On Wednesday I took an afternoon small boat cruise into the Solent taking in No Man’s Land, Spitbank and Horse Sand forts, designed and built in the 19th century by Lord Palmerston to protect the eastern approaches to Portsmouth Harbour.
Leaving from Gosport on one of the Hythe ferry boats The ” Spirit of Portsmouth” the trip gave a good close-up of the forts.
Below is a picture of one of the other ferries similar to the boat we were on.
One of the fortification Towers at the entrance into Portsmouth Harbour.
Heading out of Portsmouth we passed Fort Gilkicker one of the shore forts {which I have posted about in the past} This fort is being restored and redeveloped into apartments.
A pilot boat headed out to meet an incoming ship into the Solent.
Spitbank Fort.
No Man’s Land fort.
Horse Sands Fort.
Returning to Portsmouth Harbour we passed the now no longer used Submarine training escape tower – I understand the tower was filled with water and the crew could practice emergency escapes from a stranded submarine there.
Further pictures from the boat trip will be posted later.
Continued Reflections from my World. 
How interesting! I had no idea there were that many forts there, and Fort Gilkicker is going to be an amazing place to live. But the thought of trying to escape out of that deep column of water gives me the collywobbles…
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I would be very not like to try it.
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What an amazing place! I can’t imagine practicing emergency escapes from that tower. Yowza, those people are brave.
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