Pictures of Warsash

About Warsash

Warsash lies at the mouth of the River Hamble, it is best known as a centre for yachting, but began life as a humble fishing village which grew to expansion during the 18th and 19th-centuries. It is a pleasant place whose charm lies both in its yacht filled waters and the gracious buildings left by the Victorians and Edwardians.

In recent years the town has become known for the Hook with Warsash Nature Reserve, this runs down to the shore and includes Hook Lake. These inter-tidal mudflats covering some three miles of shoreline provide a home to a rich variety of wildlife, some species are rare and in decline, but the reserve continues to give an important winter feeding ground to numerous wading birds and wildfowl.

Roosting Turnstones use curving Hook Spit as well as breeding Ringed Plovers. There are interesting plants to be discovered, these include Sea Kale, Yellow Horned Poppy, Sea Campion and Sand Couch Grass. The grassland and scrub of the site supports other breeding birds, amongst these are Linnets and Skylarks. Autumn sees a variety of migratory birds including Warblers, Dartford and other species. This place is a paradise for birdwatchers and nature lovers, viewing is best in the 2.1/2 hours before high tide.

This has always been a busy prosperous little place, in the 20th-century people came here for crab and lobster, and proper strawberry teas were served locally with strawberries fresh from local strawberry fields. One of the car-parks here stands on a former lobster pound, and the Hook Estate once belonged to the noted Hornby family.

The Solent School of Yachting is here, so too is the Warsash Sailing Club, both offer a warm welcome to visitors. Boating plays an important part in the town's finances, it is the home of Warsash Maritime Centre which is part of Southampton Solent University. The university is a training base for Merchant Navy Officers from all around the world.

St.Mary's is the parish church for Warsash, it is a notable building from the Victorian era which is well worth a visit.

Warsash offers shops, inns, restaurants, holiday cottages and hotels. It has an abundance of charm, pleasant waterside walks and lovely views of the Hamble estuary, it is a place for pleasure the main interest being sailing, but here, visitors of all ages will find plenty to see and do.