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Gilkicker fort

1 ha

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

BirdsWildlifeHeritage
Free entryDogs welcome1 ha

Getting here

50.77400, -1.14089

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About Gilkicker fort

Fort Gilkicker is a historic Palmerston fort built at the eastern end of Stokes Bay, Gosport, Hampshire England to dominate the key anchorage of Spithead. It was erected between 1863 and 1871 as a semi-circular arc with 22 casemates, to be armed with five twelve-inch guns, seventeen ten-inch guns and five nine-inch guns. The actual installed armament rather differed from this.

Read more on Wikipedia →
Fortscheduled monumentc. 1863

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦98+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Black-headed Gull and Herring 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

Best for

4 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow +95 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow +95 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

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

Free

Heritage

Historic site

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Stag Beetle, Common Darter, 7-spot Ladybird +14 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Stag Beetle, Common Darter, 7-spot Ladybird +14 more · last seen 2025

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

8 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Pilgrims' TrailWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Isle of Wight Coastal PathWalking route113 km
Named routeLength 113 kmRound tripRegional walking route
Solent WayWalking route
Named routeListed length 87kmRegional walking 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.

Named routeRegional walking route
European walking route E9, Milford on Sea to Queen Elizabeth Country ParkWalking route
Named routeRef E9International walking route
🚴

Cycling

103 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
National Cycle Route 2 South Mundham to ChristchurchCycling route
Named routeRef 2National Cycle Network
Route 22Cycling route
Named routeRef 22National Cycle Network
Route 224Cycling route
Named routeRef 224National Cycle Network
Portsmouth E-W routeCycling route
Named routeRef Portsmouth E-W routeLocal cycle route
Main RouteCycling route642 m
Named routeRef 2Length 642 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route1.4 km
Named routeRef 22Length 1.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
Shipwright's WayMountain bike route
Named route

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Fort Gilkicker

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Fort Gilkicker

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Walpole ParkUrban park2.4 km→🌱Leesland ParkUrban park2.5 km→🌱Southsea CommonUrban park3.5 km→✦SOUTHSEA COMMONHistoric site3.8 km→🌱Victoria ParkUrban park4.3 km→🌱Eastern GardensUrban park4.8 km→

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