Medieval fish trap. East Head 2.

Low tide on Hayling Island reveals something most visitors walk straight past - a series of wooden stakes poking out of the mud, the remains of a medieval fish trap that's been underwater for centuries. It's genuinely striking once you know what you're looking at: locals would have driven these posts into the foreshore to funnel fish into enclosures at high tide, then collected them when the water retreated. The trap at East Head dates back roughly 800 years, which means it's been doing its job since before the Tudor rose was even a thing.

You won't find a visitor centre or interpretive panels here. This is raw archaeology - you show up at low tide, spot the wooden stakes, and piece together how medieval people actually made their living. It appeals to history buffs and anyone interested in how ordinary folk managed the coast, but casual beach-goers often miss it entirely. The walk down to East Head from Hayling Island proper takes twenty minutes or so across relatively flat ground, making it manageable for most abilities.

Timing matters completely. Plan your visit around low tide - check the tide tables before you go, or you'll find the whole site underwater. Admission appears to be free, and there's no formal opening hours since it's essentially a natural foreshore site.

If you're camping nearby at Fishery Creek or Stubcroft Farm, this fits neatly into a wider explore of Hayling Island's coast. It's not a whole-day attraction, but it's the sort of thing that sticks with you - proof that medieval people were far cleverer about reading their landscape than we give them credit for.