Our guestimate for the Hayling Island coastal walk was 16 miles so Steve came up with a plan to split it across two days as our first two days were essentially going to be afternoons only – Friday as we first had to make the journey down from Milton Keynes plus find our Airbnb accommodation and Saturday due to our beloved Parkrun being the first item on the list!! We’ve based ourselves in Havant with the intention of closing a 55 mile gap between Hayling Island in Hampshire and Bracklesham Bay in West Sussex. It’s a bit like finding those elusive edge parts in a jigsaw puzzle.

Friday 4th September 2026

The trusty No.30 bus took us from Havant Bus Station to Northney where we started our walk to the south of the Island. For this section there had been no evidence of an official coastal path on the ordnance survey maps but as it turned out there was indeed a path and it had exceptional signage for the whole of the route. A whole mixture of terrain, some estuary paths, country lanes, a bit of road here and there, all perfectly manageable.

The weather was mostly overcast but it was still warm, in fact pretty hot at times. Having eaten breakfast at 7.30am we were getting peckish by midday and desperately seeking out a bench to sit and have our sandwiches, 5 miles in and still no bench! Then we came upon a parked up flat bed truck which made for a perfectly comfortable picnic spot. The chicken & cranberry sandwiches hit the spot and, after nourishment, on we trooped.

We saw some wonderful houses en route and got a lovely feel for Hayling Island life with its sailing clubs and marinas. Quite a mixed demographic though I’d say as some parts felt somewhat less salubrious. At 8 miles we hadn’t reached our destination – it was a further two miles than we’d bargained for, oh joy. When we saw the shingle our hearts sunk – not again! But luck was on our side as there was a promenade – that bonus two miles could have been oh so worse.

Our destination for today was the Hayling Island Light Railway. On reaching it, we rewarded ourselves with 2 scoops of salted caramel ice-cream and a much needed sit down before catching the bus back to Havant … 10 miles in the bag.

We’re staying in a very comfortable airbnb (no house-sits available) but there are no cooking facilities – just a kettle and a toaster. This meant that rather than lounge around in our pyjamas we had to get dressed and go out to find sustenance. We happened upon a huge Wetherspoons called “The Parchment Makers” and, trying to stick to budget living we gave it a go. Successfully installed ourselves in a quiet corner and ate and drank at bargain prices. Even looked up the history – parchment making was once an important industry in Havant and parchment from here was used for the Treaty of Versailles. We had a little wander around the town on our way back, very pretty in parts. The sky was unbelievable – pink sky predicts a sunny day tomorrow – yippee!

Saturday 5th September 2026

Up with the lark and straight to Havant parkrun which was in Staunton Park, just a short bus ride away. Can recommend it as a run as it was very scenic but, being a gravel path it was not so comfortable underfoot, plus there were steep downhill slopes and matching uphills. Another one ticked off though.

We had a late breakfast back at our Airbnb to set us up for the day’s walk – hoped it would sustain us till dinner time and give us sufficient energy for our 8 mile walk. Packed some mini pork pies in my rucksack in case of emergency!

We got the same bus to the same bus stop as yesterday – today we walked to the right, walking the other side of Hayling Island. The coastal path signs were great again and it immediately took us on the “Billy Trail” – a disused railway line – pleasant paths with waterside views. As yesterday evening’s skies had predicted, today was blue skies and sunshine. Lots of conservation areas, oyster beds and plenty of birdlife. Being a Saturday we were accompanied by many walkers and numerous cyclists – lovely to see families out enjoying this wonderful weather and location.

After enjoying the luxury of the Billy Trail for some time, those pesky King Charles III Coastal Path signs veered us off in another direction, taking us on a much bigger loop. But all was not lost as we walked through some glorious residential areas, house envy alert!! Some magnificent residences – period, modern, coastal, country – all individual and just oozing style. This led us down to the beach where we had a lovely long stretch of shore walking, listening to the waves lapping and soaking up the seawater aroma. Some more stunning beach facing properties too.

The final mile felt like a slog but we had the “Islander” light railway train to entertain us. And then we were back to where we finished off yesterday …. 8 miles today. And we can confirm that the Hayling Island Coastal Path is 18 miles.

Finished off the day with fish and chips, lashings of tea, a blog …. and an early night!

Tomorrow’s another day …. of walking! x

Thursday 19th March 2026

Another absolutely stunning weather day – unbelievable for mid-March. Love a T-shirt walking day. Today we drove and parked up in the town of Hythe and caught a bus to Fawley. This village has a lot of bronze age and Roman history but its probably best known for the power station and refinery that dominate the landscape. And said refinery being positioned waterside meant that the Coastal Path took us inland with roadside and woodland walking.

Unusually, the path led us through a graveyard today, not long after we started – saw lots of robins hopping around. Good Coastal Path signage led us safely back to Hythe where we finally got to walk waterside – Southampton Water busy with ferries and cruise liners. This was 5 miles up to this point.

We sat and had our egg sandwiches overlooking the water with views of the high rise city of Southampton. We could see Netley Castle nestled by the shore, which we had walked past last week. It looks old and mysterious from a distance.

And this is where we parted ways – only for the next few hours, not permanently!! Steve walked on to Totton and I took the option of some retail therapy in the little Georgian high street – some great charity shops! I have to mention though that Hythe is known for its ferry service to Southampton – unfortunately it is closed due to “ongoing infrastructure and funding challenges.” And the ferry trip is in fact the official Coastal Path. Had this been running, it would have saved Steve walking the further 7 miles today and we could have avoided the Southampton section where I fell victim to uneven paving!!! That closed ferry has a lot to answer for!

