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Hampshire's coastline stretches over 100 miles and surprises at every turn. Yes, there are beaches, but there's also world-class watersports and sailing, delicious seafood, wild swimming spots, coastal fishing and some of the best maritime attractions in England. Whether you're after an action-packed day on the water or a long lunch by the sea, here's why Hampshire's coast has the most.
Beaches on the Hampshire Coast
Hampshire's beaches range from wild and windswept to blue-flag family favourites, with something for every kind of coastal visitor.
Hayling Island is Hampshire's beach headline act. Its five-mile south-facing shore holds a coveted European Blue Flag award for cleanliness and water quality, and has been recommended by the Marine Conservation Society's Good Beach Guide. Split between West Beachlands and the busier Beachlands area, it's ideal for families, paddlers and swimmers alike. Dogs are welcome on designated sections too.
Lepe Country Park on the New Forest National Park coast offers a wilder, more atmospheric stretch of shore, backed by pine-fringed cliffs and wildflower meadows. The D-Day remains along this shore give it a remarkable sense of history, and the views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight are hard to beat.
Milford on Sea is a quieter gem, with its colourful beach huts, shingle shore and views towards Hurst Castle.
Southsea gives Portsmouth's coast a proper seaside feel, with a long esplanade, Southsea Castle and a vibrant seafront energy.
And for something more tucked away, the small beach at Hamble Foreshore and the strip of shore at Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley are lovely finds for families wanting something a little different from a traditional beach day.
Watersports on the Hampshire Coast
The Solent is one of the world's great sailing waters, and Hampshire's coast is set up beautifully for every kind of watersport.
Sailing is woven into the fabric of the county. The River Hamble, with its annual regatta, is one of the country's leading yachting centres, and the Solent hosts some of sailing's most celebrated events including the Round the Island Race, Cowes Week and the Southampton International Boat Show. Visiting boats are welcome in marinas from quiet Keyhaven and Emsworth to the lively harbours at Lymington and Port Solent.
Kitesurfing and windsurfing thrive here too. Hayling Island is the birthplace of windsurfing and home to CBK Kitesurf School, the longest-running kitesurf centre in the UK. Calshot on the edge of the New Forest is another brilliant hub, with Nomadic Kitesurf School offering courses for beginners and the Activity Centre running sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and powerboating sessions for all ages and abilities.
Stand-up paddleboarding has found a natural home on Hampshire's varied waterways. Stokes Bay near Portsmouth offers paddlers incredible views of the Solent and the Isle of Wight, while Calshot's sheltered lagoon is ideal for those starting out. More adventurous paddlers can explore the Beaulieu River or Southampton Water at their own pace.
Wing foiling, the exciting fusion of kitesurfing and windsurfing, is also taking off in Hampshire, with courses available in Hamble and Fareham. And for those who prefer their thrills closer to the surface, there are designated wakeboarding and water-skiing areas in the Solent, with the New Forest Water Park near Fordingbridge and the South Coast Wakepark in Portsmouth offering dedicated facilities.
Find out more about watersports in Hampshire
Fishing on the Hampshire Coast
Hampshire's coast offers some of the most varied saltwater fishing in the south of England. Depending on the season and location, you might find black bream, bass, plaice, sole, mackerel, mullet and pollock, with the triple estuary of Southampton Water, where the Rivers Test, Itchen and Hamble converge, offering a particularly rich fishing environment.
Sea fishing from the pier and harbour at Portsmouth is a popular option, and Hayling Island and Lymington both offer excellent spots for pier and harbour fishing. Charter boats operate from several ports along the Hampshire coast for those wanting to head further out.
For families, crabbing at Lymington and Hamble is a simple, joyful coastal experience that never gets old. Pack a line, a bucket and some bait, head to the quayside and let the children take over.
Find out more about fishing in Hampshire
Swimming on the Hampshire Coast
Wild and open water swimming has grown enormously in popularity along the Hampshire coast, and the county has some brilliant options for dipping in.
Milford on Sea is a favourite for sea swimming, with the beach huts as a backdrop and views across to the Isle of Wight. On Hayling Island, the west side of the island has a buoyed swimming area in front of the Inn on the Beach, popular with regular swimmers year-round.
For those who prefer a little more structure, Lymington Seawater Baths offer a fully lifeguarded saltwater pool with lap swimming and family swim sessions bookable by the two-hour slot.
As always with wild swimming, check conditions before you go, know your limits and follow RNLI safety guidance.
Find out more about wild swimming in Hampshire
Coastal Attractions in Hampshire
Hampshire's coastline is lined with history, and some of England's most extraordinary coastal attractions sit right on the shore.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is world-class by any measure, home to HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the The Mary Rose, three centuries of naval power in one extraordinary waterfront location. Visit Gunwharf Quays for discounted designer shopping on coast or head up the Spinnaker Tower for views right along Hampshire’s coastline and The Solent. Nearby, the Hovercraft Museum at Lee-on-Solent is the world's only hovercraft museum, a genuinely unique and fascinating stop. Southsea Castle, sitting directly on the seafront, offers history and sea views in equal measure.
At Mayflower Park in Southampton, one of the simplest pleasures on the Hampshire coast awaits. Cruise liner departures happen most afternoons, and the sight of a 150,000-ton vessel passing just metres away is a quintessentially Southampton experience.
Further along the coast, Royal Victoria Country Park at Netley stands on the banks of Southampton Water, its military hospital chapel visible through the trees. A miniature steam railway, a small beach and sweeping Solent views make it a wonderful and slightly unexpected coastal day out.
Hurst Castle, accessible by a long shingle spit near Milford on Sea or by ferry from Keyhaven, has dramatic views across the Solent's narrowest point and a history stretching back to Henry VIII.
For wildlife on the coast, Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve is a beautiful coastal reserve offering tranquillity for birdwatchers and walkers, while the D-Day remains of mulberry harbours at Lepe and Hayling Island offer a sobering and moving reminder of Hampshire's role in one of history's most significant moments.
Find out more about Hampshire's coastal attractions
Seafood on the Hampshire Coast
When you think seafood you may not think Hampshire but Hampshire’s coastal towns deliver some of the finest fish dining experiences.
Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant in Milford on Sea is an innovative, award-winning fish restaurant with an in-house specialist fishmonger, named in the Times Top 100 restaurants list and praised for its creative, seasonal approach to the freshest catches. It's the kind of place that makes a trip to the New Forest coast feel very well spent.
Lymington Seafood Festival brings the very best of the Solent's catch together each July. The festival features over 100 different seafood dishes, a chef's stage, a cookery school and open fire cooking with some of the region's finest chefs.
Emsworth is a foodie destination in its own right, with a strong heritage of oyster fishing and a handful of excellent independent restaurants clustered around its pretty harbour.
Find places to eat seafood in Hampshire
Hampshire's coast genuinely has the most. Come and find your piece of it.
Find out more about the Hampshire coastline
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