Portsmouth Next Weekend
Discussion
I have a hotel booked just outside of Portsmouth next weekend. Originally planning to attend the Festival Of Speed which has now been cancelled. I can't get a refund as the hotel is now open again as of 4th July and I booked it on a cheap non-refundable deal last August (not usually a problem but obviously wasn't predicting a global pandemic).
Not really fancying mingling with many people at the moment, so any suggestions of walks around the South Downs area or New Forest would be appreciated. Looking to take the camera and a few bits so any hidden treasures and tips would be great ....
Not really fancying mingling with many people at the moment, so any suggestions of walks around the South Downs area or New Forest would be appreciated. Looking to take the camera and a few bits so any hidden treasures and tips would be great ....
The Weald and Downland Museum is open again: https://www.wealddown.co.uk
It looks like most of the main attractions will still be closed (Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Fishbourne Roman Palace, etc.). If you like walking & views, there are some large hills:
Portsdown Hill, with views over Portsmouth & the IoW one way, and the South Downs the other way.
Butser Hill, just off the A3, and within Queen Elizabeth Country Park.
Harting Down.
The Trundle, overlooking Goodwood, and with views of the coast from Bognor to the IoW.
Marwell Zoo is now open, though you have to book ahead.
You can also walk along the top of the Roman walls that encircle Chichester city centre.
Portsdown Hill, with views over Portsmouth & the IoW one way, and the South Downs the other way.
Butser Hill, just off the A3, and within Queen Elizabeth Country Park.
Harting Down.
The Trundle, overlooking Goodwood, and with views of the coast from Bognor to the IoW.
Marwell Zoo is now open, though you have to book ahead.
You can also walk along the top of the Roman walls that encircle Chichester city centre.
Old Winchester Hill is wonderful for panoramic views of the countryside both north and south; Butser Hill is good for this too.
Down at sea level the whole of Portsmouth sea front from Old Portsmouth along to Eastney is an easy walk with lots of interesting things to see.
In the New Forest, walk 400 yards from any car park and you'll have the place to yourself.
There's a lovely walk along the Itchen navigation canal from Eastleigh into the heart of Winchester - then you can get the train back to Eastleigh.
Just avoid Southampton; there's nothing of interest there, unless you like shopping.
Down at sea level the whole of Portsmouth sea front from Old Portsmouth along to Eastney is an easy walk with lots of interesting things to see.
In the New Forest, walk 400 yards from any car park and you'll have the place to yourself.
There's a lovely walk along the Itchen navigation canal from Eastleigh into the heart of Winchester - then you can get the train back to Eastleigh.
Just avoid Southampton; there's nothing of interest there, unless you like shopping.
If you do go to Portsdown Hill,don’t be suckered into the Mick’s Monster Burgers hype. It’s tosh. About a mile further west in the car park at the top of Southwick Hill/James Callaghan Drive is Route 66,looks like a shiny air stream. Proper coffee and butcher sourced produce.
Meon Shore and Harbour is nice, sitting on a nature reserve.
Plenty of historic military forts,ramparts and installations right around to Gosport andAlverstoke.
If you’re lucky, the Boultbee Academy has just restarted Spitfire flights from Daedalus again, so you might see and hear it go. Good little cafe on the airfield to sit and watch,with good scope for your camera too.
Good luck, and enjoy your visit.
Meon Shore and Harbour is nice, sitting on a nature reserve.
Plenty of historic military forts,ramparts and installations right around to Gosport andAlverstoke.
If you’re lucky, the Boultbee Academy has just restarted Spitfire flights from Daedalus again, so you might see and hear it go. Good little cafe on the airfield to sit and watch,with good scope for your camera too.
Good luck, and enjoy your visit.
Edited by normalbloke on Thursday 9th July 09:11
If you’re wanting to avoid the crowds and go for a walk personally I’d just head up to the South Downs Way and walk a stretch. Plenty of nice walks in the New Forest but it’s not really that close to Portsmouth.
The Queen Elizabeth country park is just up the A3 and the views from Butser Hill on a nice day will be pleasant. You could park there, walk west up and over Butser and if you’re feeling up to it end up over in Exton, grab a pint and ploughman’s at the Shoe Inn which has a decent garden by the river and then walk back (20 mile round trip).
I don’t know if you’re a twitcher but there’s a bird sanctuary down at Meon Shore that could give the camera a workout. Not sure if the cafe there is open but there’s the Osborne View pub at Hill Head just along the road with views of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight unsurprisingly which has a substantial garden if you fancied refreshments avoiding a crowd. From there as has been suggested you can walk along to Lee on the Solent, watch the comings and going’s at the airfield and if you keep going through browndown you end up in Stokes Bay. There’s a little cafe called Pebbles that does takeaway butties and coffee. Further along still Fort Gillicker and then eventually if you’re brave enough to tackle Gosport views of the Naval dockyards at Portsmouth. All of this obviously keeps you in view of the Isle of Wight and all the marine traffic.
The Queen Elizabeth country park is just up the A3 and the views from Butser Hill on a nice day will be pleasant. You could park there, walk west up and over Butser and if you’re feeling up to it end up over in Exton, grab a pint and ploughman’s at the Shoe Inn which has a decent garden by the river and then walk back (20 mile round trip).
I don’t know if you’re a twitcher but there’s a bird sanctuary down at Meon Shore that could give the camera a workout. Not sure if the cafe there is open but there’s the Osborne View pub at Hill Head just along the road with views of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight unsurprisingly which has a substantial garden if you fancied refreshments avoiding a crowd. From there as has been suggested you can walk along to Lee on the Solent, watch the comings and going’s at the airfield and if you keep going through browndown you end up in Stokes Bay. There’s a little cafe called Pebbles that does takeaway butties and coffee. Further along still Fort Gillicker and then eventually if you’re brave enough to tackle Gosport views of the Naval dockyards at Portsmouth. All of this obviously keeps you in view of the Isle of Wight and all the marine traffic.
normalbloke said:
So, how was the visit?
Great weekend was had thanks. Weather was fantastic which helped! Arrived around 3pm on the Friday and had a wander around Farlington Marshes as it was just across from the hotel. Saturday was spent at Beaulieu, been around 8 years since I last went. Also managed a drive and small walk in the New Forest in the evening. Sunday started off in the Meon area but was very busy and had nowhere to park so we carried on to Lee-On-Solent. After that it was down to the Gilkicker area, followed by a stop off and quick walk around Porchester Castle. Was nice to see the 2 carriers in port, albeit from a distance. Monday was a stop off at Queen Elizabeth Country Park for a good walk before we bumped into Olympian Iwan Thomas who had just been for a run! Then was the 3+ hour drive home. Adrian250 said:
Great weekend was had thanks. Weather was fantastic which helped! Arrived around 3pm on the Friday and had a wander around Farlington Marshes as it was just across from the hotel. Saturday was spent at Beaulieu, been around 8 years since I last went. Also managed a drive and small walk in the New Forest in the evening. Sunday started off in the Meon area but was very busy and had nowhere to park so we carried on to Lee-On-Solent. After that it was down to the Gilkicker area, followed by a stop off and quick walk around Porchester Castle. Was nice to see the 2 carriers in port, albeit from a distance. Monday was a stop off at Queen Elizabeth Country Park for a good walk before we bumped into Olympian Iwan Thomas who had just been for a run! Then was the 3+ hour drive home.
Ewan used to live in Hamble I think, was a regular at the park run there years back.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff