Keyhaven is a hamlet on the southern extremity of the New Forest National Park, overlooking the Solent and the Isle of Wight. It has a well frequented pub and two sailing clubs but no shops. It was a busy little fishing village, but the trade has been in decline for a period of years and its main draw now is tourism, especially sailing. Immediately to its west is a mile long shingle spit, known as Hurst Spit, which juts out into the Solent. At the end of the spit is Hurst Castle which has guarded the entrance to the Solent since Tudor times. It’s a leisurely walk along the spit from Keyhaven car park  but for the less adventurous there is a small ferry that goes across to the castle from the harbour.

It is part of the larger Keyhaven Nature Reserve, which spans almost 500 acres of land. With mudflats and salt marshes, the nature reserve is a haven for wildlife, particularly many species of birds, waders and waterfowl, both resident and migratory. There is a level walk from the car park along the coast path and salt lagoons to Lymington Marina, offering scenic views and excellent opportunities to see wildlife.