The van needed to go for its bi-annual service, and being Fiat and 2.5m tall it needed a commercial garage, so I had booked it into Adams Morely in Portsmouth. The service was going to take all morning and needed to be booked in before 8am, so I through about a route around the top of Portsea Island using the King Charles coast path and some vague marks of paths across the top of the island.
It was not really a good day for a walk, as the overnight rain just got stronger as the dawn broke. The service receptionists thought I was mad going out into the rain and recommended a Costa down the road as an alternative. Not put off by the fact I had left my over-trousers at home I zipped up my waterproof jacket and set out heading east for the edge of the island.
Over this and along the inner edge of a static caravan park before I could cross over to the coast path. This paralleled the road up past a yacht club.
The path then merged back onto the edge of the main road going up to the bridge and junction with the A27.
I then picked up a new section of path that followed the southern edge of the inlet heading towards Hilsea lines.
Unfortunately the path was still being worked on (or at least the coastal defences that the path ran on top of), at the point where it went under the railway line.
However.... just crossing over a wooden footbridge crossed tot eh foot of the rampart around the Hilsea lines.
This path was on the south side of the moat rather than between the Moat and the Ports Creek, and went through a wooded area.
I passed an interesting dredger with large float tracks clearing the moat.
Continuing along the path past a footbridge to Cosham, and up to the roundabout of the A3 and the M27/ M275 junction.
Luckily there was a very aerial footbridge to cross this combination of roads and the path then continued on past the Lido, and a wake boarding pond.
I caught the last of the ramparts as the path turned the corner to go south.
Back on the King Charles coastal path along the edge of the inlet "Sails of the South" . This is also marked as "Pilgrim's Trail". Very much concrete and sea wall.
Somewhere on the far side is Portchester castle, beyond the bridge the M275 uses to cross onto the island.
At this point the path becomes a little unclear and devious where it meanders between the urban streets and industrial complexes.
A strange bit around some streets, under the motorway and back to the edge of the island.
Another odd bit of low lying path under spray from the tides lapping at the side. This led down to the edge of the naval complexes on Whale Island, then the ferry port entrances.
Around here the rain had settled down to light drizzle.
I left the path (not that there were many signs around) at a roundabout - with pedestrian subways to the centre and out again.
From here I was back on urban streets - following the A2047 down towards the edge of the city centre and a bit inland.
Just before a school and church I turned off to head back across the island.
I was heading for the large cemetery in the Kingston suburb. I had to circle around a bit to find an entrance then wandered through the paths to the main central track and down this to the chapels at the south end. The rain stopped at this point and I could dry out a little
Out of the cemetery and along a road to the A288, which I followed to the A2030, aroudn a second cemetery.
Eventually leaving the urbanisation to enter into Milton Common - a large area of rough ground, and several gravel tracks.
I snaked my way though this to reach the coast path on the east edge of the island.
Now back on the King Charles coastal path I followed it north
Where the path came back to the A2030, I could either continue up the coast path to the point where I had joined it first thing, or try to cut up the side of the golf course from the sixth form college.
The vague mark on the maps actually turned into a much used track (especially by dog walkers), as it followed the edge of the golf course.
Once past the top of the golf course the path went into some scrubby land before coming out opposite the retail park. This successfully avoided some of this mornings road (pavement) walking.
I was still early to pick up the van, so I wandered around the retail park before finishing at the service centre. The van was not ready however they did have a waiting room (thankfully with a heater so I could warm up and dry out a little more) - it was a very cosy room and not long before I had a little snooze and had to be woken up to collect the van (and pay!)
However.... just crossing over a wooden footbridge crossed tot eh foot of the rampart around the Hilsea lines.
I passed an interesting dredger with large float tracks clearing the moat.
Continuing along the path past a footbridge to Cosham, and up to the roundabout of the A3 and the M27/ M275 junction.
I caught the last of the ramparts as the path turned the corner to go south.
At this point the path becomes a little unclear and devious where it meanders between the urban streets and industrial complexes.
Around here the rain had settled down to light drizzle.
From here I was back on urban streets - following the A2047 down towards the edge of the city centre and a bit inland.
Just before a school and church I turned off to head back across the island.
Out of the cemetery and along a road to the A288, which I followed to the A2030, aroudn a second cemetery.
I snaked my way though this to reach the coast path on the east edge of the island.
The vague mark on the maps actually turned into a much used track (especially by dog walkers), as it followed the edge of the golf course.
