We're coming to the end of a second month since we arrived back from Thailand and an international tour is beckoning. It will be the climax to the summer season. Planned some time ago, I have only recently added the final touches after much research. For my partner it will be a new experience as we head for France.
We finally get our travels underway at around 10.30 am after final adjustments. We're committed to self-cater when we can as we travel independently. The aiming point today is Portsmouth where we will catch the ferry tomorrow.
The trip down proves uneventful but I have an attraction in mind as we near our destination. I locate Fort Nelson named after the famous admiral and am quite taken aback by what I find. The complex on a hill overlooking Portsmouth is there for a reason. Constructed in the mid 1850s, it was designed to deter invaders. As well as impressive fortifications to explore, there is an impressive display of international exhibits.
Fort Nelson, is one of five defensive forts built on the summit of Portsdown Hill in the 1860s, overlooking the important naval base of Portsmouth and is a Grade I Listed Building. The current tenant is the Royal Armouries, housing the artillery of the national collection of arms and armour.
Arriving at the fort by road, there is a visitor car park with a fee of £3. Otherwise, there is no fee for the attraction. The exhibits which concentrate of artillery, is well documented and covers the history of these weapons since the Middle Ages. It's time to head for the city getting fooled by the GPS again before heading for our accommodation.
We chose Premier Inn in the city to be near the ferry port but being buried deep in the city it has one significant disadvantage. There is no parking. This means using a multi story a block away. Of course, we are loaded with kit. The room itself, though is perfectly adequate. Once organised though, we can make good use of what we brought. In the meantime I gather some information and realise the day is not over.
One great positive is our proximity to the train station and we head out on a lovely evening to take the train to the docks area. For small change we're soon there with a number of attractions right in front of us. The most obvious are the Spinnaker Tower and HMS Warrior. However, the nearby Historic Dock area has a few important attractions, notably HMS Victory, National Museum of the Royal Navy and the Mary Rose Museum. None of these can I visit today or tomorrow which will involve little driving as we head out to sea.
Source: Visit