How to get there - Small turning (Swanwick Shore Road) off A27, 400m. southeast of the bridge over the Hamble at Swanwick leads to free car park and public hard. (map)
Suggested Launch Site - Direct from hard next to car park.
General
Description - Head upstream keeping out of the main channel to avoid moored yachts. Once beyond the road bridge the river is quiet and almost deserted. Watch for strong currents at bend before bridge.
The upper Hamble is placid, with oak trees coming down to the water's edge giving the impression of a lake in parkland. After 1.5 miles the river forks and both branches can be explored at high tide, left to Botley (no convenient landing), right to Curbridge (pub landing stage), a total of about 6 miles if both branches explored. (route)
The double high tide is complex to explain, but starting shortly before Southampton high water up to an hour after will find the river full of water.
Hamble Harbour Authority may levy a charge, but is unlikely to do so for canoes, or anything using the river above the A27 bridge.
Comments:
19 Feb 2007
David Wilson
Update on harbour dues: Hamble Authority has dropped charges for canoes.
