GPS Cycle and Walking Routescycle iconwalk icon

Portsdown Hill

1.55 miles (2.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This walk visits Portsdown Hill in the city of Portsmouth. The long chalk ridge is located just above Portsmouth and Fareham in Hampshire. On the hill you can visit the historic Fort Widley and enjoy fine views down to Portsmouth Harbour below.
The walk starts from the car park and view point, located on Portsdown Hill Road, just to the east of the fort. From here you can pick up footpaths heading west to the fort where there is another public path circling around the fort. The fort was built in the mid 19th century on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom. It was designed, along with the other Palmerston Forts on Portsdown Hill, to protect Portsmouth from attack from the rear. Today the Fort is home to an equestrian centre run by Peter Ashley Activity Centres.
After rounding the fort the route then heads east to explore Candy's Pit where there are some woodland trails and a cave. Back at the car park you will find a nice burger fan where you can pick up some refreshments and then sit and enjoy the views on one of the benches. To the north you can see the Forest of Bere, with the South Downs visible in the distance. Butser Hill can also be seen on a clear day. 
You can extend your walking in the area by heading west and visting Fort Southwick, which is the highest point on the hill. Our Fareham Walk visits Fort Nelson where there is an interesting museum and another fine viewpoint. The medieval Portchester Castle is also nearby and is another great way to learn about the history of the area while enjoying some nice coastal walking trails.

Postcode

PO6 3LZ - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Portsdown Hill OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Portsdown Hill Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Photos

Portsmouth MMB 52 Portsdown Hill

Portsmouth from the Portsdown Hill viewpoint

View Of Portsmouth from Portsdown Hill (2638216449)

Fabulous view over the city to the harbour with the spinnaker tower visible

Flowers at Fort Widley, Portsmouth (2638225861)

Flowers at Fort Widley

Candy's Pit Trail (1) - geograph.org.uk - 1286239

Candy's Pit Trail 1

Candy's Pit Trail (3) - geograph.org.uk - 1286504

Candy's Pit Trail 2

The cave at Candy's Pit - geograph.org.uk - 1286509

The cave at Candy's Pit

Path Around Fort Widley, Portsmouth (2638251469)

Path Around Fort Widley, Portsmouth

Fort Widley, Portsmouth-geograph.org.uk-3426108

Fort Widley, 9-inch Rifled Muzzle Loading (RML) gun in foreground, Portsmouth

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Portsdown Hill.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Portsdown Hill.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)