Keyhaven & Hurst Spit
Shingle spit with flat marsh lagoons behind and one of southern England's fastest tidal races in front.
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● Spot · shaded: the wind directions that work here. It is not a riding area or a permitted kite zone. Two fingers to move the map.
Location & launch
Know before you go.
- Launch
- Shingle spit running out towards Hurst Castle, with saltmarsh lagoons behind and the West Solent in front.
- Wind
- S · SSW · SW · WSW · W winds work here.
The shaded area shows the wind directions recorded as working here. It is not a permitted kite zone or a safe launch boundary. Check local signs.
Local rules, hazards & spot guide
Need to know
The things that catch people out here.
- The Hurst Narrows is a genuine tidal race — over four knots on springs. If you get carried into it you are going through to the Needles.
- The saltmarsh behind the spit looks like a safe lagoon and hides deep unmarked channels.
- It is a protected site with ground-nesting birds. Keep off the marsh and out of the roped areas.
- The walk along the shingle spit with kit is long and awkward. Most people ride from the Keyhaven end.
Conditions
- Best
- Works
- Offshore
- Works in
- S, SSW, SW, WSW, W
- Best in
- SW, WSW
- Offshore (careful)
- WNW, NW
- Wind quality
- moderate
- Water
- Flat to choppy
- Depth
- standing
- Best tide
- Mid tide
- Spring range
- 2.4 m
Sea breeze · May–Aug
- Beginner
- Workable
- Intermediate
- Good
- Advanced
- Ideal
Hazards
Most serious first. The level is in words as well as colour.
- high
current The Hurst Narrows between the spit and the Isle of Wight run at over four knots on a spring tide. Being carried through is extremely serious.
- high
tidal cutoff The saltmarsh behind the spit floods and drains fast, with deep unmarked channels.
- high
wildlife Hurst Spit and the Keyhaven marshes are an SSSI and SPA with protected ground-nesting birds.
- medium
remote Long shingle walk out; no facilities at the far end.
Access & rules
- Launch
- Shingle spit running out towards Hurst Castle, with saltmarsh lagoons behind and the West Solent in front.
- Permit
- Not required
- Insurance
- Third-party liability expected
- Tuition
- Permitted
- Facilities
- toilets, cafe
Parking
- Keyhaven / Milford-on-Sea car parks
paid
Safety
Who is around if it goes wrong. None of it makes the water safe.
- Lifeguards
- None
- RNLI
- Lymington RNLI
- Nearest A&E
- Lymington New Forest Hospital (MIU) / Southampton General for A&E, Lymington (~20 min)
- Water quality
- Designated bathing water — excellent
The spot
Hurst Spit runs a mile and a half out from Keyhaven towards the Isle of Wight, with Hurst Castle at the end of it. Behind the spit lie shallow saltmarsh lagoons; in front is the West Solent and, at the narrows, a tidal race that exceeds four knots on springs.
That contrast is the whole spot. The lagoon side is flat and forgiving. The narrows side is not somewhere to make a mistake — a rider carried into that stream is heading for the Needles. The marshes are also a protected site with ground-nesting birds, so keep off them and out of the roped areas entirely.
Sources
Where this record came from, and how confident we are in it.
- Windfinder — Keyhaven
Checked 2026-09-07 · coordinates, wind
Verify locally. Coordinates 50.7137, -1.5722. Conditions, access arrangements and beach rules change; check them on the day before you rely on anything on this page.