Mum's 80th — Portsmouth Excursion

The Day at a Glance

A family picnic by the water (with birthday cake), a wander round the castle, then all aboard for a harbour cruise.

🥪

FROM 12:30

Picnic & Cake

Bring & share on the lawns at Porchester Castle — birthday cake at lunch. PO16 9QW

⛵

3:00 PM SHARP

Solent Cruise

40-min harbour cruise from Gunwharf Quays. PO1 3TZ

🎟️

15 TICKETS

All Sorted

Order #00771 verified — view tickets →

Running Order

Two feeds into the castle: Matt drives Ayleen & James down from Salisbury; Marie relays via Ringwood to Grace & Richard. Times use live Google Maps Saturday traffic.

~8:40

Ayleen & James → bus

Off to catch the bus in Ludgershall.

~8:55

Bus 8 · Ludgershall → Salisbury

~1h22 — to meet Matt at Websters.

~10:00

Marie catches the X3

~57 min — Salisbury → Ringwood (no train — station closed 1964).

~10:45

Matt & family + Ayleen & James leave Websters

~1h06 in traffic — direct to Porchester.

~10:45

Grace & Richard leave Verwood

~13 min — to Ringwood, with the cake 🎂

~10:57

🔄 Ringwood pickup

Grace & Richard collect Marie & Chick (The Furlong, BH24 1AT).

~11:00

Paul + family leave Ludgershall

~1h16 in traffic — direct to Porchester.

~11:10

Grace & Richard → Porchester

~50 min — with Marie & Chick and the cake.

12:30

🥪 Picnic lunch + 🎂 birthday cake — Porchester Castle

Everyone gathered by ~12:15. Cake at lunch (likely a hot day). Explore the castle too.

~2:00

Head to Gunwharf Quays

~22 min — park in the multi-storey (pre-book online).

3:00

⛵ Solent Cruise departs

40-minute harbour cruise — back on land ~3:40.

~3:45

🍦 Relax at Gunwharf

Ice creams / drinks by the quay before heading home.

Who's Getting There How

Home addresses shared privately — this shows the plan only.

Ayleen & JamesBus + lift

Ludgershall → Salisbury

Bus 8 to Salisbury → Websters (walk or Matt collects) → down with Matt.

Bus ~8:55

Matt, Liz & familyDriving

From Websters, Salisbury

Carry Ayleen & James straight to Porchester.

Leave ~10:45

Marie & ChickX3 Bus

Salisbury → Ringwood

X3 to Ringwood, then join Grace & Richard.

Bus ~10:00

Grace & RichardDriving

From Verwood

🎂 Bring cake; collect Marie & Chick at Ringwood.

Leave ~10:45

Paul & familyDriving

From Ludgershall — direct

Leave ~11:00

🧺 Picnic — Bring & Share

Shaping up nicely — spread of savoury plus sweet treats and the cake.

Paul & family

Meats
Cheeses
Crackers
French bread

Marie

Brownie cookies (homemade)
2 share bags tortilla chips
Dip

James (Dad)

Sandwiches (made the night before)

Grace

🎂 Birthday cake — Patisserie Valerie mango & passionfruit (at lunch)

Matt & Liz

Picky finger bits (from the shop)
Fizz 🥂
Olives
Crisps

Nice spread sorted. Only real must-adds for a hot day: plenty of water and a cool box for the cake. Otherwise — a bit of Cowen spontaneity. 🤪

Good to Know

Porchester Castle parking: free for English Heritage members; non-members pay Fareham Council car parks (£1/hr, 10am–6pm) — about £2 for our stop.
Castle entry: picnic on the outer green is free; the keep is EH (non-member ~£10.20 adult / £5.10 child). Ayleen & James free as members.
Ringwood transfer: The Furlong car park (BH24 1AT) — share a live pin on the day in case of timing slips.
Gunwharf parking: pre-book the multi-storey online (cheaper on a Saturday).
Cake at lunch: doing it at the picnic rather than on the boat — likely a hot Saturday.

Still to Confirm

Nearly there — a few things to lock in.

Bus 8 Saturday times (Ludgershall → Salisbury) for Ayleen & James
X3 Saturday times (Salisbury → Ringwood) for Marie
Seats: Matt's car for Ayleen & James; Grace & Richard's for Marie & Chick
Solent Cruises boarding point at Gunwharf
Websters B&B Saturday-morning cover so Matt & Liz can leave by ~10:30

Mum's 80th Birthday