Weekend walking route through Old Portsmouth and seafront

Arrive at Clarence Pier and head west away from the hubbub of the fairground rides towards the step bridge along the Millennium Promenade.

You can enjoy views of both Gosport and Ryde on the Isle of Wight across the Solent to your left.

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Proceed over the long, curved bridge, which marks the ground where Lord Admiral Nelson took his last steps on British soil before he headed out to the Battle of Trafalgar on HMS Victory.

Press on along the promenade, passing over the Saluting Platform until you reach the Square Tower.

Turn to your right and down some steps, past the bottom of the tower, and you can duck underneath the promenade above through stone doorways to a little pebble beach.

This area, known as Old Sally’ Port, contains a small pier here for fishing which you can step out on to get a closer look at ferries and boats passing to and fro into Portsmouth Harbour.

Climb back up the steps and resume the walk along the promenade.

You’ll see the dome of Portsmouth Cathedral peaking out from behind the roofs of the charismatic Old Portsmouth townhouses.

This section of the promenade is The Hotwalls – old defences for Portsmouth Harbour – and often a viewing point to welcome or wave off naval crews as they head out or return from duty.

As you head towards the distinctive Round Tower, the Spinnaker Tower will loom above in the distance.

Turn your attention to the floor and follow the chain pattern carved in the stone which takes you through the Round Tower.

There’s an opportunity to climb to the top of the tower to take in spectacular views of Portsmouth Harbour and The Solent.

Once you get there a circular stone plinth offers a 360 degrees guide to the landmarks and viewpoints in every direction.

Head back down the steps and find the chain pattern path again.

Follow it through a gateway beside an information board and enter Capstan Square.

The chain path will then guide you away from the promenade and into the narrow medieval streets of Old Portsmouth.

Head past the distinctive properties that jut out among the nooks and crannies and walk beyond the Spice Island Inn and Still and West pub to arrive at The Point.

Here you will catch a full view of Gunwharf Quays across the water, along with the Spinnaker Tower and a glimpse of HMS Warrior and the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in the distance.

There’s plenty of seating here to sit down and relax.

Continue the curve of the path again past the pub on your right hand side until taking a left just beyond the Baffled Coffee Deli up East Street.

The distinctive Ben Ainslie building and boatyard are situated opposite each other here.

Carry on to the end of the road which will bring you to the historic Bridge Tavern and its picturesque views of the Harbour and moored boats. Well worth stopping here for a drink.

Retrace your steps and resume the chain link path back along East Street before turning left into Broad Street.

Keep your eyes on the pattern of the path and it will lead you left up Feltham Row, which will reveal a different view of the harbour.

Once you follow the footpath to its end here turn right along White Hart Road and follow that around until it takes you back opposite the Square Tower.

Turn left and continue past another pub, The Wellington, into the open space of the Grand Parade. Many of the buildings here escaped the bombings of the Blitz.

The Garrison Church straight ahead was not so fortunate, and you can take a closer look at the distinctive building missing its roof.

Immediately follow the path beside the church with a long grassy bank on the opposite side.

Progress past Governor’s Green on your left hand side, and where there is a fork in the path, keep left.

At the next fork, choose the right path which takes you alongside the attractive Pembroke Gardens bowling green.

When you reach the end of the green head right up Pier Road towards the yellow and blue Clarence Pier.

Once you reach the Golden Horseshoe arcades turn left and carry on up the Clarence Esplanade.

Stroll along until you reach the huge Portsmouth Naval Monument, a giant monolith that looms up from the massive and flat expanse of Southsea Common that surrounds it.

It’s well worth a closer inspection to walk in and around.

Then retrace your steps back up to Clarence Pier where you started.

• Written by David Jones, Senior Press Officer at Ordnance Survey

The walk at a glance

Start: Clarence Pier amusement park, Southsea, PO5 3AA

Distance: 3.86 kms

Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: Easy (although there are stairs involved).

URL:  explore.osmaps.com/route/6845831

Map: OS Explorer OL3 (Meon Valley, Portsmouth, Gosport & Fareham)

Toilets: Clarence Pier

Nearest Pub: The Bridge Tavern, 54 Camber Place, East Street, Old Portsmouth, PO1 2JJ.

Nearest Café: Baffled Coffee Deli, Old Portsmouth, PO1 2JE

OS Maps App rating: 5 stars

Three tips to navigate with OS Maps App

1. The red triangle on the OS Maps App is your friend. Hold your phone out in front of you like a torch, and if you turn 180 degrees, so will the triangle. That points you in the direction you need to go.

2. Don’t slavishly follow the red line on the route. Remember, in OS Maps App, this line is only a navigational guide. Pay close attention to the pathways (denoted by black dotted lines on the map). In practice these are the markings you’ll need to make your way around on the ground.

3. Keep an eye on the app whenever approaching forks in the route. Use common sense - if a suggested path looks untrodden or in bad condition, then stay on the main one.

Download OS Maps App from the Ordnance Survey shop. Full annual subscription is available for £34.99.