Hurst Castle
Lymington, Hampshire
A Henry VIII fort at the end of a shingle spit, reached with your dog by a mile and a half of walking or the seasonal ferry. Hard going and worth it.
Getting there is an event in itself. Hurst Castle sits at the seaward end of a long shingle spit commanding the narrow entrance to the Solent, and Henry VIII built it as one of the most advanced artillery fortresses in England. It later held eminent prisoners including Charles I, and was strengthened through the 19th and 20th centuries, so you get Tudor gun platform, Victorian armoured wings and Second World War defences on one site.
Whilst you work through three centuries of fortification and take in views across to the Isle of Wight and the Needles, your dog gets the spit walk, which is the real draw: sea on both sides, salt marsh behind, waders and terns, and constant Solent shipping. It is hard going on loose shingle, so be honest about your dog's fitness and carry water, because there is no shade at all.
There is no parking at the site. Use the pay and display car parks at Keyhaven or Milford on Sea. The site has no published dog policy, so keep your dog on a lead inside the fort. There is a café, shop, toilets and picnic seating.
At a Glance
- Site Type
- Castle & Fort
- Entry
- Paid entry
- Members
- Free for English Heritage members
- Facilities
- Café / restaurant, Parking, Picnic seating, Shop, Toilets
- Telephone
- 01590 642500
- Parking
- There is no parking at the site but there are pay-and-display car parks at both Keyhaven (postcode SO41 0TP) and at Milford on Sea seafront (postcode SO41 0PY).
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Planning Your Visit
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- 10:00 - 17:30
- Thursday
- 10:00 - 17:30
- Friday
- 10:00 - 17:30
- Saturday
- 10:00 - 17:30
- Sunday
- 10:00 - 17:30
Opening times and prices were checked on 26 August 2026 and are subject to change, and some sites close for events or over winter. Confirm on the English Heritage site page before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hurst Castle dog friendly?
Dogs are welcome at Hurst Castle, and the shingle spit walk out to the fort is a genuine highlight — sea on both sides, salt marsh, wading birds and constant Solent shipping passing close by. The castle itself has no published dog policy, so it's sensible to keep your dog on a lead inside the fort to be on the safe side.
Are dogs allowed at Hurst Castle year round?
The spit itself is open to walk year round, and there's also a seasonal ferry from Keyhaven if the shingle hike feels too much. It's worth checking English Heritage's website for the castle's seasonal opening hours before you travel, as access to the fort interior may vary.
What should I know before visiting Hurst Castle with my dog?
The walk along the spit is the main thing to prepare for — it's a mile and a half of loose shingle with sea on both sides, no shade whatsoever, and no water available en route, so carry plenty for yourself and your dog. Be honest about your dog's fitness before you set off, as the uneven shingle is genuinely tiring. There's no parking at the castle itself, so you'll need to use the pay-and-display car parks at Keyhaven (SO41 0TP) or Milford on Sea (SO41 0PY), and once you arrive there is a café, toilets, a shop and picnic seating at the site.
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What’s Nearby?
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A remote shingle and saltmarsh foreshore at the western edge of the Solent with year-round access and outstanding birdwatching.
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