River Hamble

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The River Hamble is a river in Hampshire. It rises near Bishop's Waltham and flows for some 7.5 miles (12 km) before entering Southampton Water near Hamble-le-Rice.

The Hamble is navigable in its lower reaches and has become a very popular place for boating, being known throughout the sailing world as The Heart of British Yachting.

From its source near Bishop's Waltham, the river flows in a generally southerly direction picking up several small tributary streams before reaching Botley, where it becomes tidal and navigable.

Some 2 miles (3 km) further south, the river passes between the villages of Bursledon and Lower Swanwick, and is crossed by the M27 motorway, the Portsmouth to Southampton railway line and the A27 road on three substantial bridges.

A further 2 miles (3 km) south of Bursledon, the river flows between the villages of Hamble-le-Rice and Warsash before entering Southampton Water.

A passenger ferry crosses the river between Hamble-le-Rice and Warsash, forming an important link in the Solent Way and E9 European Coastal Path.

The river is also the location for several large marinas, the largest being the Port Hamble Marina and boat yards, situated on both banks as far upstream as Bursledon.