Day Itinerary
10 Activities
Day 1
104 mi0.8 mi
Get Wet and Wild With an All-Action Day in Southampton
Day one is a choose-your-own adventure around Southampton. Make a splash at the Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre, before climbing, cycling or skiing in Calshot.
In between the thrills and spills there’s plenty of downtime, including a picnic at Calshot Beach (your food bought from a local farm shop) and a visit to Henry VIII’s Calshot Castle. You can even bed down for the night in a converted showman’s wagon.
In between the thrills and spills there’s plenty of downtime, including a picnic at Calshot Beach (your food bought from a local farm shop) and a visit to Henry VIII’s Calshot Castle. You can even bed down for the night in a converted showman’s wagon.
07:001 min
Brighton
45.5 mi
1 hr 10 min
08:1510 min
Farlington Marshes Nature Reserve
Break up the drive with a leg stretcher at Farlington Marshes Nature Reserve, a vital habitat consisting of a saline lagoon and marsh. Points to the person who can spot the most bird species. Look out for flycatchers, warblers and skylarks during the warmer months. Geese and short-eared owls during winter.
19.9 mi
25 min
09:0045 min
Woodmill Coffee Kitchen
Shake off the drive from Brighton with a pick-me-up from the Woodmill Coffee & Kitchen. They do an enticing breakfast; much of their meat comes from the Considerate Carnivore, a Hampshire-based butchers that only works with welfare-focused farmers. For something lighter, enjoy a coffee on the outside benches, which have views over the River Itchen.
Monday to Sunday, 08:00 to 16:00
Monday to Sunday, 08:00 to 16:00
0.1 mi
5 min
10:002 hrs
Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre
Ready for action? It’s time for your first heart-pumping adventure. And Woodmill has plenty for you. Kayak, canoe, stand-up paddleboard, shoot an arrow, clamber across a high-ropes course. It’s your choice, but make sure to book ahead. There are also private lessons if you want to hone your skills.
Monday to Sunday, 08:30 to 17:00
Monday to Sunday, 08:30 to 17:00
7.5 mi
25 min
12:3045 min
Sunnyfields Farm Shop
Next stop? Sunnyfields Farm, where you can enjoy a scone (or two) and tea. Once you’re done, head to the farm shop to pick up food for your picnic lunch. There’s more than 2,000 products to peruse, including artisanal bread from the bakery and picnic-perfect salad boxes filled with Sunnyfields ingredients.
Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 18:00; Saturday, 09:00 to 17:00; Sunday, 10:00 to 16:00
Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 18:00; Saturday, 09:00 to 17:00; Sunday, 10:00 to 16:00
11.3 mi
20 min
13:4545 min
Calshot Beach Car Park
Pack up your purchases and drive to Calshot Beach Car Park, where a mile-long stretch of shingle provides a beautiful spot for your al fresco lunch. You’ll be able to spot the Isle of Wight and watch the boats cruise the Solent. A row of colourful beach huts makes the ideal background for a beach selfie.
0.6 mi
15 min
14:4530 min
Calshot Castle
You’ll want to let that food go down before your next activity, so enjoy a peaceful stroll to Calshot Castle. Now an English Heritage site, it was originally built by King Henry VIII to protect his lands from channel-crossing invaders (mainly from France and Rome). Climb to the top for stretching views over the water.
Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 16:00
Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 16:00
0.2 mi
5 min
15:301 hr 30 min
Calshot Activities Centre – Climb, Cycle, Ski, Watersports
Ready for more adrenaline-fuelled fun? Head to Calshot Activities Centre, where giant hangers are home to the tallest climbing wall in the south of England. If heights aren’t your thing, visit The Slope, an indoor snowsports centre where you can hurtle down a snowy hill on skis, snowboards or rubber rings. Remember to book your activity in advance.
Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 22:00; Saturday to Sunday, 08:30 to 17:00
Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 22:00; Saturday to Sunday, 08:30 to 17:00
18.6 mi
50 min
18:001 hr 30 min
The Lighthouse
You’ve burnt plenty of calories today, so top up at The Lighthouse, a chilled restaurant with excellent seafood and English Channel views. There’s the classic fish and chips (with a vegan alternative available), surf and turf, and mussels from the south coast. During summer, there’s live music on the outside terrace every Friday.
Monday to Sunday, 09:00 to 23:00
Monday to Sunday, 09:00 to 23:00
1.2 mi
5 min
19:4511 hrs 30 min
Vinegar Hill Pottery
The day’s activities may be at an end, but that doesn’t mean the adventure stops. Book into Rosie The Gypsy Wagon at the Vinegar Hill Pottery B&B and you can sleep in a converted showman’s vehicle from the late 1800s. There’s a two-night minimum stay on weekends, but the homely Hayloft ensuite room with wood-beamed ceilings is a worthy alternative.