And now from Steve …..

Some irony in the air this morning as the news welcomed us with “King opens world’s longest coastal path around England” which is remarkably true …. other than the gaps where it doesn’t exist, it’s closed because of erosion or diversion or even this last week where two advertised ferry services no longer operate!

Now let’s be honest there is an enormous amount of spectacular path that is open and of course it’s always going to be a moving target, which we have got used to now, having walked some 2000 miles of the advertised 2689 miles available over the last eight years (Covid happened in the midst).

The second part of today’s walk though will probably not live long in the memory.  A seven mile journey which included three miles of walking on busy roadsides with no pavements and another three miles of cycle track alongside aforementioned busy road.  However help was at hand as entering Elling at the end of the walk coming across a delightful harbour complete with toll bridge and toll collection office … £1 for a day pass over the toll bridge!

So that completes our latest walking adventures with another 100 miles ticked off and only small bits remaining.  Referencing my earlier comments these remaining parts are generally very difficult to either walk or access, even though the path is apparently complete, but we will persevere of course!!

And back to me …

We have walked most days since being here – I had one day off due to injury and we both had a day off for Mother’s Day and a day off for St. Patrick’s Day. Returning to MK on Saturday with some fabulous memories and some spectacularly weary legs. We’ve felt so at home in this house-sit and have loved the company of cuddly and playful Romeo and Julie, the gorgeous cats.

Till next time. x

Monday 16th March 2026

So with my almost ever present partner resting her knee after a fall, I chose to cover a large part of our remaining miles in the New Forest, twelve miles to be precise.

From Fawley, with it’s now disused power station around to Beaulieu with the rather famous car museum, sadly no time to visit! 

A dry day weather wise but a part of the coast where the official King Charles III England Coastal Path is pretty much non existent, which means creating a route from footpaths running as close as possible to the sea. The lack of coastal path is generally because the land owners refuse permission for us ‘commoners’ to access the land, locally here it’s mostly the New Forest.

So today’s route included a few forest trails along with probably half being along forest roads which gives great views of splendid houses and of course forest ponies, along with as you enter Beaulieu even donkeys on the roadside.  The recurring thought of today though concerns the lack of any sort of footpaths in an area where there must surely be a huge demand for walking but what do I know?  

Anyways with the end approaching of our New Forest / Southampton walking, we have some 25 miles left over the next couple of days including a ten miler with my old mate Brett from football,(he’s not actually as old as me, although watching Wycombe Wanderers for nearly forty years has not helped!).  We also have the luxury of (Mrs Brett) Mel dropping us at the start of the aforementioned ten miles and collecting us from the end of the walk .. oh what joy indeed!!

Thursday 12th March 2026

We set off with high hopes today, a stroll around the Solent – lovely part of the country. We drove and parked up in Locks Heath and took a bus to Woolston, starting our walk in the Quayside area. There are numerous smart high-rise apartment blocks along the quay – we wiggled our way around these and picked up the coastal path to take us out of this Southampton suburb.

What we hadn’t banked on was the ferocious winds from the offset and we found ourselves battling them head on! We soldiered on though and faced a whole selection of terrain today. Some easygoing paths but sadly a whole lot of shingle walking and also a whole lot of thick gooey mud too! But the views were fabulous and we found ourselves more sheltered from the winds at times.

We had a bit of a surprise when stumbling across Netley Castle, looming mysteriously at the back of the beach – not something you often see at the seaside. Apparently it’s a former artillery fort built by King Henry VIII, now converted into nine residential apartments. Very grand.

The village of Netley was charming too and the path then took us through Royal Victoria Country Park, which made for easy paths. This was the first of a number of really picturesque (and I’d say monied) villages we passed through today … and each time I felt so self-conscious with our mud soaked boots – they probably thought we were tramps.

At 6 miles we reached the village of Hamble-le-Rice, another chocolate box setting and a big sailing area. Now, this is where the coastal path guide tells you to take the (pink) ferry across the Solent to Warsash. But … Steve had already found out that the ferry is not running at this time of year. So, we sat and refreshed ourselves with sandwiches, fruit and hot chocolate, then put best foot forward to navigate the non-signposted further 6 miles to get us back to Warsash, via a bridge at Bursledon.

I have to give credit to Steve for working out the route to get us back to Warsash. We had some uphill getting us out of Hamble-le-Rice and then we had another whole load of house envy as we walked through the village of Bursledon … and of course the inevitable sailing and cruising clubs. We just tried to look as inconspicuous as we could … felt we were lowering the tone of the place.

There was quite a bit of road walking in this section, country roads with no pavements … but they weren’t too horrendously busy so we survived, having to duck into the hedges from time to time. Once we’d crossed the bridge at Bursledon, skirting the edges of Swanwick with great Solent views once again, the weather unfortunately took a downward turn. Not only did the wind return at absolutely full force, face on, but it was accompanied by freezing rain. So, what could have been a pleasant end to today’s walk, through the ‘Hook with Warsash Nature Reserve’ turned out to be two miles of absolute hell. Our spirits dipped because there was nothing to do but just endure it. We missed out on a whole load of scenic beauty + an abundance of house envy opportunities, because we literally had to walk with hoods up and faces down to survive the battering weather. So relieved when we reached Warsash and made our way to the bus stop.

12 miles of walking clocked up today – now I’m recovered I can say it’s a walk worth doing – just check the weather report first! I did say to Steve at one point today that maybe we should find a different hobby! But, I’ll guess we’ll be back for more!