Hurst Spit, Milford-on-Sea

A 2km shingle arm curling out into the Solent, ending at Hurst Castle with the Needles just three miles across the water — this is the best coastal drone territory on the Hampshire mainland, and a sensible alternative to the New Forest interior, where Forestry England byelaws effectively ban recreational drone flying altogether. From above, the spit is a perfect crescent dividing open sea from the sheltered Keyhaven saltmarshes, with yacht traffic threading the Narrows and big tidal streams drawing visible lines in the water. Two legal wrinkles: Hurst Castle is English Heritage, so no TOAL within the castle grounds and keep overflight respectful; and New Forest District Council discourages recreational drones on its public open spaces, so the cleanest launch is from the shingle foreshore below the high water mark or the beach at the Milford end, flown quietly. The Keyhaven–Lymington marshes behind the spit are an internationally important bird reserve — stay over the seaward side, especially October to March when thousands of wildfowl winter there. Wind is relentless; the walk out is on energy-sapping shingle, so budget batteries for the 20-minute slog each way or fly from the landward end.