Hound Walk Netley Abbey

About

The Parish of Hound is very fortunate to have a wealth of rights of way, providing both locals and visitors a fantastic opportunity to explore the surrounding countryside. The Parish is also home to the magnificent Royal Victoria Country Park, an area of woodland, parkland and foreshore, and the site of Netley Chapel, the last remains of the famous Royal Victoria Military Hospital. In the west of the Parish, another great place to visit is Westwood Woodland Park, a 200 acre Nature Reserve of ancient woodland and rolling grassland.

Distance: 1.5 miles

From Netley Railway Station, follow the route directly down Station Road. Near the entrance to Netley Lodge Close there is a way marked path (Footpath 17) leading directly into the Seaview Estate.

Continue in a direct line through the Estate to its junction with New Road. Turn left and on the opposite side of the road you will find an unmarked path. Follow this and emerge near Sedgemead Flats onto Victoria Road.

Here turn left and make your way to the foreshore and Netley Hard. Here you can enjoy views over Southampton Water. Opposite the Hard you will find Sophie’s Pond where many species of wildfowl can be found.

Enter Royal Victoria Country Park and take the turning on the left, up the service road to the rear of the Park. On your right you will see the rather splendid former officers’ mess which once housed 55 officers but is now private dwellings.

You will also see Netley Chapel, and the site of the Military Hospital, built in 1856 under influence of Florence Nightingale. Bear left and emerge onto Hound Road via the rear entrance.

Upon exiting, locate on your left an unmarked fenced path which will take you back to Netley Railway Station.

Rail: The nearest train station is Netley. This is also the start point for the walk. 

Places of interest: Royal Victoria Coutry Park and Southampton Water.

The route can been downloaded below (PDF).