A walk around Portchester Castle will take you through the pretty pastel homes of the village, the along the coast and around the historic ruins.
I think I’m a bit obsessed with walks by the water, this is another that takes in Hampshire’s gorgeous coastline!
It’s a fairly short loop but can be extended, take a look…
Portchester Castle
Church Road, Portchester, Hampshire, PO16 9QW
The short loop takes between 40 mins and an hour and is perfect for an afternoon stroll, after work bimble or long overdue catch up with a pal.
The walk around Portchester Castle is pretty flat and a mix of paths, gravel and trails this walk is a great all rounder, not particularly taxing and never leaves you too far from the car park.
And, while this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, you can easily extend it by following the coastal path and weaving the route around the castle into a wider, longer walk. Or, even better, walk and visit the castle and make a day of it!
Two car parks are available on site but on busy days, especially weekends you’ll struggle to park. It’s a popular local tourist spot as Portchester Castle is an English Heritage site.
My top tip is to go earlier or later and avoid peak season days to go on this walk.
Walk the route
The brilliant thing about this loop is it’s so simple and doesn’t need a map!
Start the walk around Portchester Castle by heading out of the car park, past the pretty pastel homes on castle lane. Follow this until you come to a turning called Cow Lane on your right, which takes you down through a field and along the sea front and back to the castle.
Walk on past the castle to your right and keep going for a while before you finally come to a turning on your right away from the sea. This road is short and brings you back into the village by the tree and the pastel houses you started at. You really can’t go that wrong!
If you’re walking in the spring, look out for copious amounts of blossom, it’s plentiful along the start of the route.
This route follows the water, so you’ll also get a good dose of sea air as you follow it for most of this walk.
Facilities
- No toilets (that I’m aware of, there might be facilities if the castle is open, not sure about access though).
- Free parking at the two car parks.
- If the castle is open it has a coffee cart!
- Parts of the walk are inaccessible if you have additional mobility requirements but the track around the castle can be seen below and would accommodate rugged mobility wheelchairs and buggy’s for children that are designed for more off-road adventures.
Walking in Portchester
A walk around Portchester Castle is a brilliant place to spot some sunsets with killer colours. While I didn’t manage to catch a sunset on this particular visit, I’ve been before and seen the most spectacular sunsets across the water.
Visit the Fareham Council Website.
If you liked this, take a look at these other great places to visit in Hampshire…
