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Photo: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
An artillery fort constructed by Henry VIII on the Calshot Spit between 1539 and 1540 that has been used as an artillery fort, coast guard station and air base. It has been restored to its pre-1914 appearance by English Heritage, and is a "well-preserved example" of King Henry's Device Forts.
Calshot Castle is an artillery fort constructed by Henry VIII on the Calshot Spit, Hampshire, England, between 1539 and 1540. It formed part of the King's Device programme to protect against invasion from France and the Holy Roman Empire and defend Southampton Water as it met the Solent. The castle had a keep at its centre, surrounded by a curtain wall and a moat. Initially heavily armed, it had a garrison of 16 men and as many as 36 artillery guns. The castle continued in use for many years, surviving the English Civil War intact and being extensively modernised in the 1770s. During the 19th century, Calshot Castle was used by the coastguard as a base for combating smuggling. In 1894, however, fresh fears of a French invasion led to it being brought back into use as an artillery fort: a large coastal battery was constructed alongside the older castle and a boom built across Southampton Water, controlled from the castle.
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It is one of the largest outdoor adventure centres in Britain. A hangar built for World War II flying boats, it's now an activity centre for watersports (including kite-surfing), climbing, snowboarding and track cycling. There is a small indoor velodrome, a dry ski slope, and facilities for climbing and bouldering. The climbing grades vary from about 3 to the occasional 8a. The centre offers residential and visitor courses.
Calshot Spit is a one-mile long sand and shingle bank. At the end of the spit are Calshot Castle (built by King Henry VIII), an RNLI lifeboat, an NCI station, several slipways, a former Royal Navy and Royal Air Force flying boat station and Calshot Activities Centre. The neck of the spit is owned by New Forest District Council while the end of the spit is owned by the Crown Estate which leases it to Hampshire County Council.
Church built between 1170 and 1340, with some fine stained glass windows.
Gym and fishing lake. Car boot sale on Sunday mornings in the carpark.
Lepe Beach
Walking, swimming, birdwatching, wild flower meadows and historic remains from the D-Day landings. There is also a mile of beach, pine fringed cliffs and stunning views across the Solent from Hurst Castle to Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower.
Email via online contact form. A spectacular 200-acre woodland garden, world famous for its collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias. Best seen in May and early June, when the rhododendrons and azaleas are at their best. Like a number of Rothschild properties, Exbury has a rather delightful 1½-mile narrow-gauge steam railway, which meanders through gardens not otherwise accessible to visitors. Once you've ridden, there's a small exhibition to visit.