A Grand Day Out.... to Hill Head (From Daily Echo)

A Grand Day Out.... to Hill Head

1:59pm Friday 12th September 2008 in

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THIS week we decided to return by bus, to a place that holds happy memories but which we’d previously only visited by car.

We took the First Service number 78 bus, which left Castle Way at 9.38am, to Fareham.

It arrived on time at 10.35am.

From here we caught the First number 33 from stand A at 10.48am to Hill Head.

This again left punctually, arriving at Solent Road bus stop at 11.14am – the stop is near the corner of Solent Road, facing The Osborne View pub.

You immediately see lovely views across the Solent and as it was a clear day, we could distinctly see Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.

From here we turned right and crossed the road, strolling approximately 50 metres before coming across a slipway to the beach.

We went down this, turning right at the bottom and following the path past bathing huts and the Yacht Club to Titchfield Haven.

This took approximately ten minutes, and was an easy, level walk.

The centre is open from 9.30am to 5pm Wednesdays to Sundays and Bank Holidays. OAP admission is £3.

This allows you to walk around the nature reserve, where a variety of wildlife and lots of bird life can be seen.

It was great fun going in the bird hides and trying to spot the many different birds, using the identification boards provided.

We also followed boardwalks and the network of paths, looking for evidence of other creatures visiting the reserve.

Binoculars may be hired and you can buy food to feed the ducks.

Having enjoyed coffee in the tea room before we started our ‘safari’, we decided to retrace our steps back to Hill Head and lunch at Emma’s – at the back of the dress shop.

The stop for the return journey, on the First number 35, is just outside the side entrance to Emma’s in Solent Road.

This took us back to Fareham Bus Station where we transferred to the number 78 First bus back to Southampton.

Yet another Grand Day Out concluded in Castle Way at 4.30pm.