Gosport, Hampshire

Gosport local area guide

Nestled on the south coast of Hampshire, a county famed for its rich maritime history, which boasts two of England’s largest ports on its shore; the village of Rowner can be found. The original birthplace of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, and less than three miles from the coast, this small community is the ideal base for those wanting a home close to the sea but within easy reach of major urban hubs, such as Portsmouth and Southampton, which are 12 and 17 miles away respectively.

Rowner is located in an area that is currently undergoing widespread regeneration as part of the Rowner Renewal Project, with exciting plans afoot for new community facilities and retail outlets, landscaped communal squares and the creation of 700 new homes*. The village currently has a local shop, pharmacy, post office and pub, as well as a medieval church, St Mary the Virgin. The nearby towns of Gosport and Fareham, boast a greater variety of shopping, dining and entertainment facilities, whilst Portsmouth Harbour and boatyard and Gosport War Memorial Hospital are also within easy reach.

Sporting enthusiasts are well catered for in Rowner; Lee on the Solent, Cams Hall Estate, Fleet and Gosport & Stokes Bay Golf clubs are all within five miles of the village, and Holbrook Recreation Centre, Planet Ice and Rowner Cricket Club are also nearby. The sailing club in nearby Stokes Bay boast offers a variety of water sports. For those who enjoy a more leisurely form of exercise, Chark Common and Peel Common both provide an ideal place in which residents can enjoy long countryside walks, and the New Forest is only around 30 miles away. The area enjoys a bustling community atmosphere, with the village of Bridgemary hosting an annual Carnival, and Portsmouth Harbour linked to the International Festival of the Sea.

Rowner and the surrounding area boasts several good schools, with Grange Infants School, Grange County Junior and Rowner Junior schools in the village itself. In nearby Gosport there are several primary and junior schools, and Bay House School, which caters for 11-18 year olds, was rated amongst the top 200 state schools in the country by The Times. Those requiring higher education are spoilt for choice in Rowner, with the University of Portsmouth less than 12 miles away, and both the University of Southampton and Southampton Solent University within 20 miles.

Located close to the M27, the village of Rowner is well connected to the surrounding area. Fareham train station is just over four miles away and offers a direct train service into London Waterloo in an hour and three quarters, and Portsmouth Harbour station – accessed from Gosport by ferry – also provides a similar length journey to Waterloo. Southampton Airport is only 16 miles northeast of the village and offers a regular timetable of both domestic and short-haul European flights.

* http://www.rownerrenewal.com/