Hayling Billy Line
Children will enjoy the shoreline all along this walk as well as the opportunity to bring bikes.
The path hugs the shoreline for much of the way
The Basics
Time: Various
Distance: The whole distance is about 5km from top to bottom, but we give some suggestions below on how you can break this up into smaller sections.
Terrain: Flat, well surfaced paths (rougher section if diverting to the oyster beds)
Pushchair: Yes
Dogs: Yes, but be mindful of the important bird population
Refreshments: Hayling Billy Bites is parked in the car park behind the Esso garage every day 8am-4pm, except for Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Toilets: None
Parking: Small car park opposite the Applegreen garage on the A3023 or another small car park further along behind the Esso garage, both free and signposted ‘nature reserve’ (Postcode: PO11 0LP - W3W: singer/firework/consonant)
Views towards Portsea Island
The Hayling Billy Trail follows a disused railway track along almost the entire western shore of the island. The path is well surfaced (with more improvements to come) and is suitable for bikes too. This is typically a linear walk, but we do give an option below to make something of a circle out of it. There are plenty of opportunities for playing on the shoreline and for birdwatching.
The Route
To have a short walk (2.7km total) with a circular element to it, we recommend starting at the first car park opposite the Applegreen garage. Facing the water, turn left heading back out of the car park and joining the path. Continue along the path until you reach the sign for the oyster beds. Turn right here. The path around the oyster beds is rougher and less suitable for bikes or pushchairs but could be managed with good tyres. Continue along this path, turning right after a sculpture of an oyster, heading along the shore towards the second little car park. Just before the second car park, there is a little area where children like to climb trees and construct some makeshift rope swings. Once you reach the second car park, turn left through the car park and out the railway style gates and return to the Billy Trail proper for your return leg.
You can also start a linear walk/ride from the first car park, or you can drive slightly further along the Havant Road to the Esso garage. You will see a turning down a track to another car park signed ‘nature reserve’ just after the garage. This car park has a similar limited number of spaces and is also where you will find Hayling Billy Bites parked up for drinks, snacks, butties and burgers. Using this as your start point, we recommend facing the water and turning left out of the car park through the white railway style gates. Then, it is a case of following the path along the shoreline towards West Town (3.3km each way) . You can go the whole way, or turn back and retrace your steps whenever you fancy.
Did you know?
Oysters were farmed at Hayling Island from the early nineteenth century up until the 1970s. The fresh oysters would be carried off the island along the Billy Railway Line. In 1996, Havant Borough Council restored the beds, creating a rich wildlife haven that attracts important colonies of migratory seabirds.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one at Langstone Harbour which you will pass by on your way to get to this walk
