# Solent News: Full Reference > Local news and community guides for towns and villages across the Solent area of Hampshire, from Gosport and Lee-on-the-Solent to Fareham, Stubbington, and Portchester. ## Areas ### Gosport Gosport is a naval town on the western shore of Portsmouth Harbour, directly opposite the city of Portsmouth. For centuries it served as the supply and support base for the Royal Navy, and that military heritage is woven into every street and waterfront. The town grew around the fortifications of th... URL: https://www.solent.news/areas/gosport ### Lee-on-the-Solent Lee-on-the-Solent is a seaside town on the south coast of Hampshire, facing the Solent with wide views across to the Isle of Wight. It was developed as a resort in the late Victorian period, and the broad tree-lined Marine Parade and long shingle beach still give it a quieter, more spacious feel tha... URL: https://www.solent.news/areas/lee-on-the-solent ### Fareham Fareham is a market town at the head of Fareham Creek, an inlet on the northern shore of Portsmouth Harbour. It has served as a local centre for trade and commerce since at least the medieval period, and the town's position at the junction of road and rail routes between Southampton and Portsmouth k... URL: https://www.solent.news/areas/fareham ### Stubbington Stubbington is a large village between Fareham and Lee-on-the-Solent in south Hampshire. It sits on gently rising ground about a mile inland from the Solent coast, and its position between the two larger settlements has shaped its character as a residential community with a strong village identity. ... URL: https://www.solent.news/areas/stubbington ### Portchester Portchester is a village and suburb on the northern shore of Portsmouth Harbour, within the borough of Fareham. It is best known for Portchester Castle, a remarkable site that combines the most complete Roman fort in northern Europe with a medieval castle built within its walls. The Roman fort, know... URL: https://www.solent.news/areas/portchester ### The Solent The Solent is the strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of Hampshire and the south coast of England. It runs roughly east to west for about twenty miles, from its junction with Spithead at the eastern end to the open waters of the western Solent and Christchurch Bay. At its narrowest... URL: https://www.solent.news/areas/the-solent ## Guides ### Sailing the Solent The Solent is one of the most celebrated sailing grounds in the world, attracting everything from weekend dinghy sailors to international racing fleets. The stretch of water between Hampshire and the ... URL: https://www.solent.news/guide/sailing-the-solent ### Ferries and the Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight sits just across the Solent from the Hampshire mainland, and the ferry services connecting the two have been a lifeline for islanders and a draw for visitors for well over a century.... URL: https://www.solent.news/guide/ferries-and-the-isle-of-wight ### Solent Weather and Tides The Solent's weather and tides shape daily life along the Hampshire coast, influencing everything from ferry schedules and sailing conditions to beach visits and fishing trips. Understanding the local... URL: https://www.solent.news/guide/solent-weather-and-tides ### Getting Around the Solent Area The Solent area of Hampshire is compact enough that most journeys between towns take less than half an hour by car, but traffic congestion on the main routes can add significantly to journey times dur... URL: https://www.solent.news/guide/getting-around-the-solent-area ### Walking the Solent Way The Solent Way is a sixty-mile long-distance walking trail that follows the Hampshire coast from Milford on Sea in the west to Emsworth in the east. It passes through several of the towns and villages... URL: https://www.solent.news/guide/walking-the-solent-way ### Wildlife and Nature Reserves The Solent coastline supports some of the most important wildlife habitats in southern England. The combination of sheltered harbours, tidal mudflats, saltmarsh, shingle beaches, and coastal grassland... URL: https://www.solent.news/guide/wildlife-and-nature-reserves ### Solent Military Heritage The Solent has been a frontline of England's defence for nearly two thousand years, and the military heritage of the area is visible at almost every turn. From Roman fortifications to Cold War install... URL: https://www.solent.news/guide/solent-military-heritage ### Cycling Routes Across the Area The Solent area offers a growing network of cycling routes, combining traffic-free paths with quieter lanes to connect towns and reach the coast. The flat to gently rolling terrain of the coastal plai... URL: https://www.solent.news/guide/cycling-routes-across-the-area ### Beaches and Swimming The Solent coast offers a string of beaches from Portchester round to Hill Head, each with a different character and appeal. The beaches face south across the Solent towards the Isle of Wight, and the... URL: https://www.solent.news/guide/beaches-and-swimming ### Fishing in the Solent The Solent and its surrounding harbours offer varied fishing opportunities, from shore casting on the open beaches to boat fishing over the deeper channels and wrecks further offshore. The sheltered w... URL: https://www.solent.news/guide/fishing-in-the-solent ### Food and Drink Around the Solent The Solent area has a varied food and drink scene that draws on its coastal location, its market town traditions, and its mix of independent businesses and high street names. From seafood landed on th... URL: https://www.solent.news/guide/food-and-drink-around-the-solent ### A Brief History of the Solent Area The Solent area has been continuously occupied since prehistoric times, shaped by its position on a sheltered stretch of the English south coast with access to deep water harbours and fertile agricult... URL: https://www.solent.news/guide/a-brief-history-of-the-solent-area