Naturist / Nudist Beaches in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland

Eastney Beach - Portsmouth

Hampshire

Popular shingle city beach at the end of the Portsmouth / Southsea seafront. The battle with developer's has been won for now.

This shingle beach (also known as 'Fraser Beach') is situated at the Eastney (east) end of Portsmouth and Southsea seafront. The local council are aware of its tradition of nude use. One reporter says: 'It's my contention that Eastney is the easiest-access naturist beach in southern England, and no one has challenged this yet.'

In recent years the issue of public access to the beach has been the subject of a dispute associated with the proposed development of nearby former Ministry of Defence land (see below). As of Summer 2023, the beach is being used by naturists as normal, but the future is mixed. The former MOD site has been sold on, and the new owners have applied for planning permission.

Eastney has an active user group - eastneybeach.org.uk

Getting There

Satnav: PO4 9LQ

Portsmouth is easily reached by means of the M27/A27 and by public transport. Eastney is on the south-easy tip of Portsea Island. Take the A2030 from the A27 towards Southsea, turn left at the football club roundabout and left again just before Eastney swimming pool .There is a car park at the junction of Fort Cumberland Rd and Melville Rd. A narrow road leads down to the entrance to the former Defence Research Establishment. To the right of the entrance, a footpath leads to the beach. On reaching the beach turn left and you reach the naturist section within only 100 yards.

Eastney Naturist Beach is very easy to access. Go to Fort Cumberland Road (PO4 9LQ). It has a sharp turn to the left and on that corner is a gravel car park which is free but likely to be full very quickly on a hot day. Then in the bottom corner of the carpark, near the gate to the abandoned building, is a little footpath. Follow it around and you will come to the beach. Anywhere left of the footpath is naturist. (taken from the Eastney FB page)

Public Transport: Take the train to Portsmouth harbour. From The Hard (bus interchange), take bus # 25 straight to the beach which runs every 45 mins (Mon-Sat), every 90 mins (Sun). View of bus stop where you get off

Description

Although not, perhaps, the best part of a shingle beach, Eastney is described as being 'well sheltered' and offering 'pleasant sunbathing'.

"Simple, neutral, no fuss. The siting of the notices is, in my opinion, the most sensible that could have been chosen, and does not curtail, even by implication, the area which has been used by naturists. Well done Portsmouth City Council... "

Facilities

There are toilets and refreshments available at the nearby caravan site.

Development Proposals

2005 : A planning application was submitted by QinetiQ (a private company formed from a section of the Ministry of Defence) to luxury homes on land adjoining Eastney naturist beach. Local naturists began the "Save Eastney Naturist Beach Campaign". Outline planning permission was granted, but QinetiQ became involved in a protracted dispute with the local Council.

2010 : Security guards were stationed at the access to the beach on a number of occasions. A lot of positive local media coverage was gained.

2011 : Portsmouth Council Planning Committee revoked the 2005 grant of outline planning consent to QinetiQ : "the planning context upon which the original decision [was based] was becoming more and more out of date". The oustanding planning application by Qinetic will now be considered afresh, including a new process of public consultation. The Committee was told that "the changes in circumstances [since 2005] were such that officers could not be satisfied that this Committee would come to the same conclusions based on the present material circumstances"

2014 : QinetiQ won an appeal against the council to build an access road to the site. A new planning application for flats was likely to follow.

2019 : QinetiQ sold the site. The new owners applied for planning permission.

2023 - Jul : No change

Latest info: try Facebook - Eastney Naturist Beach or Facebook - Eastney Beach

Map

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Comments

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Sandy

23-Jul-23

I visited the beach on a July weekday. All well and a good scattering of hardy naturists around in the fairly stiff breeze, and great swimming at low tide despite the wind.
Public transport update. 25 bus from the Hard Interchange (near Portsmouth Harbour) - get off at Ferry Road, head straight for the seafront and when you get to the beach, turn left for about 400m to the naturist area. The 1 and 2 buses also stop near Portsmouth and Southsea (civic offices stop) and Fratton stations but you have to get off at Eastney Road and walk east for about 10 minutes to get to Ferry Road, then follow the directions above.
Glen Fryer

Oct-13

We have used Eastney as a naturist beach for nearl twenty years .
Pete

Jul-11

Went there today for the first time - possibly the busiest naturist beach I've been to. No wandering around wondering if you're in the right spot - today there were people sunbathing naked right up to where the path comes onto the beach. Turn left off the path and you're among them. The clothed folks to the right of the path didn't seem to have any objection.
I was there around high tide and it's all pebbles and a bit uncomfortable to walk on even in sandals with the small stones. There's a section of concrete seawall at the east end which some people base themselves on - an option if you really don't like the shingle.
Today it was mostly men, a few couples, no families that I noticed, but the odd well-behaved dog. Didn't notice any [inappropriate] behaviour of any kind. Only complaint is that the sea's still a bit chilly for swimming!
The sign mentioned above seems to have disappeared, or at least I didn't see it.