28. Sandbanks to Swanage

9 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . Enjoy an extremely varied and delicious breakfast at the Haven hotel whilst admiring the most amazing view of Old Harry Rocks in the distance. The view comes and goes as large ferries drift pass the window and a morning sea mist washes over. We can hear the clanging of the chains of the Sandbanks to Studland chain ferry chugging its way over from one spit of land to another. The ferry port is a mere couple of steps away from the hotel lobby so we are soon paying the ferryman our £1 fare and snapping a photo of the [...]

By |2023-09-05T11:05:48+00:00February 17, 2018|Dorset|0 Comments

27. Southbourne to Sandbanks

7 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . After a relaxing train journey from Tunbridge Wells, all by myself, I meet my sister. From Bournemouth station we grab a taxi to Boscombe Pier and wander eastward to find where we left off a few weeks ago. It’s a scorching hot sunny day - hard to believe it is only mid February! My sunglasses are on with my hat and scarf surplus to requirements - for today at least.. We set off with the white cliffs of the needles and the red cliffs of Hengistbury Head behind us and the never ending promenade of Bournemouth ahead! The unseasonal [...]

By |2023-09-05T11:06:22+00:00February 16, 2018|Dorset|0 Comments

26. Highcliffe to Southbourne

5 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . We are up early, my new rucksack already packed, and soon heading off in our new convertible black MX5 to meet Jen and Dean in Highcliffe. It’s a two and a half hour journey but we see very little traffic.. Park up and enjoy the stunning views and amazing apple strudel in the Cliffhanger café. The view looking back across the sandy beach towards Barton on Sea reminds us of where we walked last summer – where has the last five months gone? Nigel and Dean deposit a car in Southbourne then we start our walk along the cliff [...]

By |2023-09-05T15:19:02+00:00January 13, 2018|Dorset|0 Comments

25. Keyhaven to Highcliffe

6 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . I'm awake early and up before everyone else, showered and hungry - enjoy a yogurt and some fruit before packing away our bedding and collapsing the tents. The others want a cooked breakfast, then we discuss logistics before driving the two cars to Keyhaven and Highcliffe – I somehow get myself a rest on the beach, eating chocolate biscuits, chatting and reading my book. Then we set off to continue the walk. The Isle of Wight is now behind us as we head towards Milford on Sea and Barton. At first the Solent Path has the shingle beach to [...]

By |2023-09-05T15:21:01+00:00August 20, 2017|Hampshire|0 Comments

24. Hurst View Campsite to Keyhaven

5.5 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . Wake up early having not slept too well in the tent but I am so excited to be going to play crazy golf!! Enjoy a few grapes and a peppermint tea for breakfast then head over to Lymington Adventure Golf. We are first in the queue! We have an hour or so of fun and frustration hitting a little yellow ball around the Astro turf trying hard not to hit into the water and rocks. The highlight is the little wooden ferry that actually moves over the water – awesome. Sadly, the final result doesn't reflect my recent practice [...]

By |2023-09-05T15:21:31+00:00August 19, 2017|Hampshire|0 Comments

23. Bucklers Hard to Hurst View Campsite

13 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . We meander our way from home through the New Forest to Hurst View Campsite at Lymington.  Sadly, it starts to rain and blow a gale as we are putting up the tent and the inevitable happens, a pole breaks - I'm really upset as was really looking forward to this moment. Manage to just about mend it with the help of some blue tape borrowed from the campsite reception, enjoy lunch in the tent then call a cab to take us to Bucklers Hard. We follow the footpath down to the quaint row of houses leading to the water. [...]

By |2023-09-05T15:21:55+00:00August 18, 2017|Hampshire|0 Comments

22. Calshot Castle to Lower Exbury

4 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . It's a quick drive down to the coast at Calshot Castle with views of the Fawley Power Station towers to my left. Finally, I can see the sea peeping through the beach huts and park up in an empty car park, pay the fee and walk through the huts to the beach. Straight ahead I can see land - the Isle of Wight is super close from this spot! Feels almost like you could skim a stone across! I turn left and wander down the road towards the Calshot activity centre and the start of my walk.  Today I [...]

By |2023-09-05T15:25:55+00:00June 5, 2017|Hampshire|0 Comments

21. Gosport to Warsash

12 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . 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. [...]

By |2023-09-05T15:26:28+00:00May 14, 2017|Hampshire|0 Comments

20. Portsmouth

6.5 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . Wake up in our hotel in Portsmouth.. the room with a view turns out to be looking at the shopping centre with the Spinnaker Tower poking over the top! Shower, pack bags which we stow in the car and head for breakfast.. feels like we are in the kitchen!  I have a baby croissant and a banana and a cup of tea. The receptionist calls us a taxi, he's a very chatty man as he drives us to the Hayling Island ferry. He tells us about the restaurants and pier that have closed down and the intriguing military compound [...]

By |2023-09-05T15:27:03+00:00April 1, 2017|Hampshire|0 Comments

19. Hayling Island

4.5 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . Wake up feeling rather jaded from yesterday's walk, enjoy breakfast then pack up and drive be round Chichester harbour toward Hayling Island. Head as far East as we can and park up at Creek Road car park, where parking fees appear to have been abandoned for the winter months and sadly the wooly hat is back on for today's coastal stroll. Wander along the pathway to find the farthest eastern corner of the island before setting the garmin and starting our stroll. A small nature reserves at the eastern tip abruptly ends with a row of rather stark houses. [...]

By |2023-09-05T15:30:21+00:00February 19, 2016|Hampshire|0 Comments
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