Itchenor
Children will enjoy playing along the foreshore, spotting boats in the quay and visiting the boatyard café on this walk.
There are plenty of benches on this route where you can sit and watch the world go by
The Basics
Time: 1.5 hours
Distance: 4.12 km
Terrain: Firm coastal path, some boardwalks, a section on a village road with no pavement and a field and track that can be muddy in winter.
Pushchair: This route is not suitable for pushchairs.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk, but consideration should be taken for coastal birds.
Refreshments: The Ship Inn on the main street or The Quarterdeck Café at the boatyard.
Toilets: At the harbour office.
Public Transport: There is no direct public transport to Itchenor, but you could catch the Stagecoach 56 service from Chichester to Bosham and then hop on the ferry!
Parking: Pay on exit car park near the quay (Postcode: PO20 7AE - W3W - ///struggle.invent.squirts)
View across a channel of Chichester Harbour
This varied loop taking in shoreline, farmland and the attractive village of Itchenor is one of our favourites to do in The Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The busy quay has a host of sailing and boating activities, the foreshore is home to a range of coastal birds and the village is packed full of characterful thatched cottages. A choice of two places to eat gives a perfect finish to the circuit.
The Route
Exit the car park and turn left along the main street. Itchenor is very attractive with beautiful old cottages running down to the water. You will soon find yourself at the quay where there are plenty of boats to watch and benches to enjoy the action from. This is also the point where you can take a little ferry to Bosham or a boat tour with Chichester Harbour Conservancy Trust.
Facing the water, turn left and take the narrow footpath squeezing between Haines Boatyard and Jetty House . You will exit this narrow section at The Quarterdeck Café and the boatyard, which you should cross and join the coastal path opposite.
The next section of the walk is really straightforward; just follow the path with the water to your right and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Pass Chalkdock Marsh on your left and go over some boardwalk. As the path rises up above the water level, go through a thin stretch of trees and over a little wooden footbridge. Just before you hit another section of boardwalk, turn left away from the foreshore, following the footpath post and going through a V shape barrier designed to stop cyclists.
Travel along the right hand edge of a field, away from the coast, before veering right out of the field to meet a farm track. Turn left at the track and follow it towards the farm. Just before the farm buildings, you will see a low stile on your right with a sign to The Ship Inn. Take this and follow the narrow path with a little wall along the left side. At the end, where there is a ‘private no entry’ sign ahead, turn left following the footpath along a tarmac access lane.
Turn left when you hit the road at the end. The road will lead you back to the village and the car park. It has no pavement, but it is wide and there are lots of places for traffic to pass you.
Did you know?
Chichester Harbour Conservancy, based in Itchenor, seek to inform visitors on everything they need to know about the harbour from where to visit, advice for boat owners and how to protect the landscape. You can even take part in an organised boat tour aboard The Solar Heritage. See their website for more information:
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try catching the ferry to this one across the water at Bosham
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