12 – Bedhampton to Hilsea

Description

The Hills to Harbour Trail is a series of self-guided walking routes that link the stations along the railway line between Guildford and Portsmouth. You can walk between any pair of stations.

Walk 12 is 6 miles long and takes you from Bedhampton to Hilsea railway station.

Explore life at the edge of the water at the Farlington Marshes Nature Reserve and then continue through the historic northern defences of Portsmouth, Hilsea Lines.

There are no refreshnment opportunites along this route so take the drinks and snacks that you need with you.

Start and End

Bedhampton/Hilsea

Distance

6 miles

Time

3 hours

Grade

4/10 - Mostly flat. Steep steps near the end but alternative route described.

Accessibility

Not push/wheelchair accessible

Route Map
Download GPX File

Upload the GPX file to your walking app

Walk Instructions

  1. Exit the station onto West Street (unsigned) and turn left. Almost immediately West Street becomes Bedhampton Road.
  2. Cross Brunswick Gardens and continue along Bedhampton Road for about 200 yards to the light-controlled crossing. Just beyond the crossing, turn left into King’s Croft Lane crossing to the pavement on the other side.
  3. Follow the path into the park. The path turns right then left.
    (There are toilets and seats in the park.)
    The path emerges on Bidbury Lane (un-signed). Turn right here.
  4. In about 30 yards, turn left along Mill Lane opposite the church.
  5. Cross the railway and then continue forward when the road becomes a track.
  6. Cross the motorway via the footbridge and follow the path by the creek.
    (There is a seat beside the path just beyond the motorway and several more at various points up to the next one marked on the map.)
  7. The path passes under a road bridge where it is joined by the Solent Way (which you will be following up to point 16.)
  8. At the slipway, keep forward along the path by the shore.
  9. The path turns into the car park and exits ahead and slightly to the right.
  10. Bear left onto the surfaced path.
    (It is shared with people on bikes so be aware of cycles approaching from behind.)
  11. The shoreline turns to the left and there is a choice to turn left and continue along the Solent Way around Farlington Marshes or to follow the surfaced path ahead beside the motorway. The route beside the motorway is about one and a half miles shorter but noisy! There are several other alternative paths marked on the map.
  12. If you follow the path around Farlington Marshes, it continues along the shoreline for about two and a quarter miles. At the end, pass through the five-bar gate and turn left. Continue to the carpark and turn left. (The short route joins from the right.) Follow the access road with the shore on your left and the busy dual carriageway on your right,
  13. Cut up the path on the right to the road crossing.
    The traffic engineers have dreamed up an astonishingly complicated route for pedestrians to cross. Start by crossing (twice) to the centre of the roundabout and turn left.
  14. Follow the path next to the busy roundabout and take first left to cross to a reservation. Then bear right to cross the road again.
  15. Turn left across the bridge.
  16. Once over the bridge, ignore the first, narrow path to your right. Continue to the roadside barrier and turn right, away from the road, and then immediately turn right again along a gravel path.
  17. Follow the waterside path to a gate. Go through the gate and turn immediately left.
    (There is a picnic bench close by.)
  18. Continue forward for about 50 yards to a triangle of paths.
    (You will see a fence and a metal gate to your left. There are steep steps on the main route. If you prefer to avoid these, turn left through the gate and follow the tarmacked path and estate road to the main road. Then turn right along the main road to Hilsea Station. The route is marked with a dotted line on the map.)
    To continue on the main route, bear right.
  19. Almost immediately, bear left at the fork onto the more minor path.
  20. Continue forward keeping the open water to your right. Look out for a flight of steps to your left. Climb these to the top of the ramparts.
    (The steps are quite steep and there is no handrail. If this is difficult for you, there is an alternative route described from point 18.)
  21. At the top of the ramparts, turn left between the two badly graffitied signboards.
  22. Cross the top of the ramparts and descend on the other side.
    (There are further steps without a handrail.)
  23. At the bottom of the steps, turn right along the service road.
    (The WW1 Remembrance Centre is to your right.)
  24. Follow the service road round to the left to a T-junction. Turn right and immediately left along the footpath.
  25. 25 At the end of the footpath, turn left.
  26. 26 Go under the road bridge and the entrance to Hilsea Station is on your right.

Safe Walking

Walking is a sociable activity so travel with someone else if you can. It’s also best for safety. Follow the usual walking guidelines about clothing, footwear, drinks, food, and first aid kit. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back

Refreshments

Many stations have opportunities nearby for refreshments when you arrive. The towns have cafes and pubs, and there are some along the route as well. They may have more restricted opening than those in London, particularly for serving food, so check websites for opening times when planning.

Reporting footpath issues

The Hills to Harbour Trail crosses three counties, all of which have good, on-line facilities for reporting rights of way issues. If you find something that needs fixing, please report it on the appropriate webpage.

Search for “report rights of way” followed by the county name.