8.5 miles Fort Nelson to Portchester

Lunch in The Cormorant Pub (picnic option just outside Portchester Castle). Option of free visit to Fort Nelson after the walk.

Royal Artilleries Museum in Fort Nelson

https://royalarmouries.org/visit-us/fort-nelson/ ).

This is a 9.5 mile circular walk from Fort Nelson to Portchester on Thurs Dec 5th starting at 10am

Parking (free) is in the Fort Nelson Alternative Parking area.

Meet at OS grid ref:SZ  607070 on Explorer Map119; nearby Postcode PO17 6AN.

From Winchester M3/M27E to Junction 11, at the roundabout take first exit, after 250 metres at the T junction turn right (Boarhunt Road); after 600m when the main road bends left you take the right fork on to Swivelton Lane. After 600 metres at the T junction turn left on to Portsdown Hill Road. The first big gun of Fort Nelson is then on your left. Go on about 20m to a P sign and turn right. Go down the hill for 30m and turn left into a parking area. Legal travel time from central Winchester 27 mins 

We start with great views of Portsmouth and Harbour, then head gently down to Cam Mill, and walk on the margins of Fareham Lake and the Harbour to Portchester for lunch in the Cormorant Pub. No uphill at all in the morning. Picnickers can use the grounds of nearby Portchester Castle. If anyone wants a very quick look in the Castle (free with an English Heritage card – otherwise ~£6) during our lunch-break then note we can pick them up as we set off after lunch.

There is a surprisingly gentle uphill for the last half-mile back to the Castle. We made it 6.8 miles in the morning (the tide will be out) and 2.7 miles in the afternoon. No stiles. Mostly proper walking paths, mud level pretty low. 

Pub menu at: http://www.thecormorant.co.uk/pdf/Sample-Pub-Menu.pdf

The pub would appreciate food orders in advance so please email me by Sunday December 1st if you want lunch in the pub