All except the start and last part of this walk is on the Hayling Billy cycle trail and is clearly waymarked, so navigation is easy.
[1] From the south side of the station turn left through the station car park to pick up a clearly-marked cycle path. Go through the old level crossing gates onto the old railway line, now the Hayling Billy cycle trail.
(A) The Hayling Billy trail also forms part of the Shipwrights Way, a 50 mile long-distance route (note the waymarkers).
Follow the trail as it passes under the A27 and later crosses the road from Havant to Hayling Island.
Take care crossing the busy road. Use the traffic island.
The trail bears away from the road before returning to meet it.
Cross the road again to visit the Ship Inn Public House.
(B) The Ship Inn does food. In good weather the outside seating has great views.
(C) The Emsworth Channel is part of Chichester Harbour.
Alternative Route: Instead of crossing the road from Havant to Hayling Island, continue on the same side of the road until Langstone High Street. Turn left into the High Street and continue until you reach the shore of the Emsworth Channel.
This is part of the Wayfarer’s Walk and there’s plenty of interest at Langstone before returning to the Hayling Billy route; the Royal Oak PH is worth a visit and there are excellent views of the harbour.
If the tide is low, turn right along the shoreline to reach the Ship Inn and to return to the route. If the tide is high, return to the Havant to Hayling Island road and turn left.
(D) The old Hayling Billy railway line travelled south across a rickety wooden viaduct. It was the need to repair this viaduct – and the cost - that caused the closure of the line in 1963. The remains of the viaduct are visible (especially as the tide falls).
[2] If not visiting the pub, turn left on the pavement to cross over the road bridge.
[3] Shortly after the bridge follow the Hayling Billy trail signs on the right to reach Langstone Harbour. Then turn left, following the old railway line again. The route is obvious all the way to the old Hayling Island station, part of which is now converted into a theatre.
(E) There are many information boards about Langstone Harbour along the way. The harbour is of international importance for birds.
(F) The theatre is run by Hayling Island Amateur Dramatic Society and offers plays, comedies, musicals, music events and many other forms of entertainment from both amateur and professional groups. There’s an information board about the Hayling Island World War II Heritage Trail.
[4] From the theatre, cross the road and continue in the same direction down Staunton Avenue. At the T junction, cross the road and continue ahead to reach the beach. Turn left to reach cafes, WCs and a bus stop next to the roundabout at Beachlands.
[5] From Beachlands, catch a bus back to Havant.
(G) At South Hayling there’s the beach, a funfair and the Hayling Seaside Railway a narrow gauge railway opened by some of the people who had hoped to revive Hayling Billy, which proved impossible, so this is the alternative.