The route description is my recollection of the journey and, whilst every care has been taken to ensure that it is accurate, it may not necessarily be an exact or complete description of the overall walk. Please use this description together with the relevant map to plan your journey. 

Hurst Castle is situated at the seaward end of the shingle spit that extends 1½ mile from Milford-On-Sea. The end of the spit, only ¾ mile from the Isle of Wight, and the views of the big ships passing through are spectacular.

Hurst Castle was the perfect location to defend the western approach to the Solent. The castle was built by Henry VIII as one of a chain of coastal fortresses and was completed in 1544. A critical element in the improvement of the defences of the south coast by Henry VIII was the protection of the Solent, for this stretch of water gave access to the important ports of Portsmouth and Southampton. Calshot Castle and Hurst Castle were both strategically situated to provide their protection. Calshot was sited on a shingle spit close to the deep water channel at the mouth of Southampton Water. Although one of the smaller of Henry VIII's forts, its three-storey keep and outer curtain wall nevertheless gave it full command of its position. Hurst Castle was sited at the narrow entrance to the Solent where the ebb and flow of the tides creates strong currents, putting would-be invaders at its mercy.

Charles I was imprisoned here in 1648 before being taken to London to his trial and execution.

The castle was modernised during the Napoleonic wars and again in the 1870’s when the enormous armoured wings were constructed. Two of the huge 38-ton guns installed in the 1970’s can still be viewed in their casemates.

During World War II, Hurst was manned with coastal gun batteries and searchlights.