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 Read more…

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 Read more…

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. Read more…

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 Read more…

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.     Read more…

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

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 Read more…

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 Read more…

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 Read more…