rush for the 6.18 train, which was five minutes late, allowing all to catch it. The “other” group were waiting in the platform. So to Southampton for a 15 minutes layover and a fairly busy train home.

I salute your bravery in swimming in SE England's seas given the current ****show over effluent discharge!

Despite its short length this walk has always filled the day very adequately when we have done it as a midweek walk. The swim in the tidal cove of the Hamble River is....interesting - a real wild swim with a difference. I have also swum in Southampton Water from the beach in Netley Park: a surprisingly tranquil place for a dip. I am not sure I would put my face underwater in either spot, however.

There are some good pubs in Hamble and Netley. I know the area quite well, Gavin

This turned out to be a canny choice of walk. No doubt on this hot and sunny day trains to the coast were rammed. But the slow train to Portsmouth that we used both out and back was an exception. So we enjoyed a nice trip to the sea without the staycation crowds.

I am told to say 16 on this walk, though one got an earlier train and was not seen all day. Many of the rest were new to this walk. One advantage of doing it in the reverse direction is that the fairly ordinary bits are done first: interest builds to a positively Mediterranean section along Southampton Water at the end.

I was a bit sceptical about swimming in the Hamble River, since the tide was quite low, but we arrived at the cove to find it in full beach mode, with families, paddle boarders, and even an ice cream boat. I have never seen an ice cream boat before and was fascinated by the logistics (how do you control a paddle board while holding an ice cream?) and the economics (how many days does it operate each year? What does the boat do on other days? Where did it head for upriver?)

There was some reluctance about swimming here (this is a tidal estuary and the water was a bit brown and bitty...) but I went in and five joined me. The water was gorgeous and so was the setting once you were out on the water. Only a fair bit of boat traffic prevented me from swimming to the far bank.

Two non-swimmers went for pub lunches, I am told (in different establishments!) and our walk poster went to meet friends. Others picnicked. We swimmers didn’t get to the pub till 2pm and anxious not to miss the last ferry, carried on without stopping. All the others had sandwiches anyway and I managed to get some sausage rolls from a kiosk.

The stretch along the lower Hamble was lovely, with sea lavender among the flowers. We neatly filled a 12 passenger capacity crossing on the little pink boat - it makes it feel like a proper holiday if you have a boat trip - and on the far side stopped for ice cream and tea at the cafe. (Only the English understand how refreshing tea is on a hot day.)

We then had the lovely walk through the woods and out past the oil storage facility and up the beach of Southampton Water. You may laugh, but in the drenching sunshine and with its pine tree backing it really did feel Mediterranean. The beach was busier than I have ever seen it - families, kids in the water, jetskiers, sailing boats.

Three of us swam here. Again, brown seaweedy water near the shore, but lovely once you were out in it, with the view of the park and Netley Chapel one way and distant cruise liners moored in the other. The water temperature was perfect. I could have stayed in forever but was aware those watching my bags wanted to move on.

Some went for the train quite soon (perhaps also hoping for the cafe, which is closed for redevelopment into a restaurant), while we swimmers took longer. But we all ended up on the 18.02 train. The swimmers did a trek into throbbing downtown Netley (a parade of shops) to get beers and salty snacks for the train. We had a jolly chatty ride home via Fareham on not at all busy trains, and stepped off at Waterloo with that happy glowing feeling of having made good use of the day.

I be on Holiday in Devon when some of yous do the Walk on the day. While Botley Brings me back Memories when I went Away with the School a long time ago. And we stayed at the Y.M.C.A Fairthorne Manor.

Swimmers should bring their reef shoes as the pebbles are quite painful without! Could I suggest a posting of the Bournemouth and Studland Bay walk where the sand is clean and beautiful for swimming. Just got back from 3 days on the beach in wall to wall sunshine with a refreshing breeze and warm seas.

7 Cloudy till late afternoon then sunny . There were even spots of rain in the morning, which luckily did not come to anything because no one had brought waterproofs.

We quickly split into two groups - two fast walkers, five slightly less fast. We five did the Hamble River route and even though it was low tide and the water looked a bit .... weedy.... two of us swam across the estuary at the prescribed swimming spot.

A nice lunch in the Navigator - passing the fast walkers leaving as we arrived - and then down the Hamble Estuary under brightening but not yet sunny skies. We caught the 3.30 ferry, not realising the 3.50 was the last, and had tea on the upper deck of the cafe on the far side.

A now sunny walk through the woods and up the beach along Southampton Water. Two of us swam when we got to Victoria Park and then we all hoofed it to get the 6.18 train. Unluckily this was cancelled. Luckily we were in time for the 5.51. Unluckily at Southampton all the Waterloo trains were delayed. Yours truly bailed out here to get a local train for a family visit. Hope the others got home eventually

The two fast walkers had tea at the Cafe in Victoria Park and ploughed on to Sholing, in time for the 17.22 to Southampton. The connection, the 18.00 fast train to London, then couldn't leave the platform as the front part of that platform was still blocked by the 17.55 stopping service, awaiting relief train crew. So after some lengthy deliberations, our train then pulled back out the station to beyond the points and then travelled through the station along the westbound platform 4, half an hour late, and with the stopping service still marooned on platform 1A. What can go wrong, will go wrong...

