Discover Southampton

Nab Tower Lighthouse is responsible for guiding ships of all sizes and nationalities into the deep water channel for Portsmouth and Southampton. The story of its strange origin goes back half a century. In the early part of 1918 attacks by German U-boats on our merchant fleet caused the Admiralty so much anxiety that it was decided to take strong if unorthodox, counter measures and a startling plan was drawn up by “backroom” scientists. This was to sink a line of eight fort like towers (each costing £1 million) across the straits and to link them with steel boom nets, with the idea of closing the English Channel to enemy ships. About 3,000 civilian workmen were brought to a quiet backwater at Shoreham and work began almost at once on two of these towers – each 40 feet in diameter with latticed steelwork surrounding the 90-foot cylindrical steel tower and built on a hollow 80-foot thick concrete base designed to be flooded and sunk in about 20 fathoms. The vast honeycombed concrete base was shaped with pointed bows and stern for easy towing.One tower was completed when the war finished in November, and the other half finished giant was broken up for scrap. After much thought it was decided to use the solitary “white elephant” to replace the old Nab Light Vessel by sinking it at the eastern end of the Spithead approaches, also serving as an invaluable naval defence post, if required.

Calshot Castle built between 1539 and 1540 was one of the Henry VIII artillery forts, built to defend the coast and in the case of Calshot the sea passage to Southampton. The castle located at the end of Calshot Spit had a keep at its centre, surrounded by a curtain wall and a moat. More recently this was used as a Navy and RAF base and in particular a seaplane base but as seaplanes became obsolete, it was finally closed in 1961.

Hythe Pier stretches 700 yards (640 m) from the centre of Hythe to the deep water channel of Southampton Water. It is approximately 16 feet (4.9 m) wide, and carries a pedestrian walkway and cycleway on its northern side, and the track of the Hythe Pier Railway on its southern side. Designed by J Wright, construction of Hythe Pier commenced in 1878 and completed in 1881. Hythe Pier, the Hythe Pier Railway and the Hythe Ferry together provide a transport link between Southampton and Hythe on the opposite side of Southampton Water. This link is heavily used by commuters and shoppers from Hythe, as well as forming an important link in the Solent Way and E9 European coastal paths. Each train on the Pier Railway connects at the pier head with an arrival and departure of the Hythe Ferry. The ferry service carries both passengers and bicycles, and takes about 10 minutes for the crossing.

Lepe beach is found in the Lepe Country Park on the shores of the Solent and part of the hamlet of Lepe which is itself part of the New Forest of Hampshire. The beach is popular for swimming, fishing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. Windsurfers and kitesurfers have the lawn beside the cafe for rigging up, with a car park crossing point. When in the water beware, there can be strong tides. Here we have a mile of beach backed by pine-fringed cliffs, historic D-Day remains and wild flower meadows. From the cliffs above the beach you can see right across the western Solent. The beach is sand and shingle with good facilities and for those interested in fossils will find the interglacial deposit with elephant remains fascinating as well as the variety of rocks brought in for sea defences from ship wrecks like limestone, Purbeck Stone (one including a dinosaur footprint) and carboniferous limestone. Facilities include parking, toilets, lifeguard, restaurant, cafe and shop.

Solent Breezes Beach lies to the east of the Solent and has terrific views right across to Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The beach is accessible from the Solent Breezes Holiday Park so that the visitors there enjoy a more private beach experience. It is a shingle beach backed by a low cliff line with basic facilities such as boat mooring and slipway and a good coastal path giving you good views over to Calshot and the Isle of Wight. There is no lifeguard here but some facilities in the holiday park.

The Giddy Bridge is a Wetherspoon pub in Southampton, Hampshire. Our pub offers a range of real ales, craft beers and freshly ground Lavazza coffee. Breakfast is served until noon, with our full food menu available until 11 pm.    

Calshot lifeboat station operates both an inshore and an all-weather lifeboat, covering the middle section of the Solent. Visit by appointment only.

Calshot beach is part of a shingle spit at the west corner of Southampton Water where it joins the Solent, the beach offers panoramic views of the Solent, Isle of Wight and Southampton. This location has always been strategic and is the site of one of Henry VIII defensive forts, Calshot Castle (1539), built to defend the south coast from the French and Spanish. The spit also has an extensive salt marsh which is of important wildlife interest. Popular windsurfer and kitesurfer location where beginners can take advantage of the lagoon. Facilities include car park, toilets with disabled facilities, cafes and Calshot Activities Centre. The Calshot Activities Centre is located in the old Calshot Naval Air Station (later known as RNAS Calshot and RAF Calshot) and offers a range of activities with accommodation, activities include windsurfing, SUP, kitesurfing, sailing, snowboarding/skiing and climbing.

Western Hard Beach is not the most attractive beach but it is great for boating and sailing, although the beach is backed by a grassy and tree lined area. Southampton Town Centre and Ocean Village are right next to the beach which is mostly shingle. You only have parking and a slipway, no facilities by the beach but the town is within walking distance.