- location Holmsley, Hampshire Length 14 km Mouth Keyhaven | - location Keyhaven, Hampshire Source New Forest Country United Kingdom | |
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Avon Water is a small river in the south of England, flowing through the New Forest in Hampshire to the sea. It should not be confused with the larger River Avon, which also flows through Hampshire.
Map of Avon Water, Burley, UK
Along with the Beaulieu River and the Lymington River, Avon Water is one of the three main rivers which drain the New Forest southward directly into the Solent, although it is smaller than the other two rivers. It rises in the south-western part of the New Forest, near Holmsley, and flows south-eastward, in a fairly straight course for about 9 miles (14.5 km). It flows into the Solent at Keyhaven, close to the shingle bank that leads to Hurst Castle.
The name "Avon Water" is considered modern, although it certainly dates from at least the 18th century. It is labelled on Thomas Milne's map of Hampshire published by William Faden in 1791. Cary's New Itinerary of 1810 also refers to "Avon Water" but confounds it with a stream immediately to the west (the Danes stream near Downton).