Journal
Guides to getting here, what to do along the shore, and the small details that make a stay on Hayling Island feel unhurried.
Guides · 9 min read
Royal Navy Museums: Submarines in Gosport is about 45 to 55 minutes from Sandy Point and open Wednesday to Sunday all winter, with HMS Alliance to climb aboard, Holland 1 at 125 years old, free parking and mostly indoor galleries for a wet day.
3 November 2026Guides · 10 min read
West Dean Gardens is about 40 to 45 minutes from Sandy Point and open all winter, with Victorian glasshouses, a 2.5 mile arboretum walk, dogs welcome on a short lead, free entry for under 16s and a Christmas market on 27 and 28 November 2026.
2 November 2026Guides · 9 min read
Pallant House Gallery is about 30 to 35 minutes from Sandy Point and open six days a week all winter, with Modern British art in a Queen Anne townhouse, free entry for under 18s and a new Barbara Hepworth exhibition from 21 November 2026.
30 October 2026Guides · 9 min read
Tangmere Military Aviation Museum is about 35 to 40 minutes from Sandy Point, open every day until 29 November 2026, with world speed record jets, a blue Spitfire prototype, cockpits and flight simulators.
29 October 2026Guides · 9 min read
Southsea seafront is about half an hour from Sandy Point. The D-Day Story and Blue Reef Aquarium are open through the winter, Southsea Castle courtyard stays open, and dogs are back on the main beach from 1 October.
28 October 2026Guides · 6 min read
Uppark, the National Trust house high on the South Downs at South Harting, is roughly half an hour from Sandy Point. Free gardens with views to the Solent, a house rebuilt after the 1989 fire, dogs welcome in the grounds, and Christmas opening on selected December days.
27 October 2026Guides · 9 min read
The Watercress Line, the heritage steam railway between Alresford and Alton, is a little under an hour from Sandy Point. Four stations, a Harry Potter bridge, dogs welcome on most trains, Steam Illuminations from 27 November and a Father Christmas Express in December.
23 October 2026Guides · 9 min read
Mottisfont, the National Trust house and garden in the Test valley near Romsey, is about an hour from Sandy Point. A scented winter garden, dogs welcome in most of the garden, a 5.7 mile estate walk and a Jack and the Beanstalk Christmas from 21 November.
22 October 2026Guides · 8 min read
Fort Nelson, the Royal Armouries' Victorian fort on Portsdown Hill, is about 30 to 35 minutes from Sandy Point. Free entry, 700 guns, underground tunnels, harbour views, open through the winter and a free festive family trail from 28 November.
21 October 2026Guides · 9 min read
Hinton Ampner, the National Trust house and garden near Alresford, is about 45 to 50 minutes from Sandy Point. A Georgian Revival house, a garden and estate open through most of the winter, dogs on short leads and A Christmas Wish from 14 November.
20 October 2026Guides · 8 min read
Gilbert White's House & Gardens in Selborne is about 45 minutes from Sandy Point. A naturalist's home, 25 acres of garden and parkland, the 1753 Zig-Zag path and dogs welcome in the grounds.
19 October 2026Guides · 7 min read
A milestone birthday stay for three generations at our Sandy Point house: dinner for nine at home, cake in the garden, a harbour lunch and a sunset photo. Children of all ages, babies included, and dogs welcome, no parties.
17 October 2026Guides · 8 min read
Marwell Zoo is about 50 minutes from Sandy Point. A 140-acre walking safari near Winchester with giraffes, tigers and snow leopards, plus Wild Autumn at half-term and Christmas events.
16 October 2026Guides · 7 min read
The Weald & Downland Living Museum is about 40 minutes from Sandy Point. Over 50 historic buildings on 40 acres in the South Downs, dogs on short leads and a strong rainy-day option.
15 October 2026Guides · 8 min read
Portchester Castle is about 30 minutes from Sandy Point. A Roman fort, a Norman keep with harbour views, dogs on leads and room for a group picnic.
14 October 2026Guides · 8 min read
The New Forest is about an hour west of Sandy Point. Lyndhurst, the giant trees, ponies and autumn pigs, dogs and how to get there.
9 October 2026Guides · 7 min read
Fishbourne Roman Palace is a short drive from Sandy Point. The mosaics, the gardens, half-term events, dogs and how to get there.
8 October 2026Guides · 8 min read
Stansted Park is a short drive from Sandy Point. What is open out of season, the forest walks, the maze, dogs and how to get there.
