Wake up at the Hamble Retreat and head for breakfast, no sign of Nick our host who we played snooker with last night. Breakfast is ok – confuses Nigel when she says “help yourself from the bain-marie!

Head to Gosport, parking near the golf course and wander along the coast passed the numerous fishermen towards Portsmouth. Sadly our way is soon blocked by a barbed wire fence. We can see glimpses of the Spinnaker Tower over the estuary, and Portsmouth Old Town – in particular the lovely pub we sat at in the sunshine only a few weeks ago.

We decide to embark upon the coastal walk at this point. There are numerous boarded up or just barren looking buildings presumably once a hubbub of naval activity? One had recently been acquired by a housing development company and I’m sure will make a lovely home to watch the coming and goings in Portsmouth harbour.

Carrying on we have to divert away from the coast around Fort Monckton then the Solent Way heads straight back to the coast by Fort Gilkicker, with more ‘soon to be stunning homes’ with incredible views over the Solent to The Isle of Wight.

Jen, Dean and Douglas join us as we wander along the route passed the lifeboat station. We soon stop for our first break at Pebbles fish and wine bar, sitting outside in the sunshine enjoying a hot chocolate and chocolate brownie whilst watching the local sailing club members race up and down the Solent.

As we continue, we pass signs telling us we are on Browndown military training area. There is no red flag flying so we continue our walk along this shingle beach which has some rather large piles of shingle presumably for their training?

Not realising the rules, we shelter from the wind at the side of one of these piles and enjoy our lunch while the dog digs a hole – I’m somewhat concerned she might unearth a hidden bomb!

We soon reach the outer edges of Lee on the Solent, and take our first break at the diving museum and peruse the rather unusual diving bells?

Lee on the Solent is a rather charming little seaside resort with a well-used promenade, more public toilets than anywhere else I’ve ever been, a splattering of coffee shops and the most amazing view over the really busy Solent to the Isle of Wight. Next stop the Osborn View pub.. I can count on one hand the number of pubs we’ve come across so far with direct access to the beach and this one doesn’t disappoint.