Chidham Peninsula
Children will enjoy the bridges and shoreline on this beautiful coastal walk.
Bridges towards Cobnor Point on the longer walk
The Basics
Time: Three choices ranging from 1 to 2 hours
Distance: A 3.8 km loop, An 8 km loop or A 5 km there and back again walk
Terrain: Flat, some sections on shingle beach, small sections on quiet village lanes, PARTS OF THE WALK ARE ONLY ACCESSIBLE AT LOW TIDE (check tide times here)
Pushchair: No (however, there is a small section of the coastal path that has been designed as wheelchair friendly. This cannot be accessed from the public car park, but those with disabled badges are allowed to use the private road and drive down to the private marina car park at the end)
Dogs: Yes
Refreshments: The Old House at Home pub in Chidham
Toilets: None
Public Transport: Stagecoach route 700 from Chichester to Portsmouth stops at Chidham, Drift Lane on the A259. From there it is a 15 minute walk along the lane to Chidham, where you can join this walk
Parking: Cobnor Farm Amenity Car Park, Chidham Lane, small and free, height barrier (Postcode: PO18 8TE - W3W: span/goats/retraced)
A section of the longer walk best done at low tide
A walk around Chichester Harbour is always rewarding for the views, chances of spotting coastal wildlife, stunning seaside homes and changing tidal landscape. For this walk, we have provided a few different options depending on time and fitness, but for the best of the area we really recommend doing the full loop around the peninsula.
The Route
For a 3.8 km/1 hour loop walk along the shoreline with views across the water to Bosham, the catch pond and Chidham village:
Take the steps out of the car park and turn immediately left to follow the straight path along the edge of a ploughed field all the way to the water’s edge. Turn left at the bench and walk with the water to your right. You will be able to enjoy views across Bosham Channel to Bosham on the other side. Continue until the path descends down onto the shingle shore (this very small section can only be passed at low tide).
Look out for a bench looking out across the water and very soon after this, the footpath will then turn left away from the shore. Walk towards the houses and join an access road at a turning circle, continuing west away from the water. You will pass by a few houses before walking along a stretch called Harbour Way with more houses to your left and a wide grassy verge to your right.
The access road will meet Chidham Lane, where you should turn right. Look out straight away for the path rising up to your right which will help you to walk away from the road. You will pass by the catch pond on your left where there are some interesting notice boards about the area. Very soon, you will need to descend back down from the path as after the pond you will take the road going left called Steels Lane.
Follow the lane until it bends to the left and at this point, look for the footpath on your right. It will head north before turning left in a straight line across a field.
When you reach Cot Lane on the other side, look for the footpath to your left and walk along the edge of another field, with the hedge to your right. This section is a really good place for finding conkers in Autumn (If you want to visit the pub, then we suggest missing out this path and continuing on Cot Lane instead).
You will emerge at the road again, where you should continue straight ahead with the wall of Manor House to your right. Follow the road as it curves to the right around the church. Just after the church gates, look for the grassy footpath to your left before the private farm entrance (if you went to the pub, turn right after exiting and walk along Cot Lane to the church where you can now re-join the walk by turning right along the grassy path in the following section).
Follow the grassy path until it takes you through a gap in the hedge beside a field. Follow the path left and continue until you see a footpath sign to your left going down under trees. This will shortly bring you back to the road. Turn right here and in a few metres, you will spot the entrance to the car park.
For an 8km/2hour 15min walk that circles the entire peninsula rounding Cobnor Point as well as Chidham village:
Take the steps out of the car park and turn immediately left to follow the straight path along the edge of a ploughed field all the way to the water’s edge. Turn right at the bench and walk with the water to your left. You will reach the end of a small channel, where you will turn to the left to then re-join the main water again.
Soon on your right, you will see a tidal pond and the path will travel between the pond and Bosham Channel. After another smaller pond, you will come to an archery club and a dead end in the coastal path. You will need to turn right here as the public right of way makes its way around the private marina. Look out for the path as it turns left and then follow the footpath signs, passing an outdoor activities centre and then a car park. Pass by Cobnor House away to your right and then look for the signage directing you down the footpath to the left as it brings you back towards the water. Turn right here and continue back on the coastal path.
The next section is the part suitable for wheelchairs. Bosham Channel begins to widen as it makes its way closer to the sea and you will walk over a series of two wooden bridges. Look out for a bench with a view after the second one. At around this point, wheelchairs will need to turn back.
The path then heads off to the right and will take you down some wooden steps onto the shore. From here, the walk is only passable at low tide. You could also turn back from here if walking with smaller children and you only want a short walk (this there and back again option is about 5km and will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes).
To continue the full loop, follow the shingle shore, passing some fabulous low down, gnarly trees that children will love climbing. You will also see the remains of a jetty and a bird hide to your right. According to information in the hide, it is not just birds you should be looking out for - seals can be a common sight here too. Continue along the shore until you are directed by signs up the bank via some ramshackle steps.
The path will become grassy and you should stick with this in a straight line for some distance. At the end of this path, go through the gap in the hedge to find yourself back at the water’s edge. After passing a small section of wooden fence on your right, look for the footpath marker to your right in a field. You cannot access the path immediately due to a flooded ditch, but if you walk a few metres on, you can turn right and enter the field.
Follow the path along the right hand edge of the field, soon crossing a little wooden bridge over a ditch. The path will leave the field ,as it narrows between high hedges and then takes you to Cot Lane. Turn right here and after Chedeham House, look for the small worn path on your left going into a field. Turn right and follow the little path along the edge of the field (this is a great spot for collecting conkers). If you want to visit the pub en route, you should stick to Cot Lane and avoid taking this short cut through the field.
You will emerge at the road again, where you should continue straight ahead with the wall of Manor House to your right. Follow the road as it curves to the right around the church. Just after the church gates, look for the grassy footpath to your left, just before the private farm entrance (if you went to the pub, turn right after exiting and walk along Cot Lane to the church where you can now re-join the walk by turning right along the grassy path in the following section).
Follow the grassy path until it takes you through a gap in the hedge beside a field. follow the path left and continue until you see a footpath sign to your left going down under trees. This will shortly bring you back to the road. Turn right here and in a few metres, you will spot the entrance to the car park.
Did you know?
There is more to do on the peninsula besides walking; at Cobnor Activities Centre, children can book on to sailing and paddling courses.
