Hayling Billy Trail
Hayling Island
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: It takes about 1.5 hours to walk the trail from top to bottom, but as this is a linear trail, you can turn back whenever you want.
Distance: The whole trail is about 5 km / 3.1 miles from top to bottom, but we give some suggestions below on how you can break this up into smaller sections.
Terrain: Flat, mostly well surfaced paths.
Pushchair: The trail is suitable for pushchairs.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk, 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. Brontes Cafe is parked in the top car park opposite the Applegreen garage and serves coffees, cakes, smoothies etc.
Toilets: There is a toilet at the Esso garage.
Public Transport: Stagecoach route 31 from Havant stops at Langstone, Bridge Garage, from where it is a short hop to the car park at the start of this walk
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 Hayling Island. The path is mostly well surfaced (with some recent improvements) 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
A linear route like this often needs very little direction, but here are some tips:
The trail starts at the top of Hayling Island, just after the Langstone Bridge. There is a small, free car park just opposite the Applegreen garage. The trail heads south from here, hugging the shoreline the whole way.
The first section of the trail has recently been resurfaced and makes for a super smooth ride for bikes, pushchairs, wheelchairs etc. This section is about 1.5 km long.
The re-surfaced section runs as far as the second car park, which is behind the Esso garage on Havant Road. After this, the path still has a decent surface, but there are a few more potholes and puddles.
The trail runs as far as West Town, from where you can easily continue to the beach. There are also various refreshment opportunities in the town.
There is an optional diversion to the old oyster beds. This is on a rougher path, but can help to give a circular element to your walk by varying the route back.
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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
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