along the Solent Way This is a stunning cliff-top walk with great views across the to Isle of Wight. The walk is about 3.5 miles and can be extended to go on to Mudeford or
along the Solent Way
This is a stunning cliff-top walk with great views across the to Isle of Wight. The walk is about 3.5 miles and can be extended to go on to Mudeford or by starting from Lymington or Keyhaven.
The clifftop village of Barton on Sea dates back to Anglo-Saxon times and is tucked into a corner of Christchurch bay, with the town of New Milton behind it inland. With a population of which 38% are retired people, Barton 0n Sea is less busy than its neighbours . There are signs of coastal defences and inland views across farmland.
The cliffs rise to 34 metres and form part of the Barton Beds – soft rocks full of fossils such as gastropods and shark teeth. It is under attack from inland water seepage and from coastal erosion too and has been disappearing at a rate of at least 1 metre per year, which results in some parts of the path and cliffs having disappeared. You need to take care to walk along some sections.
One section near Milford is “officially” closed, but can be walked, at your own risk and in single file in some places. Last time we walked here, there were still intrepid cyclists riding along the path, but you could not say that the whole route is now truly accessible for wheelchairs or buggies.
2023 update – the path is closed completely at Barton due to further erosion so you will have to follow inland lanes. You can access the beach again from the village centre and walk through the golf course and Becton Common to join up a longer walk.
If you walk just from Milford to Barton is takes about an hour each way. There is limited scrambling access to a couple of muddy, rocky and shingly sections of beach if you are agile and some seats to sit and enjoy the views nearer Barton on Sea.