The coastline south of Chichester offers miles of unspoilt beaches and wild, wonderful nature reserves where you can completely lose yourself and reconnect with the great outdoors.
Which beach?
West Wittering Beach is renowned for its long, golden sands and shallow waters which make it ideal for families. Pre-booking the car park is encouraged and you can do that here. The true beauty of this beach is revealed during the colder months when it makes a perfect location for walking, horseriding and watersports. Dog restrictions apply on the parts of the beach during the summer months.
Neighbouring East Wittering beach (it’s an easy walk from West to East and vice versa) and Bracklesham Bay, which is just a little further on, are mainly shingle beaches which reveal sandy expanses as the tide recedes. These beaches are super-popular with windsurfers, surfers and other adrenaline junkies as well as families and dog walkers.
The seaside town of Selsey boasts miles of wonderful unspoilt beaches which boast crystal clear waters that are popular with snorkellers and divers – there’s a whole underwater world waiting to be discovered here. Dogs are welcome on most of these beaches apart from one exception.
Chichester Harbour
Chichester Harbour is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covering 74 miles between Chichester and Haying Island and is a must-visit for sailing and wildlife enthusiasts, walkers and cyclists.
You can find Chichester Harbour just four miles from Chichester City Centre. You may not know that the harbour is a designated AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and is a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). The sheltered waters make the harbour a haven for wildlife - Chichester Harbour is the most important site on the South Coast for waterfowl and wading birds due to the number which visit here each year, as well as being home to a community of harbour seals. The sheltered nature of waters also makes it one of Britain’s most popular sailing destinations, with a huge variety of sailing clubs in Chichester Harbour as well as numerous schools and courses available.
Walking & Cycling
There are miles of footpaths and cycle paths to explore, some of which lead directly to the coast while others lead you around the harbour. Good locations to choose for starting your walk are the villages of Bosham, Fishbourne, or Itchenor, as well as Chichester Marina and the tiny hamlet of Dell Quay, famous for the Crown & Anchor pub. Some the walking and cycling routes also cross the harbour on the Bosham to Itchenor foot ferry which runs all year round (the ferry carries cycles) and offers great views across the water.
