Best bit of seaside close to the end of the M3

[hewlett]

[Rather than Goodwood] we're off on a family day out to the beach tomorrow. Does anyone know what's the best/easiest bit of seaside in the Southampton area?

[Cas_P]

Bournemouth isn't far from there. I love it, went the other day, beautiful beaches. I usually go to Boscombe though a little less packed than the 'main' part though right next door.

[hewlett]

Thanks for that, I'm being a bit lazy not turning right and heading off there, might be better to make the effort

[NWVT]

calshot is stunning and other parts of the cost out near beauliu

[kiwifraser]

Sandbanks is lovely, and not far

[hewlett]

Thanks guys

[don4l]

Hayling Island?

Or for a really nice, uncrowded beach, you could try East Head in Chichester Harbour.

Now, isn't Chichester just past Goodwood?

Don
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[hewlett]

You're right Don but in the end it was grey, she stayed at home and I went to Fairford. Great tips for the next sunny weekend though, Chichester, Bosham and the like is really nice and I hadn't considered that. Perhaps we could have a PH families day out over the Summer.

[VerySideways]

Do any of these places have slips to drop a boat in the water?

[NWVT]

Pete i know of one slip at the bottom of the a3 its pretty large and you can go out into the solent il pm you a link

[don4l]

VerySideways said:

Do any of these places have slips to drop a boat in the water?

Plenty of slips. Where you launch depends on what you want to do.

For example, Water skiiers launch from Hayling Island (at the south western tip).


What kind of boat, and what do you want to when you get it in the water?


Don
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[motco]

Steve, We took our little girl to Bournemouth when she was two - similar age to yours. She loved it and the sea was very calm and clean. I haven't been there since the kids grew up but I assume it hasn't changed that much. Have a good time! Boris says Hi!

[hewlett]

Thanks Clive, seems like it's worth going a way left or right at the end of the motorway and Bournemouth involves the New Forest too which is good. We're looking forward to the next sunny weekend to get down to the beach, so she can experience sand and sea for the first time. Btw, if you ever decide you need a holiday and a cat sitter just let us know, we'd be happy to have him here again for a week or 2, missing the fella!

[GT03ROB]

hewlett said:

Thanks Clive, seems like it's worth going a way left or right at the end of the motorway and Bournemouth involves the New Forest too which is good. We're looking forward to the next sunny weekend to get down to the beach, so she can experience sand and sea for the first time. Btw, if you ever decide you need a holiday and a cat sitter just let us know, we'd be happy to have him here again for a week or 2, missing the fella!

Just watch the traffic at the end of the M27. I live part time up in Berks & part time down New Forest area. The A31 stretch from the M27 to Ringwood/Bournemouth/Poole can be a nightmare on a sunny Saturday morning or Friday evening.

[VerySideways]

don4l said:

What kind of boat, and what do you want to when you get it in the water?

Large, quiet, 4-stroke 3-seat jetskis. Heading over (possibly around) IOW. Might have a 6m rib with us too.
Any suggestions? Current favourites are Mudeford and Langstone.

[motco]

hewlett said:

Thanks Clive, seems like it's worth going a way left or right at the end of the motorway and Bournemouth involves the New Forest too which is good. We're looking forward to the next sunny weekend to get down to the beach, so she can experience sand and sea for the first time. Btw, if you ever decide you need a holiday and a cat sitter just let us know, we'd be happy to have him here again for a week or 2, missing the fella!

That's a very kind offer Steve, thanks. If you were a little nearer I might even take you up on that. But poor old Boris hates cars - and he almost always loses control of his bladder even on the ten minute ride to the vet for his jabs - must be my driving! Or maybe it's the Westfield he doesn't like?

[hewlett]

Good point ref the traffic.

Cool Clive, we are always here as a back up. Yes he has never up for a hoon, bless him!

[don4l]

VerySideways said:

don4l said:

What kind of boat, and what do you want to when you get it in the water?

Large, quiet, 4-stroke 3-seat jetskis. Heading over (possibly around) IOW. Might have a 6m rib with us too.
Any suggestions? Current favourites are Mudeford and Langstone.

Before I answer, I should say that I have been sailing in the solent for 22 years. Please forgive me if I sound patronising below. It is all written from the perspective of someone who went out there knowing bugger all(and made some big screw ups).

Mudeford is too far from the IOW to make it a pleasureable experience(more than once).

If you drive onto Hayling and follow the road straight down to the end - turn right and keep going until you reach Langstone Harbour entrance. There is (or was 10 years ago) a free slip where you can launch. From there you could easily access Bembridge. Be careful where you park. There is/was a local bye-law that says that you can get a ticket when you are parked on the grass if there are yellow lines on the road!

The tides can be very strong in the Langstone entrance. At spring tide you want to avoid launching or retrieving around half tide. Spring tides occur every two weeks throught the year. Between 2 and 4 hours before and after high tide there will be a very scary flow of water through the harbour entrance. Imagine standing in a fast flowing river while trying to manhandle your boat onto the trailer.

There is a slip just behind Haslar Marina car park in Gosport. I don't know if it is free to use, but it is very well placed for access to the IOW. It won't be as bad at spring tide as Langstone because there isn't a huge body of water upstream. Parking is not so freely available, however :cough: a pint could make things very easy in that department.


Haslar would give you good access to Bembridge, Wooton Creek (excellent food at the Royal Vic) Ryde and Seaview(good food here too).


If you go to Cowes then there is excellent food to be had at the Duke of York and at the Island Sailing Club. Parking is relatively cheap at Sheperds Wharf.

Don
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[VerySideways]

don4l said:

...lots of stuff...

Nothing patronising there, all very useful information. Thank you!
Any other hints and tips gratefully received, either on here or by PM.

I had been looking at a slip at the northern end of Langstone Harbour on google maps...

[RedLCRB0b]

Can't believe no one has suggested West Wittering, a fantastic family friendly sandy beach just past Chichester. The only problem is that it is very popular so you can look forward to some long traffic queues getting in if you don't leave early enough. We always bring enough food to have lunch on the beach followed by a BBQ on the field where you park in the evening - this gives everyone else enough time to leave so that you don't have to queue getting out. If you get fed up with the sand and sea you can always go for a nice walk through the dunes at the west end of the beach too.