Getting here
50.83419, -1.06319
About Hilsea Lines
The Hilsea Lines are a line of 18th- and 19th-century fortifications built at Hilsea to protect the northern approach to Portsea Island, an island off the southern coast of England which forms the majority of the city of Portsmouth and its key naval base. They are now used as a greenspace and leisure area, also known locally as Foxes Forest.
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
- 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🧺Picnic area on site — summer afternoons here are an easy, low-cost day out
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🧺Picnic area on site — summer afternoons here are an easy, low-cost day out
Good to know
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
Best for
Bird watching
Very strong match
Reedbeds — bitterns, marsh harriers, bearded tits and reed warblers; Birds — Peregrine, Mediterranean Gull, Magpie +101 more · last seen 2026
Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals
Insect spotting
Strong match
Reedbeds — emperor dragonfly and rare fen invertebrates; Insects — Dark-edged Bee-fly, 7-spot Ladybird, Dock Bug +6 more · last seen 2025
Heritage
Strong match
Historic site
Waterside walks
Good match
Grazing marsh and ditches — waterside walking
Foraging
Good match
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km🚶Walking
18 signed routes nearby · 2 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Walking
Wayfarers WalkWalking route
Walbury Hill, Berkshire to Emsworth, Hampshire
Allan King WayWalking route
Pilgrims' TrailWalking route
Solent WayWalking route
Havant Footpath 30Walking route
🚴Cycling
160 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Cycling
Route 222Cycling route
National Cycle Route 236 - Portsmouth to TitchfieldCycling route
Havant Borough NetworkCycling route
Havant Borough Cycle NetworkCycling route
National Cycle Route 2 South Mundham to ChristchurchCycling route
Route 22Cycling route
🚵Mountain biking
2 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Mountain biking
Hayling Billy Off Road Cycle TrailMountain bike route
Shipwright's WayMountain bike route
Wildlife to spot
Photos
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Nearby places
Useful places within 5 km
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