Ellingham: Church, Nature and History

St Mary & All Saints in Ellingham and the nearby Blashford Lakes nature reserve offer two different ways to plan a stay: church and the history of worship on the one hand, and nature watching on the other. A separate historical highlight is the Huff Duff, which was a radio direction-finding station during the Second World War. Its walking trail is near Rockford in Hampshire. If you are looking for a hotel in Ellingham, these themes can help you organise your interests and practical considerations.

St Mary & All Saints: Church and Services

St Mary & All Saints is a 13th-century church. The grave of Alice Lisle is in the churchyard; this connection complements the building’s history with a specific burial site. Services are rooted in the Book of Common Prayer, and the church also offers services for families. The building’s age, the grave and the worship tradition provide historical and religious points of interest. The church is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. As opening hours may change, check the latest information before your visit. This brings both the building’s history and its worship tradition into focus, while the opening hours provide a practical framework for your visit.

Blashford Lakes: Birdlife and Trails

The Blashford Lakes nature reserve is located in the area around Ellingham. Thousands of birds use it throughout the year, including kingfishers, lapwings and oystercatchers. These species make the nature theme more tangible, while year-round use offers a different timeframe from the church’s daily opening hours. The reserve has 8 km of surfaced gravel paths, suitable for wheelchairs and electric buggies. The path length, surface and accessibility together provide practical guidance if these features matter to your trip planning. The reserve’s main car park is on the north side of Ellingham Drove. As local access conditions may change, check the reserve’s latest notices before your visit.

Huff Duff: Second World War Radio Direction-Finding Station

The Huff Duff was a radio direction-finding station during the Second World War. An air-raid shelter associated with it was built for the crew of the nearby radio direction-finding station. The station therefore represents the technical function, while the shelter represents protection for the crew. The walking trail to the Huff Duff is off Ellingham Drove / Highwood Lane near Rockford in Hampshire. This connects the historical theme with a specific location to help you plan a walk.

Different Points of Interest for Planning

For planning your day, there is a clear difference between the visiting conditions: St Mary & All Saints has daily opening hours from 10 am to 4 pm, while Blashford Lakes’ birdlife is present year-round. The path length, surface and main car park are also practical points of reference at the nature reserve; at the Huff Duff, the location near Rockford adds a specific setting to the historical theme.

Discover more destinations: East Meon, Havant, South Hayling, Plaitford, Hythe, Breamore, Stroud, Thruxton

For the main travel overview: Hampshire.