Hampshire, English Coast

The Hampshire coast is known particularly for it's historic maritime heritage, sailing, and commercial port cities of Portsmouth and Southampton. The Hampshire coast is dotted with Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The South Hampshire Coast between the New Forest and the Solent is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It comprises lagoons, saltmarshes, mudflats, and the Beaulieu and Lymington river estuaries.

Portsmouth and Southampton are the main coastal cities. Portsmouth is steeped in maritime history. Around the two Spithead Forts is where England's powerful warship of it's time, The Mary Rose, sank whilst preventing the French fleet from landing in 1545. There is also the Spur Redoubt where Lord Nelson boarded HMS Victory for the Battle of Trafalgar.