Swanwick Shore slipway (Lower Swanwick)
Swanwick Shore slipway is a public launch point on the west bank of the tidal River Hamble in Lower Swanwick, immediately downstream of the A27 Bursledon Bridge. Below the bridge the river is lined with marinas and moorings and holds water throughout the tide; above it, toward Botley, the channel narrows and drains at low water, so paddling there means timing it to high water.
River Hamble at Swanwick Shore
Hampshire County Council's Harbour Authority directs paddlers heading upstream toward the reaches beyond the M27 bridge, describing a quieter river there with natural inlets to explore, and a pub with paddlecraft storage at the Horse and Jockey on Curbridge Creek. Above the road and rail bridges the channel largely drains at low tide, so that stretch of river is really only accessible for a window either side of high water.
Immediately upstream stands the A27 Bursledon Bridge, built in 1934 to replace an earlier toll bridge; the railway viaduct just above it opened in 1889, and the M27 bridge further upstream dates from 1975. The road bridge carries a charted vertical clearance of 3.5 metres above the highest astronomical tide, with an air-draft gauge fixed to the training wall for an on-the-spot check before passing beneath it.
The estuary lies within the Solent and Southampton Water Special Protection Area and Ramsar site, and its upper reaches fall within the Upper Hamble Estuary and Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest, covering mudflats, saltmarsh and ancient woodland. The Solent holds a significant share of the world's dark-bellied brent geese, and riverside signage along the Hamble asks paddlers to give roosting and feeding birds a wide berth.
Nearby
Café and restaurant at Swanwick Marina, on the river bank near Bursledon Bridge.
WebsiteCafé at the Brickworks Museum on Coal Park Lane, Swanwick, open Wednesday to Sunday.
WebsiteTouring and camping pitches on Satchell Lane, Hamble, open from March to October alongside year-round self-catering accommodation; open to the public by booking.
WebsiteConditions to check
Above Bursledon Bridge the river is navigable only around high water, and the ebb tide can exceed three knots.
The river carries over 3,200 vessels afloat across four sailing clubs, with marinas and moorings on both banks near the slipway.
The A27 Bursledon Bridge immediately upstream has a charted vertical clearance of 3.5 metres above the highest astronomical tide, with an air-draft gauge on the training wall for an on-the-spot check.
Seaweed can build up on the slipway's shallow-gradient surface, and footwear is advised on the public slipways to avoid cuts from sharp material such as shells.
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