A walk for the whole family from Climping Beach to Littlehampton — The Ambling Path

On this walk, children will enjoy playing on the beach and spotting the houseboats on the river mouth.

The Basics

Time: 1hr 30mins

Distance: 5km

Terrain: Shingle beach, flat but narrow and sometimes overgrown paths

Pushchair: No

Dogs: Yes and beach is open to dogs all year

Refreshments: Climping Beach Cafe in the car park or The Oyster Catcher Inn a short drive away on the A259

Toilets: Yes, at the car park

Parking: Car Park at Atherington at end of Climping Street - charges apply (Postcode: BN17 5RN - W3W: author/owners/smiles)

A glance at a map will show that much of the West Sussex coastline is built up with a breaks of countryside remaining. This walk follows one of those gaps to offer the best of coast and country to your left and right!

The Route

Turn right at the car park and walk to the point where the road ends. Go right and walk along the left side of a long bank of shingle. After around 100m, take the path on your left heading away from the beach.
As you travel up the farmland, you will see a narrow footpath going right across the middle of a field. In the summer this is a beautiful meadow of wildflowers. Cross the little wooden plank bridge over a stream and enter another field. When you see a footpath sign pointing right, take this path with the edge of the field to your left. After a short time, the path will dip in to the vegetation on your left.
In summer the first section through the undergrowth is a magical swathe of cow parsley. Further along however, the parsley gives way to quite a lot of nettles. Wear long sleeves and trousers!
You will pass The Mill and then a golf course will become visible on your right. Continue on the path along the full length of the golf course and eventually you will arrive at Littlehampton.
Turn right when you get to a lane and immediately look for the narrow footpath going towards the marina. Along this path you will spy colourful houses and houseboats.
When you arrive at West Beach car park, turn right along a boardwalk through sand dunes. This will curve round and quite quickly bring you to the beach via steps.
It is now a walk on shingle at high tide, or sand at low tide along the beach all the way back to Climping. At low tide, the beach here is enormous with plenty of sand. As much of the beach is backed by countryside, it tends to be one of the quietest stretches around and you can have plenty of space to yourself, even on the hottest of summer days.