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Fort Widley

8 ha

📷 Martyn Pattison · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeInsects
Free entryDogs welcome8 ha

Getting here

50.85445, -1.06821

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About Fort Widley

Fort Widley is one of the forts built on top of Portsdown Hill between 1860 and 1868 on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom. It was designed, along with the other Palmerston Forts atop Portsdown, to protect Portsmouth from attack from the rear.

Read more on Wikipedia →
Fortscheduled monumentc. 1860

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦106+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Peregrine and Mediterranean Gull
  • ✦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
Parking· Paid

Best for

4 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Peregrine, Mediterranean Gull, Woodpigeon +103 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Peregrine, Mediterranean Gull, Woodpigeon +103 more · last seen 2026

Free

Wildlife

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Insect spotting

Chalk and limestone grassland — chalkhill blue, adonis blue and rare moths; Insects — Great Green Bush-cricket, Hornet Hoverfly, Dock Bug +17 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Historic site

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

11 signed routes nearby · 4 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Wayfarers WalkWalking route

Walbury Hill, Berkshire to Emsworth, Hampshire

Named routeRegional walking route
Allan King WayWalking route
Named routeListed length 44 milesRegional walking route
Pilgrims' TrailWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Solent WayWalking route
Named routeListed length 87kmRegional walking route
Havant Footpath 30Walking route
Named routeLocal walking route
New Down Lanepublic footpath · 219 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 219 mSurface concretePath type: service
New Down Lanepublic footpath · 296 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 296 mPath type: service
🚴

Cycling

107 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 222Cycling route
Named routeRef 222National Cycle Network
National Cycle Route 236 - Portsmouth to TitchfieldCycling route
Named routeRef 236National Cycle Network
Havant Borough NetworkCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Havant Borough Cycle NetworkCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Route 22Cycling route
Named routeRef 22National Cycle Network
Havant Borough NetworkCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Fort Widley

📷 Martyn Pattison · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Fort Widley

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Portchester CastleUrban park3.7 km→🌱Horsea Island Country ParkUrban park2.9 km→🌱College ParkUrban park3.9 km→🌱College ParkUrban park3.9 km→🌱Cosham ParkUrban park1.6 km→🌱Cosham ParkUrban park1.6 km→

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