[Jem PT]

I’m planning a route along the south coast and want to incorporate Portsdown Hill into it (great view over Portsmouth to Isle of Wight). Looking on Google the route up from the east/Havant is the B2177/James Callaghan Drive road which has a 40 limit, but is fairly narrow. Does anyone have any experience of this? Is it traffic-filed and unpleasant or recommended? TIA 

Topic

[Judge dreadful]

I ride that road a lot. The

I ride that road a lot. The bit at the bottom, by the new council estate  build development, is a bit tight at times, but once your over the bridge over the road, it widens out a bit. The problems come with the buses. They mostly seem to be driven by blind monkeys, and getting squeezed by one of those is not remotely funny. Once you’re up to the viewing point at the top of the hill, you’ve only got to worry about the ‘Barry boys’ in their over tuned shit boxes, with loud exhausts. If you get to the very top of the hill in one piece, you’ve got a couple of choices at the roundabout by the top car park ( it’s the one that’s got a retro style burger van and lots of nice motorcycles in it normally). I’d always recommend bearing left, and descending past Fort Nelson, as the cafe, and stop point is brilliant ( once lockdown easing allows it to re open )  If you bear right, you’re onto what the morons seem to think is Silverstone race track, and you ‘get what you paid for’ there are a few ways down, some are better than others, trial and error will show you which is best. There’s a very nice descent which starts behind the Churchillian pub, but you’ll need to make sure your brakes work, as it’s mighty steep, with a roundabout at the end of it ( eventually). 

[kil0ran]

Yeah, sorry, that was me – 20

Yeah, sorry, that was me – 20 years ago!

Often used to go for a Sunday afternoon blat from east Southampton along various country roads and end up on Portsdown Hill. Bean can zorst, loud tunez, all that stuff…

How times change…

[Jem PT]

Thanks for the responses. I

Thanks for the responses. I rode this yesterday in glorious sunshine. A nice little climb with fantastic views from Selsey Bill in the east to the New Forest in the west.

The sunb rought out the usual chavs out in their tuned cars – many of which had dodgy engines judging by the sound coming from the exhausts. What is it about these people that they think everyone wants their quiet Sundays polluted by their antics? That’s before considering whether buying a greasy burger from a dodgy van would be ‘essential travel’.

[kil0ran]

As others have said, depends

As others have said, depends on time of day. If you’re coming from the east there’s also nowhere to bail out to on that side of the road until you get to the first fort. Popular with scenic drivers, and a rat run if anything goes wrong on the major roads nearby. Great views.

I’m not sure they’re accessible from where you’re coming from but the other alternative (and a really decent short dig) are Farlington Avenue & Gillman Road. Latter is gated and narrow so shouldn’t be any through traffic.

[Garhel]

I’ve done it a few times, but

I’ve done it a few times, but only at weekends.  Each time has been early afternoon-ish, and it has never been too bad at those times.  I think the views over Pompey harbour are worth the detour, and the fort is free to visit if you have 30 mins for a stop (and maybe a cake in the cafe if allowed)…

[David9694]

Pretty unpleasant at peak

Pretty unpleasant at peak times in late 2019, when I was using it to commute to one of the forts along the top. Views are pretty ok, though.  Gets used as a rat run when the motorway/main roads are blocked. 

[Author]

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