Solent car/ trailer parking & accomodation advice

[BumbleAbout]

We seem to have a few longer weekends approaching and so we would like to explore the Solent. Since we live a couple of hours north up the A34 we ideally want somewhere secure to leave the car & trailer (with a reasonable chance of them being there when we return) and do a couple of day trips from a B&B, pub or even marina base - any hints please ?

[Dry Run]

The Camber Dock in old Portsmouth has a car park, free trailer park and a slpiway (coin operated £2-50). It's rignt at the entrance to Portsmouth harbour, so is ideal for exploring The Solent. There are also numerous reasonable B&B's within 200m. Further information on www.KB-Boatpark.co.uk/Camber_Docks. If you drop me a PM I'll send you a list of local B&B's

[Starovich]

Originally Posted by Dry Run

Portsmouth has a car park, free trailer park and a slpiway (coin operated £2-50)

Interesting concept, free but costs £2.50.

[Neil Harvey]

Originally Posted by Dry Run

The Camber Dock in old Portsmouth has a car park

which costs £8+ a day IIRC, but should be free if you take a Camber Dock B&B

You might need to recover the boat each day though, unless there is a pontoon you can use for a couple of nights

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Neil Harvey

which costs £8+ a day IIRC, but should be free if you take a Camber Dock B&B

You might need to recover the boat each day though, unless there is a pontoon you can use for a couple of nights

You could tie up alongside the slipway, but it's not secure.

Another option is to launch at Haslar, secure the trailer in the car park at the top and use the Marina for keeping your boat on the water during your stay. You'd then be able to use the Marina car parking. Not too sure about accommodation in the area, but doing it this way might open the oppotunity to stay over the Island?

[C2 RIBS]

I can thoroughly recommend B & b in Hamble Village called Compass Point-
http://www.compasspointhamble.co.uk/index.html

Mike runs a great place right in the heart of the village and very close to all facilities including marinas.
Launching in the area , there a quite a few options from a free launch in the village on a public slip which is a tight squeeze for anything larger than 6.m rib but Mike would have to advice on parking and trailer issues and the opposite side of the river at Warsach public slip, then put car and trailer into car park for a fee. Or you could spend a load(25-£30) and launch from a great concrete slip at Hamble Point Marina, which would give you loads of parking etc and facilities and secure.

There are a few other launch slips further up the River you can find on http://rib.net/boatlaunch/

Another option is Calshot on the Western side of Southampton water at the Solent end, All these are very close to The Solent, Calshot you can camp at their site on the waters edge.

I am sure other ideas will follow

[BumbleAbout]

Many thanks all - very helpful - we will report in a couple of weeks !

[Starovich]

as hightower mentioned,
Haslar also has dry parking on trailer for 35p per meter per day in a gated compound.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Starovich

as hightower mentioned,
Haslar also has dry parking on trailer for 35p per meter per day in a gated compound.

Oooh I never knew that! Is that in the Haslar Marina car park or the boat yard at the top of the slip?

[Starovich]

Boatpark, top of the slip.