Enjoy a chilly coastal stroll at Stokes Bay with sea views, wildlife spotting and a few pub pitstops in our latest walk of the week. 

Embark upon this easy and relaxing coastal stroll from the No 2 Battery West Park. Exit the gate and head straight onto the England Coastal Path with the pebble beach and sea on your right.

Walk over the ‘Golden Mile Finish Line’ that’s painted onto the surface of the wide pedestrian path and progress leisurely along. There’s plenty of benches all along the route if you want to stop and enjoy the view of the Isle of Wight directly across The Solent. Seagulls can be seen all over the place here, floating around in the breeze or hunkering down in the long green space inland along the other side of Stokes Bay Road.

Carry on past the Alverbank Hotel sign on your left and continue along the pedestrian path. Once you pass the next car park there is an opportunity to step onto the stony beach if you wish, otherwise cross into the ‘no cycling zone’ area of the promenade.

(Image: David Jones) Walk beyond the kids adventure playground and splash park on your left hand side and pass the Pebbles Fish and Wine Bar with the palm trees out the front. A wide open green on the left-hand side of the promenade is unusually punctuated here with single pieces of outdoor gym equipment located every 200 metres or so. Finally, as you approach a block of concrete storage lock-ups, turn left with your back to the sea and head along the straight pedestrian path that cuts through the green.

Once you reach the end of this path, exit the green and cross the road up onto Anglesey Road. Keep on here and as the tall church building looms ahead over the rooftops, turn left into Village Road. The white cottage buildings on either side of the road create a pleasant setting here and follow it along as it turns right. Here you will stumble across the post office and a small series of shops that have been kept in keeping with the quaint village street scene, and the Village Home pub which is nestled into a corner of the street. If you’re not stopping in here for some refreshment, then continue along Village Road until you cross the road into Western Way. The residential area seems to widen here as the homes are set further back from the pavement. Follow along until you see Solent Way on your right-hand side. Almost opposite is the black metal gates that mark the entrance to Stanley Park. Head left here up the path.

(Image: David Jones) Let it lead you downhill into the well-maintained park area, with its organised plant beds and pretty palm trees. Once you reach a green flag there’s an intriguing walled garden on your right-hand side that you can enter for some peace and quiet and an opportunity to sit and watch wildlife idling away. Leave via the gated archway and green gate then turn right, where the main path will skirt the permitter of the wall and meander down through woodland.

Once you reach the exit, cross onto the shared cyling and pedestrian pathway and turn left along Gomer Lane. Pass the Seahorse Pub on the right and the grand walled exterior of King’s Academy Bay House on the left until you reach the roundabout. Follow the road left down Stokes Bay Road and cross over towards Battery No 2, passing the old cannon standing beside the road. Once you reach the car park, you can spend time looking at the 19th century battery sea defence that pokes out from a hill above. Unfortunately there’s no public access to the listed building. Then nip in for a cup of tea at the Bayside Cabin café before heading off for home.

(Image: David Jones) Written by David Jones, Ordnance Survey

Walk at a glance

Start: No 2 Battery West Car Park, Stokes Bay Road, Gosport, PO12 2QT

Distance: 4.09 kms

Time: 1 hr 01 mins

Difficulty: Easy

URL: explore.osmaps.com/route/11047640

Map: OS Explorer OL3 – Meon Valley, Portsmouth, Gosport & Fareham

Toilets: Yes (beside the car park at start)

Nearest Pub: Village Home, 51 Village Road, Alverstoke, Gosport, PO12 2LD

Nearest Café: Bayside Cabin Café, Stokes Bay Road, Alverstoke, Gosport, PO12, 2QT