Coastwalk

Gosport → Portsmouth

Distance: 18.2 miles
Ascent: 46 metres
Duration: 5 hours 10 minutes

Under development
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Searching once again for a coastwalk near home I found another harbour which I'd previously crossed by ferry. Plymouth, Southampton, Portsmouth... I got mixed up last night when Emma asked me where I would be walking, and to be honest today's hike around Portsmouth Harbour could easily have been either of the other two.

These south coast harbours are all very similar: cross-channel ferries, marinas with posh apartment blocks, naval bases with less salubrious accommodation, dual carriageways, industrial estates and golf courses. All were in order today.

Glancing towards the town there was no mistaking where I was though: the Spinnaker Tower is unique in the UK, its graceful profile looking as if it should be in Dubai rather than on the Hampshire coast.

The much older building of Portchester Castle was a hugely impressive place to have lunch. This mammoth fort dominates the central part of the walk from the northernmost end of the harbour.

Portsmouth itself is clearly working hard on regeneration, though I found it sad that in the barely within diving distance of the brand new Mountbatten Leisure Centre, Hilsea Lido lies fenced off and abandoned. Still there's much to see in the town itself and I'm certain I'll be back for a day-trip soon.

Note for future walkers: the bridge across Forton Lake just north of Gosport is open to the public; follow the chain-marked bricks in the path from the ferry.