7 October 2026Guides · 8 min read
West Wittering and East Head sit just across the harbour mouth from Sandy Point. Getting there, parking, autumn dog rules and the East Head dune walk.
6 October 2026Guides · 7 min read
Emsworth's millponds, harbour walk and P G Wodehouse history are a short drive north-east of Hayling. A practical guide from our Sandy Point house.
5 October 2026Guides · 7 min read
The Hayling Billy Trail is the flat former railway path along Langstone Harbour. A practical local walk and cycle guide from our Sandy Point house.
2 October 2026
Guides · 7 min read
The Isle of Wight is an easy Solent day from Sandy Point via Portsmouth. A practical guide to hovercraft, FastCat and car ferry options from our Hayling Island house.
1 October 2026Guides · 7 min read
Petworth House, the Pleasure Garden and Capability Brown deer park are an easy drive north-east of Hayling. A practical guide from our Sandy Point house.
30 September 2026Guides · 7 min read
Bosham harbour village, tidal foreshore and harbour walks are an easy drive east of Hayling. A practical guide from our Sandy Point house.
29 September 2026Guides · 7 min read
Arundel Castle, the cathedral and the riverside town are an easy drive east of Hayling. A practical guide from our Sandy Point house.
28 September 2026Guides · 7 min read
Winchester cathedral, the Great Hall and the city centre are a short drive north-west of Hayling. A practical guide from our Sandy Point house.
25 September 2026Guides · 7 min read
Chichester cathedral, the Novium and harbour villages are a short drive east of Hayling. A practical guide from our Sandy Point house.
24 September 2026Guides · 7 min read
Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Butser Hill and a chalk-downland day are a short drive north of Hayling. A practical guide from our Sandy Point house.
23 September 2026Guides · 7 min read
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Southsea and Gunwharf are an easy day from Sandy Point. A practical guide to driving, the Hayling Ferry, and what to do when you get there.
22 September 2026Guides · 7 min read
Hampshire's long summer holiday is the main family window on Hayling Island. A practical guide to a Sandy Point stay at Wittering Sands.
17 September 2026Guides · 6 min read
Hampshire's May half-term and Spring Bank Holiday week is a short family window on Hayling Island. A practical guide to a Sandy Point stay at Wittering Sands.
16 September 2026Guides · 7 min read
Out of season Hayling belongs to walkers and winter birds. A practical guide to coastal paths and harbour birdwatching from our Sandy Point house.
15 September 2026Guides · 6 min read
Hampshire schools break for Easter from late March into early April. Here is how an Easter family week at Sandy Point actually works from Wittering Sands: harbour walks, beach days if the weather holds, and a whole house for a multi-generation or friends-with-kids group.
14 September 2026Guides · 6 min read
Hampshire schools break for spring half-term from mid-February. Here is how a February family break at Sandy Point actually works from Wittering Sands: cold sea air, quieter beaches, and a whole house for a multi-generation or friends-with-kids group.
8 September 2026Guides · 6 min read
After half-term and before Christmas, Hayling goes quiet. Here is how a November weekend at Sandy Point actually works from Wittering Sands — harbour walks, shorter days, and a whole house for a slow group stay.
7 September 2026Guides · 7 min read
Hampshire schools break for Christmas from mid-December. Here is how a festive stay at Sandy Point works from Wittering Sands — quiet harbour walks, local Christmas markets, and a whole house for family gatherings.
4 September 2026Guides · 6 min read
The Southampton International Boat Show runs 18–27 September 2026. Here is how to use Wittering Sands at Sandy Point as a whole-house base for the show — drive times, kit space, and what to do when you are not at Mayflower Park.
2 September 2026Guides · 7 min read
Hampshire autumn half-term is typically late October. Here is how a family week at Sandy Point actually works from Wittering Sands: beach and harbour, mixed ages, rain, sailing, and dogs.
1 September 2026Local · 6 min read
Dogs are welcome at Wittering Sands. Here is how a dog-friendly weekend at Sandy Point actually works — walks from the door, beaches, and where to eat with a dog under the table.
28 August 2026Guides · 5 min read
How to plan a sailing weekend at Hayling Island Sailing Club, and what it means to stay a few minutes' walk away at Sandy Point.
23 August 2026Local · 6 min read
A practical guide to the beaches within reach of Sandy Point and Eastoke on Hayling Island — which suit small children, which suit swimmers, and where a large group can spread out.
23 August 2026Guides · 7 min read
Hayling Island sits about seventy miles from London on the Hampshire coast. Here is how to reach it by road and by rail, how long each takes, and how to cover the last few miles to Sandy Point.
9 August 2026