Hermitage Area

Southern residential area with Hermitage Stream, proximity to Hampshire Farm Meadows, and walking connections to the harbour shore.

The Hermitage area lies to the south and south-east of Emsworth town centre, between the built-up area and the harbour shore. The name derives from a religious hermitage that once occupied the site, and the area retains a quiet, slightly set-apart character. Hermitage Stream, a small watercourse that runs through the town, passes through this area on its way to the harbour. The stream and its banks provide a green corridor and a habitat for birds and other wildlife. The residential streets in the Hermitage area are largely post-war, with a mix of detached and semi-detached houses. Hampshire Farm Meadows, a local nature reserve, is accessible from the area and provides walking routes through grassland and wetland habitats. The Hermitage area is popular with families who want to be close to the harbour and the open spaces without paying the premium associated with the town centre and South Street. The walking routes from the Hermitage area connect to the harbour shore path and to the wider Chichester Harbour AONB footpath network. Thorney Road runs south from here towards the harbour and Thorney Island, providing access to some of the finest coastal walking in the area.