Recreation on Hampshire's coast

The Solent is undoubtedly the premier sailing area in the UK, and arguably in western Europe. More than 25,000 yachts are moored around the Solent, about 80% of them on the Hampshire coast, and approximately 40% of the moorings are in marinas.

Hampshire’s yachting mecca is the Hamble estuary which has up to 3,500 boats moored; other important sailing centres include Lymington, Portsmouth Harbour and Ocean Village (Southampton). In addition, many more boats find access to Solent waters via the numerous public launch points and sailing clubs. Several locations on the Hampshire coast are popular for windsurfing and some areas such as Hayling are among the most popular in the country.

There are several outdoor activity centres and sailing schools on the Hampshire coast that provide training for water sports. The most important centre is at Calshot, owned and managed by the County Council, providing outdoor education, field studies and recreational courses to over 17,000 young people and adults every year. Calshot also has a host of land based activities including dry slopes, velodrome and the South’s largest climbing wall, all housed in the ex RAF flying boat hangars.

The Hampshire coast is also important for walking, picnicking and bird watching. The main facilities are the County Council’s country parks at Lepe, Netley (Royal Victoria) and Upper Hamble (Manor Farm) and the extensive rights of way network managed by the County Council, which includes the Solent Way, a coastal path more than 60 miles long that runs from Milford-on-Sea to Emsworth.

Visitors to the three country parks alone total more than one million each year. Although the Hampshire coast is not noted for its beaches, there are popular beaches at Lepe, South Hayling and on the Christchurch Bay coastline.

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