December 1st 2025 - Eling and Sunnyfields Farm shop.

 Monday Dec 1 2025 

Coffee and chill morning, then out for a wander round Eling and over to Sunnyfields Cafe for lunch of avocado toast with falafel and roasted tomatoes, plus chips.

 Our route - along Eling Hill, taking the public footpath through woods by the cemetery. 

, 

then over some soggy fields to meet the Marchwood bypass.

Turn left, walk facing traffic with a narrow verge alongside, just round corner to entrance to Sunnyfields. Route back along the road for a shorter distance with a wider verge, turn left along a quieter road, past the King Rufus, turn left again along Eling Hill. The way back was much better, luckily, as darkness was starting to fall.

November 30th 2025 - Eling Marshes and Goatee Beach

 Sunday 30 November 2025

Our annual visit to see the Copythorne Cats panto. We stayed in Eling.

Sunday was a beautiful cold sunny morning. 

We had a slow start, then walked 1.5 miles round Goatee beach and Eling Marshes boardwalk. 

We sat outside (well wrapped up) for coffee and cake.

A very short walk round Eling

 Sunday 24th November 

The weekend of Storm Bert. We seized a window of dry weather.

After breakfast we walked through the churchyard and down to Goatee Beach,

across the bridge near the Tide Mill, and to the marina. 

The wind was blowing, the rain had stopped, the church bells were calling the faithful to the morning service, and the rigging on the sailing boats was playing its metallic music. 

Lots of people out with their dogs.

Totton, Eling and Testwood

 Tuesday 15th August 2023. With Harry. Just over 10 miles.

A mix of suburban streets, wooded walkways, mini seaside, reed-beds, and rural surroundings .

The original plan was a stroll to Eling for coffee at The Anchor, with its views over Bartley Water, and across to St Mary’s church.

Along the boardwalks through the reed beds and wooded paths. Lots of white butterflies and a speckled wood or two.

We emerged at Eling cemetery and St Mary’s churchyard, another place full of wild flowers and butterflies.

We retraced our steps through Eling and across the park, over the main road to Rum Walk, following Bartley Water and the Test Way into Totton Town Centre. It was time for another coffee and a decent tuna sandwich and salad at Aroma Cafe to set us up for the afternoon.

As the weather was so good we decided to walk through the park, past the Great Testwood Gatehouse

and the Salmon Leap pub to join the Test Way boardwalk across the marshland. We had a fleeting glimpse of the orange of a tiger moth, which played its disappearing trick so effectively we couldn’t identify it (garden or Jersey). Blackberries are ripening well.

We followed the Test Way as far as Mill Lane, where we turned left towards Nursling Mill.

By now phone batteries were running low, so there are few photographs, as we made our way to the southern end of Testwood Lakes, where we paused for a rest and thought of ice-cream. We had to make do with snacking on blackberries though.

Then back to base along the pathways.

Totton to Eling and back

 Sunday 21st August

Just under 5 miles) 

After coffee we walked down to Eling

and drew a bit, then walked along the board walks through the reed marshes by Bartley Water,

from close to the Toll Booth.

Returned to Tide Mill Cafe for a substantial sandwich and salad, and a rather weak and watery pot of tea.

Then Harry went to draw the church.

We walked back by footpath with Bartley Water on our left as far as the big recreation ground, then we followed Rum Walk until the end on Lackford Road and back.

Totton to Eling and back

 Tuesday 17th August, with Harry.  Almost 4 miles, a gentle stroll.

Boats at low tide

No route map, we headed for the main road, diverted through Hounsdown, and crossed the big recreation ground. Outside the Anchor Inn we paused to contemplate the world.

The Tide Mill and Cafe were closed, so we picked up sandwiches in Rumbridge Street co-op, and coffee from Coffee Oasis.

We found a bench and ate before returning via the scenic route, along Rum walk and the leafy outskirts of Totton.

Totton, Eling, Marchwood

Almost 9 miles with Harry. A variety of urban, rural, and coastal scenery. Very hot weather.

Coffee with home-made scones...check.  Yogurt in the maker...check.
Duty done by the hanging baskets...check.

We went to Eling Tide Mill, via pedestrian walkways,

and Rushington Lane.

Bartley Water, I think...a muddy Usk-like river which goes through Totton

We had to cross the A35, using a traffic light controlled crossing to the east of Rushington roundabout. Then across the park and through the streets towards Eling, with its Tide Mill and harbour,

which I think is on Bartley Water, a tributary of the Test. 

Dashing headscarf

We walked up the hill to the church of St Mary the Virgin,

We assume the 20 hour stay applies to the Car Park, not the Cemetery.

with its picturesque churchyard, and continued along Eling Hill, past the King Rufus pub -

clearly a haunt of cyclists. We were also passed by a pony and trap, but I didn't manage a decent photo!

At a fork in the road we took the left hand  one, on to Bury Lane, which soon joined the major road, Marchwood Road. This has a cycle path/footpath running alongside, separated by a thick hedge, which made it pleasant to walk there. The road name changes again to Bury Road, and as it reaches Marchwood, Main Road. Just after this we found a tree stump in a green area to sit on for a while, to decide on the rest of the walk.

We decided to head for the water, and made our way along pedestrian paths north east through an estate, then continuing, following signs to Public Hard. We reached the yacht club slipway, and turned left along a path by the water. You could see huge container ships being loaded at the Millbrook Docks. The water is technically the River Test.

A bit of history

The path took us to a small beach area, with some heathland behind. Lots of blackberry bushes and blackthorn were growing there. We followed this close to the shore, passing a large jetty in an inlet. 

It continued through woodland, with salt marshes beyond. 

We could walk along a path closer to the marshes, with more open views.

This eventually came out on Eling Hill. 

A right turn and a short walk downhill, past the church and over the toll bridge to the Tide Mill Cafe. We had a very welcome large pot of tea, and a toasted teacake each. Alas too late for sandwiches!  We bought a loaf of the Mill's own bread - haven't tried it yet, verdict later!

It just remained to retrace our steps back to base. Another day when we haven't used the car before getting out.