South Coast

We take the Weymouth train and disembark at Southampton Central for the bus to the car ferry and an island adventure...

We change trains at Southampton Central for Romsey (platform 4) for a wander around this historic market town...

We leave the Exeter train at Salisbury for a walk around this beautiful old city...

We take the Weymouth train and disembark at Brockenhurst where a hire bike awaits for a cycle around leafy lanes and open heath...

Want to see a bit more before we move on? Well grab yourself a virtual bike, or a very sturdy pair of imaginary boots, and lets go and explore the pretty little 'chocolate box' villages of the Test Valley.  All you need to do is click or tap Test Valley.

Before we leave Southampton there is time for a quick look around. The city was mainly rebuilt after it was all but flattened during the war, but there are pockets of old building to be found among the modern architecture.

For something a little more pleasing we can follow the river Itchen. Before it reaches Southampton it is little more than a stream, but it widens greatly through riverside park, and under Cobden bridge. And that is where you can spot these houseboats.

Head further down the river Itchen, and for a while there are few places where we can reach the water, but eventually we come to Ocean Village.  Thirty years ago it was a vibrant little marina with a two storey mall of quirky shops and cafes that spilled out for views of the marina. There were some desirable houses and flats to be found too. Development has been on turbo since then, so now the water and the original residences are all but crowded out by tower blocks. Its still an interesting place to paint though, and it was fun to try my hand at a skyscraper!

We meet back at Southampton Central station, where our next train takes us up to Winchester.  Its a little off our route, but worth it, as a short walk takes us to the great hall, where we can see King Arthur's round table hanging up (sadly not the actual original).  Down the hill we are pulled to the bustling city centre - one long street of shops dipping down and up in a big 'U', with a long thin strip of market stalls crammed in the shady space between.

At the bottom of the slope a spur has some vegetarian and vegan stalls looking colourful against the Autumn trees.  Did you spot the guy eating fish and chips?

Further along the 'U' we come to a little park, a prominent statue and an old mill. Turn right for a walk along the river and out to the water meadows at St Cross, or a muddy climb up St Catherines hill. But thats another picture I've yet to paint.

Sounds like too much walking?  Another option is to head to the bus station (opposite the distinctive guildhall), and catch a bus to some of the other interesting places nearby.  There are buses to Romsey, Southampton, Alresford (renowned for its watercress), and many more.

Not for you? Then its back up the hill to the railway station to continue our amble along the coast.

Back at the station we find a train back to Southampton and then another stopping service that trundles along the coast.  We reach Hamble and remember an old TV series that featured the place.  Its nothing like what we imagined, but there is a little cobbled street that heads down to the shore.  And a little promenade to enjoy the views.

There is also a little pink ferry to take us across the river to Warsash and a drink at 'The Rising sun'.

From Warsash there is a nice walk up the East bank of the river to some boatyards, and then regrettably a section of busy road before we re-board the train to Fareham, for a connection to Portsmouth.  The fit among us may have preferred to cycle to Gosport, for the ferry across Portsmouth harbour.  Either way we end up by the historic dockyard.  Walking South we pass through a modern shopping precinct with a tall pointy millenium folly, and eventually reach the more relaxing old town.  There is a cathedral (which turns out to be mainly quite new), and then a stop for a drink and maybe a meal at one of the old pubs in this part of town. Looking back towards the historic dockyard and HMS Warrior, we see very little of the modern world.

Next we come to the artists galleries in the arches.  Above on the wall we get a look back to where we've come from, which somehow sums up the city in one view.  And below there is a slither of beach that gets covered by the tide.  In this part of the coast there is a double high tide, so its in most of the time.

We walk the walls and next come to the very 1950s looking Clarence pier.  It has to be the shortest we have seen, for it doesn't even reach the sea.

From Hayling Island the only other direction we can go is by bus (or foot) across to the mainland. The walk is along an old railway know as Hayling Billy. Its pleasant, but tedious, so I'd take the bus if I were you.  At the station we catch the stopping train, jumping off at Bosham.  Its a fairly pretty place known for the muddy creeks that surround it and the road which is submerged at high tide, stranding many a motorist that foolishly parked there, oh and a distinctive old church too.  A footpath leads us out along the edge of a creek past a wild rose, nicely framing the view.  A little further and we are back at a train station and heading on to Chichester.