Portsmouth to Havant or Eastoke Point via Hayling Island Walk

Portsmouth Harbour - Southsea seafront - ferry - Hayling beach - disused railway path - causeway - Havant : 13 miles, ascent : none

Portsmouth Harbour - Southsea seafront - ferry - Hayling beach - Hayling seafront - Eastoke Point (Sandy Point Nature Reserve) : 11.1 miles ( 17.8 km), ascent : none

This coastal walk features Portsmouth's historic harbour, Southsea's promenade, a pier, several forts, Eastney's naturist beach, a short ferry ride to Hayling Island, sand dunes of Gunner Point, then either a disused railway path around Langstone Harbour to Havant, or a seafront promenade to Sandy Point and the entrance to Chichester Harbour, followed by a bus back to Havant

The walk starts at Portsmouth Harbour station, with views over the harbour entrance and naval base. It passes through the Gunwharf Quays development to quickly join the seafront by the landmark Spinnaker Tower (viewing platform, £19 in 2025, a 100% increase on 2016)).

It then follows the Solent Way / England Coast Path seafront path with views first across the harbour inlet, then over to the Isle of Wight. In Old Portsmouth, there is an optional short detour to a point here with a harbour view and the Spice Island pub. The path follows aalong the top of fortified sea wall dating back to the 15thC bfore joining the seafront promenade through the resort of Southsea, passing amusments, pubs, cafes, Southsea Castle (artillery fort, free, Tue-Sun, Apr-Oct), South Parade Pier (free), Lumps Fort (fortification remains, now a public park with a rose garden), and Eastney Batteries (remains of a fort).

At the end of the seafront path is Eastney naturist beach, one of the busiest in the country. Here you detour inland around Fort Cumberland (soon to be redeveloped), along Ferry Road, passing a marina on to the Hayling Island Ferry.

Take the short ferry ride across the entrance to Langstone Harbour, to Hayling Island, and the popular Ferryboat Inn, with outside tables overlooking the coast and harbour entrance.

From here, the walk follows a sandy beach (or a seafront trail) back to the coast, a beach where the sea is very shallow at low tide, and goes out a long way with sand bars - great for paddling on a falling tide. It then follows the wide sandy beach along the south (sea facing) coast of Hayling island. The coast here is protected by a golf course (hidden by dunes), which makes this the quietest part of Hayling's coast.

That is, until you reach the Inn on the Beach, a seafront pub, just before the amusements, where you have a choice.

• Head north, inland, along Station Avenue, to pick up the Hayling Billy disused railway path (signed as Shipwrights Way) which follows the west coast of Hayling Island (facing Langstone Harbour) back to the mainland. At the end of the causeway is a pub with great views. Follow the shore east to the Royal Oak, another harbourside pub. 10m inland from the pub, also on Langstone Street, is St Nicholas Chapel (part of a private house) which houses the local museum (free). Continue along the shore path, before heading inland to rejoin the railway path, and follow it to Havant Station.
• Simply continue along the sandy beach all the way along the sea facing coastline of Hayling Island. After an amusement park, the promenade becomes quieter and more residential. Continue to Sandy Point Nature Reserve with views over Chichester Harbour, and catch a regular bus back to Havant Station. If you do this option on a Sunday, make sure you check the time of the last bus. You can't enter the reserve (just 'scrubland' anyway), but the coast path which continue past it has views over the entrance of Chichester Harbour. Head inland at the RSPB Lifeboat Station for the bus stop.

While the headline walk follows the England Coast Path route along the Hayling Island coast, the Langstone harbourside option to Havant is much more interesting, and the preferred option.

• Do the walk in reverse, walk from Havant to historic Portsmouth, with more pub options at the end of the walk.
• You could start at Havant, follow the railway path south to the coast, then follow the coast to Sand Point (i.e. walk both the options above, missing out Portsmouth)
• Walk from Havant, follow the railway path south, take the ferry, then follow the Solent Path north around the other side of Langstone Harbour back to your starting point for a circular tour of the harbour. This is about 14 miles, but may be better suited to cycling rather than walking as it might get a bit monotonous after a while

Portsmouth Harbour and Havant are on the same rail line from London Waterloo. Buy a ticket to Portsmouth Harbour, at least 2 trains per hour.

The Hayling Ferry runs every 45 mins from Hayling Island (Ferryboast Inn), across the harbour mouth, to Eastney, takes 10 mins. [2025] 7 days a week, £3.50 one way, every 45 mins

The Stagecoach #30/ #31 buses runs in an (anti) clockwise loop from Havant - causeway - Hayling - Sandy Point (Sandy Bay Road) - Ferryboat Inn - Hayling - causeway - Havant. It takes 30 mins from Hayling to Havant Station (Mon-Fri: every 30 mins. Sat: hourly. Sun: 2-hourly) On Sunday, check the time of the last bus.

• Hayling Island Branch Line (wikipedia) now a walk/cycle path
• Hayling Billy foot and cycle path (pdf)
• Sandy Point Nature Reserve

• Spice Island On the point option near the start, popular Greene King pub with outside seating with harbour views
• Lots of options along the sea front towards Southsea
• Ferry Boat Inn. Hayling side of Hayling Ferry, sea side terrace
• Inn on the Beach, Hayling Island beach. Real Ale, great view
• Eastoke Point (Sandy Point) Option : There are a couple more pubs further on along the beach towards Sandy Point, though on the coast road, not on the beach itself. Nothing after the nature reserve.
• Railway Path Option: The Ship Inn , at the north end of the causeway, has a coast side terrace with lots of outside seating with nice views. The Royal Oak, smaller but nicer, is 100 m east along the coast path. Havant station is a little grim, but there are a few takeaways and a restaurant bar outside it.

After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks!

You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Jul-25 Andrew