Hamble River - Upstream of Bridge

S

SteveIOW

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 Oct 2008
Messages
156
Location
Isle of Wight
Visit site
Although I have spent my life pottering around the Solent I have yet to venture further upstream, on the Hamble River, than the road bridge at Bursledon. Long ago I read of dinghy trips up to the Horse & Jockey at Curbridge. Is this still possible?

I presume going up on a lunchtime spring tide and come back down with the ebb would be the best option.

What's it like getting ashore at Curbridge?

Is the Horse & Jockey pub still open and if so does it serve food?

I often tow a small hard sailing dinghy (easily removable mast) with outboard so that would be my mode of transport.

Over to you.

Steve
 
Years ago I did go all the way to the top: the YMCA Fairthorne Manor is at the top and (if they let you walk through their grounds) you cn get to Botley and it's pubs.

Chugging along in an old launch was a lovely way to see the river and, as you suggest, probably best to head upriver on the rising tide and down on the ebb.

There's plenty of mudflats and wildlife up there so take your video camera with you and post the video please!
 
Have done it for the last few years with our club and regularly see loads of small boats up there. Popular with dinghies, kayaks, dorys etc but did see something about 20 feet a year or so ago ( didn't stay long).

There is a wooden jetty there - often crowded with dinghies if tide and weather are kind but most people seem to know basic seamanship and use long painters so you can wrestle your way in. Kayaks / SUPs just come ashore as the river bank slopes into the water in a couple of places so can easily get out that way.

Haven't eaten there but the beer is ok. ( that said after a long trip in a dinghy then taste buds may not be 100%) Food seems to be typical pub fare that you can get anywhere - i.e. vaguely pleasant fuel in nice surroundings rather than a gastronomic extravaganza.

Depends on the tides of course but I would suggest being at the split in the river about 2 hours before 1st high water - maybe 2 1/2 and then paddling your way with the tide. That will give you plenty of time to get ashore, eat and then get away before the tide falls too far.
 
It's lovely up there.

Coincidentally (or perhaps this is why you post) there's an article about it by Peter Bruce in this month's YM.

As HW at Springs is around lunchtime in this part of the world, it's ideal for a float upriver late morning on the Spring tide, and back on the ebb in the afternoon. We've done it in a dinghy, and in Canadian canoes. I'll try to paddle-board it when the air is warmer this year. I've only ever taken the Eastern branch at the top to the Curbridge pub (where landing was easy around HW), not continued the river Hamble North to Botley.
 
Head up on a rising big spring tide. At the top of the main river there is almost a T junction, right is to the horse and jockey, left is to Fairthorne and eventually all the way to Botley. Almost like going up the amazon at times with trees in the water and running close along houses if you take that route
 
langstonelayabout said:
Years ago I did go all the way to the top: the YMCA Fairthorne Manor is at the top and (if they let you walk through their grounds) you cn get to Botley and it's pubs.

Chugging along in an old launch was a lovely way to see the river and, as you suggest, probably best to head upriver on the rising tide and down on the ebb.

There's plenty of mudflats and wildlife up there so take your video camera with you and post the video please!
Click to expand...

Right to the top as you put it, is Botley.
I did it in a sailing dinghy some years ago.
 
Thank you all for your replies. Didn't know there was an article on this in current issue of YM - What a coincidence.

Anyone know roughly how much "headroom" there is under the lowest of the three bridges at Bursledon at HW springs?
 
SteveIOW said:
Thank you all for your replies. Didn't know there was an article on this in current issue of YM - What a coincidence.

Anyone know roughly how much "headroom" there is under the lowest of the three bridges at Bursledon at HW springs?
Click to expand...

Look using the Navionics app or the online web app. It says the first is the lowest, with a vertical clearance of 3.5m.
 
BelleSerene said:
Look using the Navionics app or the online web app. It says the first is the lowest, with a vertical clearance of 3.5m.
Click to expand...
Indeed the A27 road bridge is the lowest - first from seaward. I can get under with about 18" clearance on top of a 5m Spring tide, with an air draft of ~3.5m. As a mark I use the red and white marker post on the corner below the large mansion house on the eastern side as you approach the sharp left hand bend just before Swanwick marina - to the east side of the river. If I can see any red at all out of the water I can get under the bridge.
 
We've been up a few times with inflatable &outboard. You can get all way to Curbridge & pub going up with the tide with the outboard but taking the West arm, we continually grounded upstream of the Boat House. You might get up to Botley OK toward hw rowing a dinghy or in kayak Alternatively could stop at the Manor Farm Park and walk the rest of the way to Botley- about a mile or so. 3 pubs & a no of restaurants to chose from.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top