More images

More (2)

A harbour walk at West Itchenor

Recommended by

Our view

"Chichester Harbour's plentiful wildlife and colourful yachting activity form the backdrop to this fascinating waterside walk."

Walk directions

From the car park walk along to the road and bear left, heading towards the harbour front. Pass the Ship Inn and go to the water’s edge. Look for the harbour office and the toilets, and follow the footpath to the left of Jetty House.

Cut between hedging and fencing to reach a boat yard and then continue ahead on the clear surfaced path, passing a permissive path on the left that leads back to the car park. Keep left at a fork and shortly the path breaks cover to run by the harbour and its expanses of mudflats. Cross Chalkdock Marsh and continue on the waterside path.

View all directions

Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Shoreline, field tracks and paths, several stiles

Landscape - Open farmland and coastal scenery

Dog friendliness - Waterside paths are ideal for dogs, but keep under control on stretches of open farmland and the short section of road; dogs permitted on harbour water tour

Parking - Large pay-and-display car park in West Itchenor

Toilets en route - West Itchenor

Walks in West Sussex Dog-friendly walks in West Sussex

About the walk

Weekend sailors flock to Chichester’s vast natural harbour, making it one of the most popular attractions on the south coast. The harbour has about 50 miles (81km) of shoreline and 17 miles (28km) of navigable channel, though there is almost no commercial traffic. The Romans cast an approving eye... over this impressive stretch of water and established a military base and harbour at nearby Fishbourne after the Claudian invasion of Britain in ad 43. Charles II had a fondness for the area too and kept a yacht here. Situated at the confluence of the Bosham and Chichester channels of the estuary is the sailing village of Itchenor, with its main street of picturesque houses and cottages running down to the waterfront. Originally named Icenor, this small settlement started life as a remote, sparsely populated community, but by the 18th century it had begun to play a vital role in the shipbuilding industry. Small warships were built here by the merchants of Chichester, though in later years shipbuilding ceased altogether, and any trace of its previous prosperity disappeared beneath the houses and the harbour mud. However, the modern age of leisure and recreation has seen a revival in boat building and yachting, and today Itchenor is once again bustling with boat yards, sailors and chandlers. However, there is much more to Chichester Harbour than sailing. Take a stroll along the harbour edge and you will find there is much to capture the attention. With its intertidal habitats, the harbour is a haven for plant life and wildlife. Wading birds such as the curlew, redshank and dunlin can be seen using their differently shaped bills to extract food from the ecologically rich mudflats, and terns may be spotted plunging to catch fish. Plants include sea lavender and glasswort, and many of them are able to resist flooding and changing saltiness. Salt marsh is one of the typical habitats of Chichester Harbour, and the plants which make up the marsh grow in different places according to how often they are flooded. Stand at West Itchenor and you can look across the water towards neighbouring Bosham, pronounced ‘Bozzum’. Better still, take the ferry over there and explore the delights of this harbour village. It was from here that Harold left for Normandy before the Norman Conquest of 1066. ‘The sea creek, the green field, the grey church,’ wrote Tennyson and this sums up perfectly the charm of this unspoilt corner of Sussex. Take a little time to look at the Church of the Holy Trinity and its Saxon tower base while you’re there.

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Divided from East Sussex back in 1888, West Sussex has a variety of landscapes and coastal scenery, but it is the spacious and open South Downs with which the county is most closely associated. There are plenty of walking routes in the South Downs National Park, cycling routes by the sea or visitors can explore the pretty town of Arundel with its historic castle and buildings.

Route details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Flat

Distance:

3.5 miles (5.7kms)

Ascent:

0ft (0m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

Find more walks in West Sussex

A harbour walk at West Itchenor

Recommended by

Our view

"Chichester Harbour's plentiful wildlife and colourful yachting activity form the backdrop to this fascinating waterside walk."

Walk details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Flat

Distance:

3.5 miles (5.7kms)

Ascent:

0ft (0m)

Walk directions

1 of 7

2 of 7

Keep going until you reach a footpath sign with a marker for the New Lipchis Way. Turn left here by a sturdy old oak tree and pass through a pinch-gate to follow the path away from the harbour edge, keeping to the right-hand boundary of the field. Cross another pinch-gate to join a track on a bend and continue ahead, still maintaining the same direction. Pass Itchenor Park House on the right and approach some farm outbuildings

3 of 7

Turn right by a brick-and-flint farm outbuilding and follow the path, soon merging with a concrete track. Walk ahead to reach the next junction and turn left by a white gate, down to the road. Keep ahead here and soon you reach the little 13th-century church of St Nicholas, with Itchenor Village Pond just beyond.

4 of 7

Follow the road beyond Oldhouse Farm and then turn left at the footpath sign to cross a footbridge. Keep to the right of a barn and follow the path straight ahead across the field. Pass a line of trees and keep alongside a ditch on the right into the next field. The path follows the hedge line, making for the field corner. Ahead are the buildings of Westlands Farm.

5 of 7

Turn sharp left by the footpath sign and follow the path across the field. Skirt the woodland, part of a private nature reserve, and veer left at the entrance to the Spinney. Follow the residential drive to Harbour House.

6 of 7

Turn right just beyond it and follow the path along the edge of the harbour. Keep going along here until you reach Itchenor Sailing Club. Bear left and walk up the drive to the road. Opposite you should be the Ship Inn. Turn left to return to the car park.

7 of 7

Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Shoreline, field tracks and paths, several stiles

Landscape - Open farmland and coastal scenery

Dog friendliness - Waterside paths are ideal for dogs, but keep under control on stretches of open farmland and the short section of road; dogs permitted on harbour water tour

Parking - Large pay-and-display car park in West Itchenor

Toilets en route - West Itchenor

Walks in West Sussex Dog-friendly walks in West Sussex

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

West Sussex

A harbour walk at West Itchenor

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Sign up to our travel newsletter

Get the latest insider tips and recommendations to make the most of your next trip

A harbour walk at West Itchenor

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Sign up to our newsletter

Join over 4,000+ travelers who are getting the most out of their trips