Portsdown Hill is a ridge of chalk that lies to the north of Portsmouth Harbour on the South Coast of England. The north side of the hill is farmland, horse paddocks and public open space, while the south side is a mix of chalk grassland and scrub, much of it designated as a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest).
This website describes the open spaces managed by the staff and volunteers of the Portsdown Hill Countryside Service.

Besides the SSSI, there are other areas on nature conservation interest on the hill, including SINCs (Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation). A variety of landowners and agencies own and manage the rest of the hill including the MoD, local authorities and utility companies. Within these ownerships, fragments of the once widespread chalk downland habitat remain.

Litter is a never-ending problem. Many thanks to the known and unknown folk who keep the area looking good by picking up litter.


Butterflies and their foodplants on Portsdown Hill

foodplants for caterpillars

Photo Photo




Getting data


Out and About

Cattle below Fort Widley
photo The cattle have been mooved again, this time into areas below the west end of Fort Widley. For the first time in 20 years, it was necessary to fit temporary gates across Southwick Hill Road to guide them across. Things went smoothly at this stage, and an unexpected break-out afterwards was short-lived. 20th March '24.

39 Steps cleared
photo The steps going uphill from near Cliffdale Gardens have been cleared by the volunteers. They easily get overgrown by vegetation on the other side of the fence.
With luck in warm weather you may spot a lizard ahead of you, but they are good at feeling danger approaching. And yes there really are 39 steps.

Walkway partly closed
photo The walkway running from Pigeon House Lane up the hill then parallel to Southwick Road is open, but the section running across to Mill Lane is closed off at Pigeon House Lane, according to a sign on the gate. Contractors are working on a major project to upgrade elelctricity cables. However, there is no sign at the Mill Lane end of the path, and access there is not prevented.
27th March '24.



Contacts

For matters and requests relating to management of the hill,
e-mail: Richard Jones
(richard.jones2@portsmouthcc.gov.uk)
telephone 023 9238 9623 or write to :
Richard Jones MIEEM, Portsdown Hill Countryside Officer,
Portsdown Hill Countryside Service, Fort Widley, Portsdown Hill Road,
Portsmouth, PO6 3LS

This website is maintained by Alan Thurbon for the Friends of Portsdown Hill. For comments or contributions, e-mail: FoPH
(mail@portsdown.org.uk)

A map of paths
If you are looking for somewhere to go locally, try a walk around the various paths on the hill. There is a map here, showing the permissive paths and the nearest public footpaths. The south side is mostly open access.



A stroll through time
To explore some of our local history, you can follow a triangular walk around the hill. This is based on a talk by Nigel Gossop, and described by Juliet Dunn. The map and notes are here.