Shalfleet Lake

Sea, Estuary, Creek in Hampshire

England

Shalfleet Lake

Mooring Ropes, Newtown Harbour A line of moorings along the quay use this rope and pulley device so that boats can be moored away from the quayside, but easily pulled up to it when needed. — Mooring Ropes, Newtown Harbour Credit: Des Blenkinsopp

Shalfleet Lake, located in Hampshire, England, is a picturesque body of water that encompasses the characteristics of a sea, estuary, and creek. Covering an area of approximately 130 hectares, the lake is situated within the West Wight region of the Isle of Wight, providing a tranquil and scenic environment for both locals and visitors.

As a sea, Shalfleet Lake is connected to the Solent, a strait separating the Isle of Wight from mainland England. Its close proximity to the sea allows the lake to experience tidal influences, resulting in a dynamic ecosystem. During high tide, seawater flows into the lake through a narrow channel, bringing with it a diverse range of marine life, including fish, crabs, and mollusks.

At low tide, the lake transforms into an estuary, with a vast expanse of mudflats and salt marshes revealed. These mudflats serve as a feeding ground for a variety of wading birds, such as herons, egrets, and curlews, making it a popular spot for birdwatching enthusiasts. The salt marshes, rich in marine vegetation, also provide an important habitat for various species of plants and animals.

Shalfleet Lake is also classified as a creek, as it is formed by the convergence of several smaller watercourses, including the Caul Bourne and the Ningwood Stream. These tributaries contribute to the overall diversity of the lake's ecosystem, as they bring freshwater and sediments from the surrounding countryside.

Overall, Shalfleet Lake offers a unique blend of marine, estuarine, and freshwater environments, making it a haven for wildlife and an idyllic destination for nature enthusiasts seeking to explore the natural beauty of Hampshire.

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Shalfleet Lake Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.70958/-1.4131351 or Grid Reference SZ4190. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Mooring Ropes, Newtown Harbour

A line of moorings along the quay use this rope and pulley device so that boats can be moored away from the quayside, but easily pulled up to it when needed.

Des Blenkinsopp

Old Chains by the Slipway

What looks like an old anchor and chain rusting away on the quayside. The causeway beyond is shown as a public footpath, which it may still be if you fancy getting muddy. Ms Blenkinsopp is standing about as far as you can get without wellies.

Des Blenkinsopp

In the mud at low tide

A neat small boat sitting in the mud at Newtown Quay. The mooring ropes are not in such good condition. Seriously slimy.

Des Blenkinsopp

Newtown Quay

Newtown was a busy port in medieval times. Now the town is reduced to a few houses and the quay is the quiet home of a few small boats.

Des Blenkinsopp

Levee round a Brine Pond

Salt was made here for centuries up to the 1930s. The water on the right is in a pond where sea water was stored and partly evaporated before the brine was boiled to extract the salt crystals. See this National Trust page for more details and some old pictures. Link

Des Blenkinsopp

Path back to Newtown

The end of a short but interesting circular walk along a causeway to Newtown Quay and around the old salt ponds.

Des Blenkinsopp

Gate onto the Causeway

The start of a long boardwalk over the marsh out to Newtown Quay by the black hut in the distance.

Des Blenkinsopp

House in Newtown

Once a thriving port town in the middle ages, Newtown has now shrunk to a village of around twenty houses. This is one of them.

Des Blenkinsopp

The Cottage, Newtown

Des Blenkinsopp

Newtown, Old Town Hall

The Old Town Hall, from when Newtown was a thriving port and subsequently from when it was a "rotten borough" still sending an MP to parliament even though only a few dozen residents were left here to elect him. This is an old picture from an album, date not exact. The weather was a bit iffy this time, so I retrieved a sunnier one from a previous visit.

Des Blenkinsopp

Clamerkin Lake

Two small streams, Rodge Brook and Clamerkin Brook form the headwaters of an estuary which takes tidal water around 3 kms inland from its junction with the also tidal Newtown River. A path along the north side of Walters Copse gives access to a series of these muddy side channels. Looking a bit sombre here as the light fades. The white stuff is some sort of dead seaweed which tangles in the grass at the high tide line.

Des Blenkinsopp

Nature Trail in Walter's Copse

Walter's Copse is part of the National Trust's property around Newtown. Nature trails have been made through the woods.

Des Blenkinsopp

The end of the Levee

A look at the map seems to show that the mud flats now forming the main part of Newtown Nature Reserve were once enclosed by a sea wall. Parts of it are still visible and some is even still marked as a public footpath, although I wouldn't like to try it. The sea wall here is still above water as far as the birdwatching hide, although a boardwalk has been built along side it. Beyond you can see a muddy embankment with old wooden stakes and the line of it can be traced round and back to the shed on Newtown Quay just west of here.

Des Blenkinsopp

Remains of the Sea Wall

Still shown as a public footpath on some maps, the remains of the old wall which once enclosed the central part of SZ4291 are very obvious at low tide. The line can be traced along the edge of the water, out past where the boats are in the distance and back to Newtown Quay a short way west of here. All this is a nature reserve and whether the right of way still exists or not, you are not encouraged to go out there.

Des Blenkinsopp

Old Town Hall

Former town hall, of what is now a small hamlet but was once an active port. Now owned by the National Trust. Grade II* listed - see Link

Ian Capper

Field

Cattle grazing in a field in Newtown.

Ian Capper

Noah's Ark

18th Century house, formerly an inn of the same name. Grade II listed - see Link

. For a close up of the door, see SZ4290 : Door, Noah's Ark.

Ian Capper

Door, Noah's Ark

The door to Noah's Ark (see SZ4290 : Noah's Ark). Above it is the Newtown coat of arms with the motto "S. Comatis de Francheville de l’Ile de Wyht", Francheville being the old name for Newtown.

Ian Capper

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Shalfleet Lake is located at Grid Ref: SZ4190 (Lat: 50.70958, Lng: -1.4131351)

Unitary Authority: Isle of Wight

Police Authority: Hampshire