During our trip to Bournemouth, on the Tuesday after Christmas, we went for a visit to Hurst Castle. It is an English Heritage site but is locally managed by Hurst Castle Ferries.

We parked near Milford-on-Sea and walked over Cut Bridge and then walked along the Hurst Spit towards Hurst Castle.

It was a bright sunny day but with it being winter, the sun was low in the sky.

Hurst Castle was originally built by Henry VIII as one of a chain of coastal fortresses. It was completed in 1544.

The castle was modernised during the Napoleonic wars and again in the 1870’s when the enormous armoured wings were added, making it the largets coastal fort in the world. Two of the huge 38-ton guns installed in the 1870’s are still in their casemates.

During the Second World War, Hurst Castle was equiped with quick-firing gun batteries and searchlights.

We payed a visit to the Castle Cafe in the castle for some refreshments. The ‘boys’ said that the cake was really good but unfortunately there were no gluten-free options so I didn’t get any.

Within the Castle walls, there is an exhibition by the Association of Lighthouse Keepers at Hurst.

Hurst Castle was used to imprison Charles I in 1648 before he was taken to London for trial and execution.

Paul Atkinson, a Franciscan monk, was sentenced to ‘perpetual imprisonment’ for practising Catholicism, spending 29 years at Hurst sleeping on a slab of slate until his death in 1729.

Following our visit of the Castle, we had to walk back down the spit to where we had parked the car.

As we were walking back along the spit, the sun started to go down and gave a wonderful sunset.

The Castle is well worth a visit if you are ever in the area.