Enjoy this 7.8km Hampshire hike from coastal Emsworth in shore to Warblington church and back. 

Leave the car park and head down South Street towards the waterside at the harbour. Progress past the moored-up boats and swans and step onto the sturdy wide promenade.

Keep on walking and as the decking eventually turns to the right it will take you between the harbour and the picturesque Mill Pond on the right-hand side. 

(Image: David Jones) READ MORE: New Forest country house with gardens by Chelsea Flower Show winner up for sale

Pass Emsworth Sailing Club and a little footpath beside a wall will be straight ahead. This will lead you on a solid path along the coastline, with the harbour on your left and impressive back gardens on your right. Follow for five minutes or so until you arrive at a small pillar. Then continue along a narrower path which leads you further along the Solent Way coastline with a clump of woodland in the distance.

Eventually the path will drop onto the pebble shoreline, with reedy wetlands on your right. The path forks here, so head left and stay on the shoreline. This route will skirt along the edge of the Nore Barn Woods nature reserve.

After a while you will come under tree cover. Once you reach a sign, head right and continue into the woods. This will bring you to a crossroads with two gates. Turn left into the circular metal gates and pass through these. Head over a thin stream which will lead you into a clearing. Proceed past a pool of greenish water on your right underneath a distinctive tree, then over the next gate and into a field with a huge hedgerow on the left.

(Image: David Jones) You will notice the tower of Warblington church peeking above the tree cover in the distance. Continue and progress in a straight line that takes you through a succession of metal gates until you pass the gravestones at Warblington Cemetery either side of the footpath. Head onwards and you will arrive outside St Thomas à Becket Church. This grade I listed Saxon church is largely from the 12th and 13th century and is well worth a look.

Turn back and retrace your steps until you return to the crossroad of gates at the edge of Nore Barn Woods nature reserve. This time turn left through the gate and follow the well-maintained wooded path that will lead you along for around ten minutes before you arrive at Havant Road.

Turn right here and then walk along the pavement. Keep going straight, past the Ropemaker Hotel and petrol station on the other side of the road until you reach Beach Road. Turn right here along this wide street and head all the way down to the shore. Once you get to the end you will recognise where you are back at the harbour.

(Image: David Jones) Turn left and keep going until you see a pathway between two private gardens which says Emsworth Art Trail. Turn left up here and this will lead you onto a suburban crescent. Follow the crescent to the right and it will bend around to the left before you head up Seafields on the right-hand side. Keep going until the street meets Warblington Road, where you turn right and continue straight until arriving back at the picturesque Emsworth Mill Pond.

This will lead you into the town centre with its handful of pubs and choice of shops. 

Written by David Jones, Senior Press Officer at Ordnance Survey

Walk at a glance

Start: The Coal Exchange, South Street Car Park, Emsworth, PO10 7EG.

Distance:  7.8 kms

Time: 2 hrs

Difficulty: Easy

Map: OS Explorer OL08 – Chichester, South Harting and Selsey

Toilets: at car park

Nearest Pub:  The Crown Inn, Emsworth High Street

Nearest Café: Cross Kitchen, Frobisher Gardens, Emsworth,

Route: explore.osmaps.com/route/17968217/

(Image: David Jones)