Local Area Information

This charming island boasts the birthplace of windsurfing and offers a variety of exciting water activities, including sailing, kayaking, and paddle boarding.

The seaside shore stretches for five miles, offering activities such as swimming, picnicking, and barbeques. The location provides wheelchair accessibility for all to enjoy.

Hayling Light Railway runs every weekend and Wednesday throughout the year, plus daily during all school holidays, weather permitting. Trains continue to run every 45 minutes during the summer months.

There is a footpath and cycle trail that goes all the way along the seafront, from Eastoke Corner to Beachlands. You can stop for refreshments at the Inn on the beach, or head north to connect to the southern end of the Hayling Billy Trail.

The Island is rich in military history and visitors can discover a fascinating World War II Heritage Trail, which takes in many significant historical landmarks. Learn about the history of Mulberry Harbour and its Pillboxes. Take a walk to the old railway and visit the Combined Operational Pilotage Parties memorial on the seafront. Lord Mountbatten set up the top-secret COPP depot in 1943 on Hayling Island. Small teams of sailors and soldiers trained as frogmen, and canoeists for covert beach reconnaissance, and other essential clandestine operations during WWII. Their work was vital to the success of many landings across the world, in particular the D-Day landings. In July 2015, His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, visited the memorial to meet veterans and attend a service.

Discover the tranquil beauty of the island, with its unspoiled coastline and countryside waiting to be explored on foot or bike. Take a moment to unwind and find serenity in this peaceful haven.

Just a few hundred yards from our front door, My Lords Pond and the coastal path, all you can hear are birds on the water and the wind chimes of the halyards in the nearby boatyard.

Views across Chichester Harbour, towards Emsworth, the Southdowns and Thorney Island.

Langstone Harbour and Chichester Harbour are special places. They are designated as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Chichester Harbour is also recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The area is home to a diverse range of habitats, including marine, intertidal, and coastal environments, as well as farmland, hedgerows, and woodland. This beautiful natural landscape is an invaluable resource for both local and international nature conservation efforts.

Chichester Harbour’s significance extends beyond its local environment, as it has earned recognition as a crucial wetland on a global scale. They granted this prestigious designation under the Ramsar Convention of 1971, which acknowledges the importance of this area in providing a habitat for over 20,000 wildfowl and waders during the winter.

The Solent and Chichester Harbour are home to a unique group of seals, known as Harbour seals or Common Seals. These seals are of great significance to the region as they are the only known rookery in the Eastern English Channel. The occasional sightings of Atlantic Grey seals add to the charm of this exceptional location.

Chichester Harbour provides an ideal environment for its inhabitants, allowing them to thrive. Abundant fish and crustaceans provide sustenance, while the mud and sand offer ample places to rest. The seals that call this area home come in a variety of colours and possess unique markings. These fascinating creatures can often be spotted throughout the Harbour, sometimes even taking a nap on the swimming platforms of moored boats or swimming into marinas.

Walk or cycle on the Hayling Billy Trail, a coastal path which runs most of the length of Hayling, along the route of the old train line between Havant and Hayling Island. The 4-mile path hugs the western coast of the island, offering a peaceful alternative route between West Town at the southern end and Langstone Bridge at the northern end. The path itself has two tracks, offering different surfaces for horse riders on one side and pedestrians and cyclists on the other.

Keep an eye on the sky, as well as lots of planes doing acrobatics, helicopters, light aircraft and microlights. We often hear the low rumble of a spitfire on its way to or from Goodwood Airfield.

At Sinah, on the island's western side, ringed-necked plovers nest near the sand dunes. At low tide, you can walk onto Winner Sand Bar but watch the tides.

This is the closest point to Portsmouth and is accessible by a passenger ferry—bus links are available into the city.

The station theatre stands in West Town at the bottom of the Billy Nature Trail. They converted it from a disused goods shed left derelict when the railway was dismantled in the 1960s.

From here you can walk the old Hayling Billy railway path from West Town to the tip of the Island at Northany.

The island is on the edge of the South Downs National Park, while Chichester with its beautiful cathedral, theatres, shopping, leisure centre, Roman Villa, Goodwood or Fontwell races and the Witterings are nearby to the east.

To the west, visit Portsmouth’s Gunwharf, with its waterside dining, designer outlets and leisure facilities: the Spinnaker Tower, Historic Dockyard including HMS Victory, The Warrior and the Mary Rose.

Ferry trips to the Isle of Wight, or the maritime history at Southampton. Winchester, with its cathedral, Great Hall, Abbey, and military museums. You can easily drive to the New Forest and also discover plenty of National Trust homes and gardens nearby.

The island’s proximity to Portsmouth, Chichester and Emsworth makes it an ideal base for touring.