Walk 14 – Old 1 Grid ref:SZ629996 Start your Walk at Spice Island, so called because Portsmouth was the main port for importing spices from the Caribbean. Look out over the water towards and turn left along the cobbled street through Bath Square towards the Still and West. Look for Quebec House, the old customs house on your right. Take a diversion here along the path on your right up a ramp by the 'Victory Boat' sign. This leads to a delightful area where you can sit and watch the harbour traffic. Retrace your steps and continue into West Street and then take the 'no entry' road ahead to the end, where you will see a sign for Tower Street.

2 Grid ref:SZ629993 Turn right here and pass by the bollard to the Capstan Square and discover the history of the defence chain which stretched across the harbour from here. Cross the square to the ramp by the railings and pass through the building into another square. Here you will see some steps opposite.

3 Grid ref:SZ629993 Climb these steps and turn right at the top with the railings on your right. Go up the steps into the Round Tower. At the top there is a fantastic view! Here families gather to wave goodbye and to welcome home their loved ones back from the ships as they pass close by. Retrace your route out of the Tower and round the railings to the top of the steps.

4 Grid ref:SZ629993 Pass through this brick archway and go through the building to the sea walls. Walk along these high walls with the sea on your right. At the signpost keep right and descend a few steps, continuing along the Millennium Promenade. Pass by the Square Tower and Victoria Pier. Look to your left for views of the bombed Garrison Church - you will be visiting that later. Just after the Saluting Platform you will arrive at a signpost with a choice of paths.

5 Grid ref:SZ631991 Take the right fork here and walk with the sea on your right and the moat on your left. Keep to the path nearest the sea as you go through the remains of the Spur Redoubt and head for the rather short Clarence Pier with a big car park on your left. Clarence Pier was opened by Queen Victoria in 1848, bombed during WW2 and was never rebuilt. Pass through the funfair and you will find yourself back on the seafront again (public toilets to your left). This is Southsea seafront. You will see the IoW hovercraft landing platform on your right, shortly after which is a huge anchor, which used to be called 'The Victory's Anchor'.

6 Grid ref:SZ636987 Look for the small plaque commemorating Alec Rose who landed here in 1968 after sailing single-handedly around the world. Continue ahead along the promenade with Southsea Common on your left, just across the road. Ahead you can see the magnificent war memorial to both World Wars. Look to your left for the church spire which is used by sailors as a navigational aid. This belongs to St Jude's Church, built in 1851 by Thomas Owen, an esteemed architect who instigated much of Southsea's development in the 19th Century. Just before reaching the Blue Reef Cafe you will see some signposts.

7 Grid ref:SZ640983 Fork right here along the promenade, keeping close to the sea. Pass the back of the Blue Reef Aquarium (well worth a visit, see Additional Info'). Pass the bandstand on your left, ignore the path on your left and follow the route close to the sea towards Southsea Castle. Henry VIII ordered the building of this in 1544 and it was completed in less than six months! It was from here, just a year later, that Henry VIII witnessed the sinking of the Mary Rose. Continue past the castle until the underfoot tarmac changes from a dark colour to pink with some paving slabs.

8 Grid ref:SZ646980 Look for this path on your left just after the change of surface underfoot. There is a large blue glass building on your left, the Pyramids Centre. Turn left along this path which at the present passes to the right of the building with the Botanical Gardens on your right. After a short distance you will see some steps ahead.

9 Grid ref:SZ646981 Descend these steps and take a route across the gardens. This is best achieved by turning half-right to start with and then taking the first exit to the left off the 'flowerbed roundabout'. Then you can go straight across the gardens to some steps at the other side. However, these gardens are beautiful so here you can take a diversion to have a good look around and maybe take time for a nice sit-down too! When you are ready, climb the steps to leave the gardens.

10 Grid ref:SZ646981 Turn left at the top of the steps and follow the path to the road, where you will see a zebra crossing.

11 Grid ref:SZ646982 Cross the road here and turn left along the pavement. After a few paces turn right along Jack Cockerill Way. Again, after just a few paces, cross this road to the path across Southsea Common, the start of which is just before a road sign with directions of how to get out of the city.

12 Grid ref:SZ646982 Take this path across Southsea Common. Pass the skatepark on your left and then the pitch and putt course and follow the path to the road. Continue in the same direction along the pavement. Cross the vehicular entrance to the common by the big metal gates and catch up with the pavement again. Pass a car park on your left and then carry straight ahead along Duisburg Way. Pass the sign for the ferries and continue to Pier Roundabout.

13 Grid ref:SZ636991 Go straight ahead here along Gordon Road (public toilets signed here). Cross Pembroke Road and pass the Holiday Inn on your right. Keep straight ahead along Pembroke Road with views of Portsmouth Cathedral in front of you. Pass the bowling-green on your left and then you will see the Garrison Church to your left. Continue until you reach the junction with Penny Street.

14 Grid ref:SZ633992 Turn left here and at the end of the road you will see the entrance to the Garrison Church on your left continue onto the cobbled area ahead.

15 Grid ref:SZ631992 When you reach the cobbles, turn right and walk along the broad pavement with the parking area on your left, until you reach the end of Grand Parade with its junction with High Street.

16 Grid ref:SZ631992 Turn left here on the High Street and follow it to the end, where you will find the square tower. Follow the paved area on the left of Broad Street and see the Hotwalls studios, where local artist and designers work under the arches, used in the past as an artillery barracks. Continue along Broad Street to Spice Island to finish your walk.