Stokes Bay

undefined, Solent News

Stokes Bay is a wide shingle beach on the southern coast of Gosport, facing directly across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. The bay stretches for roughly a mile between Fort Gilkicker to the east and the sailing club to the west, and is one of the most popular beaches on the western side of Portsmouth Harbour. The beach shelves gently and is suitable for swimming, and the clear views to the island make it a favourite spot for watching shipping and sunsets. The bay has a military history stretching back centuries. Fort Gilkicker, a casemated Palmerston Fort at the eastern end, guards the approach to the harbour narrows, and the remnants of wartime defences are still visible in places. Stokes Bay was one of the embarkation points for D-Day in June 1944, and troops and vehicles were marshalled on the grassland behind the beach before crossing to Normandy. Today the bay is used for swimming, windsurfing, kitesurfing, paddleboarding, and fishing. A small cafe operates near the car park, and the promenade connects to the wider Gosport seafront. The annual Gosport swim and other community events make use of the bay throughout the summer.