For hundreds of years, people have used the coastal lagoons of The Solent to trap sea water and create salt. Today some can be seen at the Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve, which has boats and birds to spot and also a story trail called The Story of Salterns, Sea Monsters and Saving the Day.
The Reserve Salt Production You can find this between points 4 and 5 on the Story Trail map. The Story Trail The Paths Finding the Reserve You can either take the small footpath on your left (next to the green bin in the photo) 
The Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve is an expanse of coastal lagoons, mudflats and marshes and an important nesting site for birds. 
The mud flats look very different at high 
and low tide.
To produce salt, coastal lagoons were built into salt docks, called Salterns, which trapped the sea water. 
The sea water was left to evaporate and, once reduced to a salty solution, it was heated in metal pans until only salt crystals were left. 
All that remains of this industry are the lagoons and this building, which was once a salt barn. 
The Story of Salterns, Sea Monsters and Saving the Day is a story trail that takes you back to 1832 and the life of a salt farmer as they meet sailors, smugglers and a huge sea monster. 
The paths are flat and easy to walk along with a range of surfaces.
To find the reserve, follow the post code to Maiden Lane, where you can park. Where Maiden Lan becomes Normandy Lane, you will see this side road. 
or follow the road a little further and enter the reserve through this gate, which is where the story trail begins.
Visit the Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Local Nature Reserve website
Further Information
Nearest Town: Lymington, near Christchurch in the New Forest Opens: Daily Where to Eat: Bring a blanket and a picnic. How Long We Spent There: 1.5 hours Parking: You can park on Maiden Lane by the side of the road. Wildlife You Might See: Birds and seabirds. Information Written: July 2022
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO41 8AF
Cost: Free
Facilities: None
Buggies: The paths are flat and easy to walk on.
Cost of Parking: Free.
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Our visit to Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Local Nature Reserve and the Salterns Story Trail in the New Forest is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.
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