A few brief stops on a drive along the south Hampshire coast. The weather was cloudy with heavy rain forecast.
Rain on the way. Looking west along the coast from Milford-on Sea.
From the same spot looking east towards Hurst point and lighthouse with the Isle of Wight in the background.
On the eastern side of Milford-on-Sea at the start of Hurst beach. This view looking back towards Milford. Definitely rain on the way!
Hurst beach. A 1.5 mile shingle spit that is the only way to access Hurst Castle and Lighthouse on foot. The spit separates the Solent from the Keyhaven mudflats.
Looking across to the Needles on the Isle of Wight.
The footbridge giving access to Hurst Beach from Saltgrass lane.
The view from Hurst beach across Keyhaven mudflats to Hurst Castle and lighthouse.
A similar view from the footbridge.
The view from the other side of the footbridge towards Milford-on Sea.
A couple of Black Headed Gulls.
28 August 2010 - Hurst Castle
A return visit this time to walk along the shingle spit to the castle.
The approach to the castle and lighthouse.
The walk to the castle is about one mile from the footbridge at Keyhaven. The only other way to get to the castle is by ferry from Keyhaven.
Hurst lighthouse which dates from 1865.
The Jubilee Sailing Trust ship Tenacious passing the Needles off the Isle of Wight.
The west wing batteries which were constructed between 1861 and 1875.
The easy wing batteries.
A 38 ton gun capable of firing a 12.5 inch shell weighing 820 lbs nearly three and a half miles.
The western battery from above. On the right are two low lighthouse structures. The front round structure dates from 1865, darker structure behind dates from 1911.
Looking east across the Solent.
Another view of Tenacious under almost full sail. The Jubilee Sailing Trust is a registered charity that owns and operates Lord Nelson and Tenacious, the only two tall ships in the world designed and built to enable people of all physical abilities to sail side-by-side as equals.
The eastern battery from above.
Inside the original Tudor castle which dates from the reign of Henry VIII and was built between 1541 and 1544.
Looking west along Hurst beach, the walking route to the castle.
The ferry arriving to take the passengers back to Keyhaven.