Meet at the Barley Mow at 10.10 and catch 31 bus at 10.17 to Havant. Catch 20 bus from Havant at 10.45. The route starts with a scenic tour of Leigh Park so it takes about 35 minutes to reach our stop at Farlington Avenue, postcode PO6 1BB, grid reference SU671064.
This is a 2.7 mile walk with no height gain, but 280 feet of descent, and no stiles.
We admire the panoramic view over Portsmouth and the two harbours then take the grassy path gradually down and along the side of the hill to meet the main road close to QA Hospital. We take Widley Road, Park Lane and an urban footpath to the shops at Cosham, cross the railway at the level crossing, then take the underpass under the motorway to Hilsea. There are various possibilities for lunch e.g. the Toby Carvery in Hilsea or the Casements Cafe in Hilsea Lines for a pizza, panini or cake.
We will be on chalk down for most of the first mile, which was not at all muddy on the recce (3rd March), soon after a wet winter, We are on pavement or tarmac for rest of the walk.
Catch the 700 coastliner (1 every 20 minutes) from Hilsea back to Havant.
This is the planned route...