Thursday 19th March 2026

Another absolutely stunning weather day – unbelievable for mid-March. Love a T-shirt walking day. Today we drove and parked up in the town of Hythe and caught a bus to Fawley. This village has a lot of bronze age and Roman history but its probably best known for the power station and refinery that dominate the landscape. And said refinery being positioned waterside meant that the Coastal Path took us inland with roadside and woodland walking.

Unusually, the path led us through a graveyard today, not long after we started – saw lots of robins hopping around. Good Coastal Path signage led us safely back to Hythe where we finally got to walk waterside – Southampton Water busy with ferries and cruise liners. This was 5 miles up to this point.

We sat and had our egg sandwiches overlooking the water with views of the high rise city of Southampton. We could see Netley Castle nestled by the shore, which we had walked past last week. It looks old and mysterious from a distance.

And this is where we parted ways – only for the next few hours, not permanently!! Steve walked on to Totton and I took the option of some retail therapy in the little Georgian high street – some great charity shops! I have to mention though that Hythe is known for its ferry service to Southampton – unfortunately it is closed due to “ongoing infrastructure and funding challenges.” And the ferry trip is in fact the official Coastal Path. Had this been running, it would have saved Steve walking the further 7 miles today and we could have avoided the Southampton section where I fell victim to uneven paving!!! That closed ferry has a lot to answer for!

And now from Steve …..

Some irony in the air this morning as the news welcomed us with “King opens world’s longest coastal path around England” which is remarkably true …. other than the gaps where it doesn’t exist, it’s closed because of erosion or diversion or even this last week where two advertised ferry services no longer operate!

Now let’s be honest there is an enormous amount of spectacular path that is open and of course it’s always going to be a moving target, which we have got used to now, having walked some 2000 miles of the advertised 2689 miles available over the last eight years (Covid happened in the midst).

The second part of today’s walk though will probably not live long in the memory.  A seven mile journey which included three miles of walking on busy roadsides with no pavements and another three miles of cycle track alongside aforementioned busy road.  However help was at hand as entering Elling at the end of the walk coming across a delightful harbour complete with toll bridge and toll collection office … £1 for a day pass over the toll bridge!

So that completes our latest walking adventures with another 100 miles ticked off and only small bits remaining.  Referencing my earlier comments these remaining parts are generally very difficult to either walk or access, even though the path is apparently complete, but we will persevere of course!!

And back to me …

We have walked most days since being here – I had one day off due to injury and we both had a day off for Mother’s Day and a day off for St. Patrick’s Day. Returning to MK on Saturday with some fabulous memories and some spectacularly weary legs. We’ve felt so at home in this house-sit and have loved the company of cuddly and playful Romeo and Julie, the gorgeous cats.

Till next time. x