Hythe is a town in Hampshire, a county in England. This article also covers Fawley and the surrounding area.
Dibden Purlieu, 50.8534°, -1.4145°. Part of the civil parish 'Hythe and Dibden' and has since merged with Hythe. 2021-01-01
Totton, 50.9141°, -1.4986°. Not part of Hythe, but nearby. 2021-01-01
Ashlett, 50.8269°, -1.3406°. 2021-01-01
Blackfield, 50.8181°, -1.3726°. 2021-01-01
Calshot, 50.8117°, -1.3269°. 2021-01-01
Holbury, 50.8288°, -1.3837°. 2021-01-01
The village of Hythe lies in a pivotal position on the western shore of Southampton Water abutting the New Forest. In the area now known as the Waterside, Hythe is the central village of numerous small communities vastly expanded by dormitory housing serving the petrochemical industries in the Waterside and the City of Southampton.
Calshot Spit comprises a flint pebble structure around one mile long. Between it and the main shore is a salt marshy area with a wealth of wildlife and birds. The nearby Fawley Power Station discharged cooling water into the shallow waters around Calshot beach, and this has led to some reports of warm water species being attracted into the Solent. The Habitats Directive Review of Consents for the Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation (SAC) did indeed identify thermal pollution on the intertidal zone on the west shore of Southampton Water, but this is likely to be from more than this one source. Excavation for the nearby power station discovered buried land surfaces from the Neolithic period.
Southampton Airport 📍 (IATA: SOU) is a relatively small airport and serves destinations in the UK and Europe. It is about 15 miles from Hythe via the M27.
The Hythe ferry is a practical and charming way to travel between Hythe and the Town Quay in central Southampton. An adult return costs £7 (return leg valid for a month), and cycles are charged £1 (as of 2020). The ferry departs every half hour, 7 days a week and the journey takes about 15 minutes. If you like quirky transport and spectacular sea views then the journey is worth making just for fun. A shuttle bus operates at the Southampton end between the Town Quay, the West Quay shopping centre and Southampton Central station.
Hythe no longer has its own main line rail service – the last train ran in 1966 and the station is now the village museum. However, you can reach Hythe easily from the stations at Lymington and Southampton (via bus or ferry).
There are a couple of local taxi companies providing local and long distance travel services from major airports, towns, bus and rail stations to Hythe. New Forest Taxi and Soton Taxi provide instant cab/taxi booking facility.
Bluestar Buses travel from Southampton, £8, between 1 hour 20 and 1 hour 30.
Hythe is on the eastern edge of the New Forest.
Gang Warily Leisure Centre, Newlands Road, Fawley, 50.8244°, -1.3721°. Gym and fishing lake. Car boot sale on Sunday mornings in the carpark. 2020-12-25
Calshot Activities Centre, Calshot Spit, 50.8188°, -1.3081°, +44 2380 892077. It is one of the largest outdoor adventure centres in Britain. A hangar built for World War II flying boats, it's now an activity centre for watersports (including kite-surfing), climbing, snowboarding and track cycling. There is a small indoor velodrome, a dry ski slope, and facilities for climbing and bouldering. The climbing grades vary from about 3 to the occasional 8a. The centre offers residential and visitor courses. 2020-12-19
Lepe Country Park (Lepe Beach), 50.7852°, -1.3535°, +44 2380 899108. Walking, swimming, birdwatching, wild flower meadows and historic remains from the D-Day landings. There is also a mile of beach, pine fringed cliffs and stunning views across the Solent from Hurst Castle to Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower. From £2.00 to £6.00 depending on how long you stay 2020-12-23
Falcon Inn, The Square, Fawley, SO45 1DD, 50.8267°, -1.3504°. 18th century pub. mains £9 - 30 2020-12-25
Bluebird Cafe, 23, B3053, Calshot, 50.8087°, -1.3196°. Tu-Su 11AM-4PM. Cafe on the beach for sandwiches, coffee and ice cream. 2020-12-21
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