Gosport Shore - Portsmouth Harbour

LINK TO GOOGLE MAPS

The Gosport shoreline, stretching from the Portsmouth Harbour entrance to Fareham in the north, has a long military history, in fact the coast line north of Hardway is still mostly in the hands of the MOD. From Hardway southwards, the coast is quite developed, home to several marinas, sailing clubs and the Gosport Ferry terminal. The entrance to Haslar Marina also offers access to several drying creeks, all with a former military presence - fast patrol boats used to moor here for example.

Grid Ref SU 622 004 GB

Access / Put-ins:

Limited low water access. Best put-in is at Hardway, a concrete block hard with patch of shingle next to it. At lower states of the tide, access is still possible from the public pontoon here. There are other access points from the road in Gosport Creek, about an hour and a half either side of HW. Anywhere the road passes near the coast would do, but I would only recommend Park Road slip way (bottom left corner of map, opposite cemy). There is limited free parking at both launch sites.

Features:
The Gosport side of Portsmouth Harbour is often less well known than the Portsmouth side. It has a strong leisure and commercial identity and much history, complimenting Portsmouth. It is more viable for paddling as the size and volume of traffic is less than that on the Portsmouth side.

Nature:
Once north of the industrial areas and marinas, the shallow reed beds are home to lots of wild fowl.

History:

Lots to look at along the Gosport shoreline. In the south at Haslar Creek, is HMS Alliance, the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. At the entrance to Haslar Marina is a former light ship, now painted green and used as a restaurant. Glances across the water to Portsmouth offer the Historic Dockyard and The Warrior iron clad battle ship. Continuing north, past the marinas at Hardway, this was a departure point for the D-Day landings.

Waterside Pubs:

Jolly Roger: Overlooking Hardway, this pub is accessible but the foreshore is not ideal for landing on, being soft mud in the intertidal zone and a sea wall at high tide. It would be possible given some luck. Probably best used for an after paddle drink .

Hazards:

Several wrecked boats along the shoreline north of the marinas. Watch out for the swell around the harbour entrance, Gosport Ferry terminal and marinas. High speed motor boats have little regard for paddlers and the confused seas can reach four feet or more.