Portsmouth Island

Portsmouth Island was a fishing and shipping village.  The village was established in 1753 but abandoned by 1971.  The island can only be reached by a passenger ferry from Ocracoke Village or by four wheel drive vehicles which cross Core Sounds by ferry from Atlantic and then use the beach and tracks on North Core Banks.  There are only about a dozen buildings and a couple of outbuildings that are maintained by Portsmouth Village Historic District. During the summer time the island’s beach is a great place to camp out overnight. This area offers superb fishing and hunting, and is the ultimate rustic beach getaway.