A weekend by the Solent!

Join us for a May Bank Holiday weekend special by the spectacular and glistening Solent. Basing ourselves in England's waterfront city - Portsmouth - we will be able to explore the history and natural beauty of the Solent.

We'll meet just after lunch on Saturday 2nd May and do a 5 mile flat walk from Old Portsmouth to the eastern end of Southsea, passing Southsea Castle and adjacent to the fortresses built in the mid-nineteenth century in the Solent itself. We get stunning views across to the Isle of Wight and plenty of opportunities to stop in the many cafes along the way. We may even take in Southsea Pier.

On the Sunday, we'll head across to the Isle of Wight by catamaran or hovercraft and then take the train to the eastern coastal resorts of Shanklin and Sandown to enjoy a coastal walk and the beaches on this coastline. We may also get a steam train ride in!

Monday morning offers the opportunity to explore more of Portsmouth, with the option to visit the World famous Historic Dockyard (with HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose) or the fascinating D-Day Museum.

We will book tables at local restaurants for the Saturday and Sunday evenings so that we can eat together. Details to follow.

Accommodation for this weekend is currently very affordable and some of us will be staying at the Premier Inn Portsmouth Dockyard, adjacent to Portsmouth Harbour station and Gunwharf Quays. Please arrange your own accommodation and book early. If you'd like to attend just part of the event, that's absolutely fine.