The Hayling Billy Trail

The Hayling Billy Trail follows the old trackbed of the branch line railway that once linked Hayling Island to the mainland. Steam trains ran the route for nearly a century until the line closed in the early 1960s, leaving behind a straight, level corridor that now serves as one of the island’s main off-road routes.

Running parallel to Langstone Harbour, the trail offers uninterrupted sightlines across the water to the mainland and Portsmouth’s spire in the distance. At low tide the exposed mudflats draw flocks of wading birds – brent geese, dunlin, redshank and curlew among them – while the sheltered channel occasionally reveals a seal’s head breaking the surface. The path stays close to the shoreline yet remains above flood level for most of its length, giving a clear sense of the harbour’s changing moods without the intrusion of traffic noise.

Flat traffic-free path along the Island’s western shore traces the old railway line

The surface is predominantly firm gravel or tarmac, making progress easy underfoot or on wheels. Horse riders share the route on the bridleway sections, though numbers remain low. Benches appear at regular intervals, useful for pausing to watch the tide or simply take in the expanse of water and sky. The trail passes the sites of former halts – Northney and North Hayling among them – with only subtle remnants such as old platforms or signboards marking their locations.

Towards the southern end the path reaches the old Hayling Island station, converted into the Station Theatre. From here the seafront and Beachlands are a short distance away, allowing the trail to form part of longer loops that take in shingle beaches or the funfair area. Cyclists often combine it with quiet lanes to circle the island, while walkers can step off at various points onto footpaths leading inland through residential areas or towards the marina.

The trail rates highly with many reviews, praised for its calm atmosphere and reliable surface in most weather. Dog walkers, families with pushchairs and mobility-scooter users all make regular use of it, drawn by the absence of gradients and the constant presence of water and wildlife.

The trail’s position between harbour and island gives it a distinctive character – open yet protected, busy yet rarely crowded. It serves equally well for a short out-and-back stroll or as the backbone of a longer day exploring Hayling’s western side.

Read more…

• Hayling Billy Line Collated by Peter Drury – discoverhayling.co.uk
• Hayling Billy Trail – havant.gov.uk
• Hayling Island railway line to become all-weather walking and cycling trail – bbc.co.uk