2025 09 27 HaylingIsland EastOfPortsmouthIslandUKasMP4
Hayling Island, south of Havant (north of Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK).
Views of Langstone Harbour south-east of Havant, north of Hayling Island.
Marina on north-east corner of the island which is 3.2 miles from north to south and the same width at its widest point (its southern coast).
Hayling Island famous (local) seaside resort which used to have a standard (UK) gauge railway come south from Havant crossing a railway bridge parallel to the (remaining) road bridge. People can now walk or ride down the old route of the Hayling Billy railway line which is now small gravel / earth pathway and gives views westwards with several information boards.
South part of Hayling Island has a light (narrow 2 feet width gauge) railway which takes 17 minutes to travel between two stops near the shingle beach and starts at its westernmost point near the Funlands amusement park (standard fun fair rides, indoor arcade game amusement park and a good fish and chips restaurant). Hayling Island Amateur Dramatics Society (HIADS) have their theatre in the old (southermost) Hayling Billy railway goods shed.
East of the easternmost light railway station (Eastcoke) along the promenade is the ‘Great Wall of Hayling’ – a residents’ communal garden area that has amusing miniature landmarks and wooden signs.
To the far south-western point of Hayling Island is the ferry across to Eastney on Portsea (the island containing Portsmouth at its south-west , Southsea, mid-south). There is a bus service that sometimes connects with the ferry arrival times and takes 35 minutes to get to the hovercraft terminal near Clarence Pier, Southsea – which is 20 minutes walk from Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth near the shopping area and the Spinnaker Tower.
The ferry trip takes you (visually) near to the concrete Mulberry Harbour – ‘floating harbour’ that could be towed to be used for the 1944 Allies’ landings in North France. The one near Hayling Island was fractured, so not used, and was towed to its current location (out of main shipping routes).