This swimming walk offers several opportunities both in the river Hamble and in Southampton water when the tide is right but bring your swim shoes/reef shoes as its very stony underfoot. If its a hot sunny day sunglasses and hats essential as you are walking towards the sun most of the time. It was great last year and 3 swims were enjoyed. Make the most of the tea stop which has plenty of refreshments as theres nothing at Netley station at the finish.

Is it possible to buy the £13 ticket at the ticket office/machines tomorrow morning?

You can buy the £13 tickets from the machines at Waterloo certainly. Select "SWT services only" and it automatically gives you the special offer

7 on this walk, on a day of sun and cloud . The cloud was inland, the sun more on the coast, so it got sunnier as the day went on, culminating in a glorious golden finish along Southampton Water, which with its pine-fringed coast felt a bit like a Greek island.

In the morning fields (one full of ground skimming swallows) and woods brought us to the upper reaches of the Hamble Estuary. Two of us swam here and at least two swam vicariously - that is to say, they did not swim but seemed keen to see us do so. Despite an incoming tide one could swim quite a way out before the current started to pull you up river.

A briskly served lunch in the Navigator, rubbing shoulders with the Hamble River yacht set, a walk through boatyards with their interesting operations, then down the lovely Hamble Estuary at high tide. The pink ferry took six of us across it and we very politely waited in the cafe on the far side (big staff, disorganised service: they were no longer doing hot food but made a meal out of serving tea and cakes) for the seventh to get the next ferry. One of the group shared her memories of her childhood in Hamble village.

Then what for me is always the highlight: a walk up the beach of Southampton Water In the sparkling afternoon sun. Interesting shingle flowers and two of us (the same two) had an idyllic swim from the beach of Victoria Park as a Chinese container ship glided placidly by. A third walker watched our bags, for which thanks.

The other four headed straight for the train I presume and so missed the final treat, which was the majestic Queen Mary 2, the only transatlantic liner, the largest liner ever built, slipping its moorings and gliding down Southampton Water to the sea. Inbound from New York that morning, outbound for the Norwegian fjords. I am not a cruising person but just for a moment I wished I was going with her.

Instead we got the 6.18 train.

Hi, please would someone post this walk on a Saturday before the end of Summer. I was so envious but can't walk on Thursdays. Thanks, Debra

Intend going.

...and extending the route past Netley by countinuing along the coast, do a bit of stravaiging in Westwood Woodland Park, then back along the river, and along Itchen Way up to Sholing Station. If that is a nice route (it looks like it might be, on the map), then maybe reverse the walk for good and make it a proper length?

9 miles is fine esp in this heat !

Intend going and 9 miles is quite sufficient for me too.

There's no stopping our Thomas.

Some say he will swim Southampton Water to Hythe and then play a round of golf at Dibden Golf Centre

Legend!

Was unable to go regrettably as in court fighting against neighbours from Hell. Lovely day for a trip to the Coast.jfk

At last had a minor victory against the criminals.

9 on this walk, which works really well in this reverse direction. Our walk poster has cleverly varied the morning route (ie the afternoon in the original direction) so that it hugs the side of the Hamble estuary - pretty woodland with glimpses of the water. One glimpse was particularly nice and given the hot sun three of us decided to "live the view" and go for a swim - a delicious dip in a tranquil arm of the sea.

Lunch at the pub surrounded by yacht repair yards was pleasant enough and the walk down the Hamble in the bright sun was very nice too. It felt like summer would never end. Having crossed in the funky pink ferry we then gained Southampton Watwr, walked past the oil storage facility and on up the sun-drenched shingle beach. We just about got to the peaceful Royal Victoria Park in time for tea; early arrivals got tea pots, stragglers paper cups. But this is a nice tea stop when doing the walk in this direction.

Our intrepid long distance walker then went off to pioneer an extension to the walk. The others went for the train but three of us decided to swim in Southampton Water, which looked simply idyllic in the setting sun. Slightly off-putting on closer inspection was that the water was very brown near the shore, but a bit further out it was much cleaner and the low sun on the silky surface made for a simply dreamy experience. Something to treasure in the cold grey winter.

A long two hour train ride home. A pity there was no obvious place in Netley to buy provisions for the train.

Following on from Walkers prose, 5 who skipped the evening swim caught the 5:43 Southern Train to Southampton Central (delayed to 5:53). This station has the usual Mainline Station outlets offering a chance to pick up nibbles and drinks.

Fast train (1 hour 30 mins) back to Waterloo at 6:30pm - probably the best return journey option.

With the sky clear and little wind we glimpsed a Hot Air Balloon in the evening skies over Hampshire as we sped towards the Great Wen

A cracking day out with plenty of variety.