Sandy Point sits adjacent to a Nature Reserve with many a rare wild life to be spotted.

These beaches can be accessed from the promenade that runs along the top of the seafront and from the Lifeboat Station, but only by foot. They offer great views across to the Witterings and to Selsey Bill on a clear day. The tides on these beaches can be very strong, due to their proximity with the entrance to Chichester Harbour upon which they sit.

Black Point is actually a private beach owned by the Hayling Island Sailing Club, access to which is restricted to members only.

The Promenade runs along the southern part of Eastoke. This pathway is used a lot by cyclists as it is a direct route from Eastoke to Sandy Point. The path finishes at the nature reserve but you can continue the route round to the sailing club.

The path is vulnerable to flooding in the winter when the tides are high and the wind is blowing strongly in the northern direction. Dwellings situated next to the pathway are protected by a wall to prevent any flooding. The wall prevented houses from flooding in 2005 when the sea flooded the path.

Eastoke beach is a steep shingle, groyned beach, popular with holiday makers for it’s location next to the camps and local shops. It also has access to the start of the promenade. The promenade runs the length of the seafront from here right down to Sandy Point.

Eastoke corner is popular during spring and autumn with the anglers, as it is reported to be a good spot from which to fish.

Due to it’s high car park, with respect to the beach, good views are easily gained of the beach and sea. When the seas are a bit rough, or it’s a wet weekend, this car park is usually full of people eating fish’n’chips on their laps in their cars.

Eastoke Corner Location

Eastoke Corner far east of Beachlands.

Eastoke Corner Facilities

• Adventure playground
• Adizone outdoor gym
• Shops, amusements and food outlets
• Car park
• Public toilets
• Station for the light railway

This is Hayling’s quietest beach on the Seafront and one of the few where dogs are allowed throughout the year. This is a shingle beach, with the water getting deep quite quickly as you swim out at all states of the tide. The beach is backed by a wide swathe of grassland with beach huts at the top of the beach. At the end of the car park is the Coastguard Station and the Army Cadet building.

Nestled beside the car park is an open piece of ground with tables and barbecues for public use. Please contact the Beachlands office for permission before using as they are occasionally booked and are not to be used in particularly dry periods to prevent accidental bush fires from stray sparks and embers.

Bound Lane Location

Opposite Bound Lane on the seafront and east of Beachlands.

Bound Lane Amenities

• Picnic area and barbecue stands
• Car park
• Public toilets
• Coastguard station

Chichester Avenue is one of the quietest beaches on the Seafront and one of the few that dogs are allowed. This is a shingle beach, with the water getting deep quite quickly as you swim out at all states of the tide. The beach is backed by a wide swathe of grassland with beach huts at the top of the beach. It is within easy walking distance of the fairground and it’s associated entertainment.

Chichester Avenue Location

Opposite Chichester Avenue on the seafront and east of Beachlands.

Chichester Avenue Amenities

• Kiosk
• Car park
• Public toilets

Beachlands is the main tourist attraction for Hayling Island with it’s fairground and amusements arcades. This is primarily a shingle beach with the beach being backed by sandy grass areas and heathland, criss-crossed by many paths.

This area of the beach is the best for entertainment of all sorts. It is the home of the Hayling fairground, which is open throughout the season, the Amusements arcades are open all year round, as is the cafe within. The Beachlands offices, who are responsible for the whole of Hayling Seafront, are located here with a tourist information office using the same building. The Beachlands Office, have recently been adding it’s own attractions to this part of the beach. Their first attraction was a BMX / skateboarding park, located at the far end of the area near to West Beach, which has proved to be very popular with the young. There is also an Adventure playground and Volley Ball Court.

The fairground car park is the weekly home to two open air markets and car boot sales every Wednesday morning and Sunday throughout the summer season.

Beachlands Location

From The funfair to the Inn on the Beach

Beachlands Amenities

• Fairground and amusements
• Food outlets
• Tourist information office
• Skate park
• Children’s play area
• Volleyball court
• Car park
• First aid post
• Public toilets

West Beach is Hayling’s most popular beach. Lying at the west end of the seafront, the waters here are the most sheltered by the West Winner sand bar ensuring that the waves are never too big in the summer and that, as the tide rises during the day, the water is usually warmer here than other parts of the seafront. The beach here is also the most sandy of the Island, with exception of Sandy and Black points.

The West Winner, which extends for about a mile into the Solent, is uncovered during low tides. It is possible to walk around it’s length at this state, which makes for a very nice walk on a sunny evening. Care should obviously be taken to keep an eye on the tides when under taking this walk as it is very easy to be cut off from the mainland. Be prepared to have to wade some part of the way!

This area of the seafront is also the designated Windsurfing area of the Hayling Seafront. This was introduced over ten years ago to help keep the windsurfers and swimmers away from each other. Though this does not work practice as West Beach is a popular location for young families due to it’s shallow waters, the windsurfers are aware of the situation and do take care when launching and landing.

West beach is also as a popular spot for surfers and body boarders who use a the breaks further along the shore and in front of the last groynes when the conditions are right.

During the summer evenings, when the tide is low, this beach is popular with horse riders who take their mounts out for a gallop along the sand flats.

Access is possible form here to the Sand dunes and to the fair ground at Beachlands, by walking along the beach road or the beach.

Location

Access to West beach is from Seafront Road, just west of the bottom of Staunton Avenue. Take the right turn off from the roundabout at Beachlands and follow the road until you see signs for the Par 3 golf Course and look for the Inn on the Beach.

Amenities

Kiosk:

A small kiosk that sells excellent fried food, ice creams and children’s beach toys and teas / coffees. There is also an emergency telephone located near here.

Car Park:

Public car park is run by the council and is of the pay and display variety.

Public Toilets:

The public toilets are located on the approach from Seafront Road, just after the entrance to the golf course.

Gunner point is the area located opposite The Kench towards the south western area of the Island. Gunner Point plays host to Hayling Golf Club, and the 9 Hole Pitch and Put course.