Eling Tide Mill
On this walk, children will enjoy purchasing a family trail map, playing on the shoreline, crabbing, a pirate ship shaped play area or a visit to the mill.
The Basics
Time: 35 minutes
Distance: 1.5 km
Terrain: Flat, even paths and boardwalk
Pushchair: Yes
Dogs: Yes
Refreshments: Mill Café at the visitor’s centre or there is a picnic area with tables beside the quay
Toilets: In the car park
Parking: The car park is free, but to access it from the east you will need to cross a toll bridge (£1). You can get that refunded if you visit the mill. Alternatively, there is some roadside parking near the quay. The details here are for the car park (Postcode: SO40 9HB - W3W: rescue/vibe/forgot)
A two mile stroll starting at Eling Quay will take you past Eling Tide Mill, Eling Great Marsh, Goatee Beach, Eling Church, Bartley Reach and will finish at the Visitor centre and café. The whole route has undergone recent improvements making it wheelchair and pushchair friendly.
The Route
From the car park, begin by walking through the cemetery. Take the path directly across it to the other side.
You will then hit the boardwalk and should follow this, passing under some old oak trees along the way. You will sometimes pass viewing platforms and the mill pond should always be to your right. There were a few fairy doors scattered around, which the girls enjoyed looking out for.
The path will bend around to your right, giving views back to the mill. Cross the wooden bridge going over Bratley Water and turn right. Look out for a reed bed island on your right where swans nest.
Follow the path to walk back towards the mill. You will arrive back beside the picnic area. The shop, visitor centre and café area area also all in this area.
Cross over the toll bridge (free for walkers) with a good view of the quay on your left. We saw families crabbing from the edge of the toll bridge if you fancy giving that a go!
When you arrive on the other side of the bridge, you have a few options. You can return to your car, or turn left and take the road to Goatee Beach. You will pass a play area shaped like a pirate ship and then a shoreline with views across the water to Southampton Docks. This is an important area for migrating birds and we also spotted a large number of ponies grazing on the islands here. You can also walk up to through the trees to St. Mary’s 12th century Church.
You can purchase a children’s trail pack to accompany this walk from the shop for £2
We suggest viewing the interactive map below as a ‘Trails Map’ to ensure all the paths are visible:
Did you know?
There is reference to there being a mill at Eling in The Domesday Book in 1086, but some historians think there could have been a mill here as far back as Roman times. The current building is about 200 years old and visitors can see a restored wheel and millstones and observe how the grain would have been milled here.