Plan your visit
Getting here
50.82254, -1.15083
About Fort Elson
Fort Elson was one of the early Palmerston Forts, in Gosport, England, the northernmost polygonal land fort in the defence line to the west of Gosport. It was located on land immediately to the south of Elson Creek, to which it was connected by a sluice. Fort Elson was the most northerly fort in the line of five which formed part of the ‘Sea Front and Spithead Defences’, Inner Line, Land Front, and Left Flank.
Read more on Wikipedia →Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦89+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Grey Heron and Little Egret
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦89+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Grey Heron and Little Egret
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
Good to know
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
Best for
Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Grey Heron, Little Egret, Chiffchaff +86 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Grey Heron, Little Egret, Chiffchaff +86 more · last seen 2025
Wildlife
Strong match
Deciduous woodland priority habitat; Birds — Grey Heron, Little Egret, Chiffchaff +86 more · last seen 2025
Heritage
Strong match
Historic site
Insect spotting
Good match
Insects — Emperor Dragonfly, Hairy Shieldbug, Deraeocoris (Deraeocoris) ruber +12 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Emperor Dragonfly, Hairy Shieldbug, Deraeocoris (Deraeocoris) ruber +12 more · last seen 2025
Foraging
Good match
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km🚶Walking
10 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Walking
Allan King WayWalking route
Pilgrims' TrailWalking route
Solent WayWalking route
The Shipwrights WayWalking route
A long distance route which links villages and towns in east Hampshire. The name reflects the use of oak grown at Alice Holt Forest for Tudor shipbuilding.
European walking route E9, Milford on Sea to Queen Elizabeth Country ParkWalking route
🚴Cycling
159 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Cycling
National Cycle Route 236 - Titchfield to SouthamptonCycling route
National Cycle Route 236 - Portsmouth to TitchfieldCycling route
National Cycle Route 2 South Mundham to ChristchurchCycling route
Route 22Cycling route
National Cycle Route 236 - Portsmouth to TitchfieldCycling route
Route 224Cycling route
🚵Mountain biking
1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
Mountain biking
Shipwright's WayMountain bike route
Wildlife to spot
Photos
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Nearby places
Useful places within 5 km
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