Lymington River

the river Lymington
Highland Water
River
New Forest ponies grazing next to the Lymington River near Brockenhurst
Country	England
Region	Hampshire
District	New Forest
Tributaries
- left	Long Brook, Bagshot Gutter, Etherise Gutter
- right	Warwickslade Cutting, Fletchers Water, Ober Water, Passford Water
Source
- location	Ocknell Plain
Mouth
- location	Lymington
- coordinates	50°45′00″N 1°31′59″W / 50.75°N 1.533°W / 50.75; -1.533Coordinates: 50°45′00″N 1°31′59″W / 50.75°N 1.533°W / 50.75; -1.533
Length	22 km (14 mi)
Location of the mouth within Hampshire

The Lymington River is a small river in Hampshire, England, flowing through the New Forest into the Solent at the town of Lymington. The river has a total length of 22 kilometres (14 mi), although the initial part, north of Brockenhurst, is known as Highland Water.

Highland Water rises north of the Ocknell Inclosure (SU243125) and flows for 10 kilometres (6 mi) to Bolderford Bridge (SU291041) where it meets Ober Water. From then on it is known as the Lymington River and flows for a further 12 kilometres (7 mi) until it enters the Solent (SZ3493).

In 1731 a merchant navy captain, Captain Cross, constructed a causeway across the river to the north of Lymington. He built toll houses and charged travellers using his causeway, more than a mile south of the existing bridge at Boldre. The dam had the effect of impeding the river and contributed to the silting-up of Lymington harbour. Lymington Corporation complained about the matter in court, but lost their case. In 1795 it was noted that the mud building up in the channel "has rendered it already very narrow; and will probably in a few years, so completely choke it up, as to make it unnavigable by any ships of considerable burden." The causeway was taken over by the railway company who continued to collect tolls until they were bought out by Hampshire County Council in 1955, and they discontinued the tolls a few years later. Even today silting in the harbour as a result of the dam still occurs, although it is ameliorated by the scouring effects of the Isle of Wight ferries. Before the causeway was built it is said that the river was tidal as far as Brockenhurst.