Stokes Bay

Gosport's main beach and recreation ground, with Solent views, sailing, D-Day heritage, and a relaxed seaside atmosphere.

Stokes Bay is Gosport's principal beach and recreational waterfront, a long curving stretch of shingle facing south across the Solent towards the Isle of Wight. The bay runs from Gilkicker Point in the east to the edge of Alverstoke in the west, backed by a wide belt of open grass and the Bay Road car parks. On a clear day, the views across to Ryde, the Spinnaker Tower, and the shipping lanes of the Solent are excellent. The beach is well used in summer for swimming, paddling, and picnicking, though the shingle can be uncomfortable without a mat or towel. The sailing club at the western end of the bay has been operating for decades, and dinghies, windsurfers, and kayakers launch from the slipway throughout the warmer months. A row of small cafes and kiosks along the bay serve tea, ice cream, and simple hot food during the season. The No. 2 Battery, one of the Palmerston Forts built in the 1860s to defend Portsmouth Harbour, stands at the eastern end of the bay and is now used as a diving centre. Stokes Bay was one of the embarkation points for D-Day in June 1944, and a memorial marks the spot where thousands of troops crossed to Normandy. The area behind the beach includes a pitch-and-putt course and a children's play area, making it a popular family destination. Parking is plentiful on the grass verges along Bay Road, though charges apply in summer. The Stokes Bay area is quieter than the main town centre and has a distinctly seaside character, more relaxed and open than the rest of the borough. Coastal footpaths connect the bay to Gilkicker Point and round to Haslar in one direction, and along to Lee-on-the-Solent in the other.