The Strawberry Trail is a 15-mile

footpath A footpath (also pedestrian way, walking trail, nature trail) is a type of thoroughfare that is intended for use only by pedestrians and not other forms of traffic such as motorized vehicles, bicycles and horses. They can be found in a wide ...

through Hampshire, England The trail is part linear and part circular. The linear section connects Botley to Bursledon railway station via Manor Farm Country Park. The circular section is usually done in a clockwise direction. From Bursledon railway station the trail goes south closely following the

River Hamble The River Hamble is located in south Hampshire, England. It rises near Bishop's Waltham and flows for through Botley, Bursledon, and Lower Swanwick before entering Southampton Water between Hamble Common and Warsash. The Hamble is tidal fo ...

and through Hamble until it meets Southampton Water. The trail then turns right and follows the shoreline into

Royal Victoria Country Park The Royal Victoria Country Park is a country park in Netley, Hampshire, England, by the shores of Southampton Water. It comprises of mature woodland and grassy parkland, as well as a small shingle beach. From 1863 until 1966, the site w ...

. The path exits the Country Park next to the

tearooms A teahouse (mainly Asia) or tearoom (also tea room) is an establishment which primarily serves tea and other light refreshments. A tea room may be a room set aside in a hotel especially for serving afternoon tea, or may be an establishment whic ...

and twists and turns along a short nature trail until it meets the

Hamble Rail Trail The Hamble Rail Trail is a circular footpath in Hampshire, southern England, comprising a path which runs alongside a disused railway track that connects Hamble-le-Rice to Royal Victoria Country Park and looping back via a section of the So ...

. The path continues North along ''Hound Road'' then crosses farmland, turns right at a recreation ground, and returns to the railway station via the outskirts of Bursledon. There are numerous pay car parks in the area, however it is recommended that walkers use the free car park just off ''Mortimer Road'' near Botley High Street. In summer a

ferry A ferry is a ship, watercraft or amphibious vehicle used to carry passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, Italy, is sometimes called a water bus or water taxi ...

service operates between Hamble and Manor Farm Country Park. The rural parts of the trail are

waymarked Trail blazing or way marking is the practice of marking paths in outdoor recreational areas with signs or markings that follow each other at certain, though not necessarily exactly defined, distances and mark the direction of the trail. A blaz ...

in the clockwise direction by metal and plastic disks found attached to wooden and metal posts, trees and street furniture. However, there are very few markers within the Royal Victoria Country Park and on the section that passes through the outskirts of Bursledon.

See also