Chichester Harbour Marina West & East Wittering Beaches West Sussex UK

Chichester Harbour Marina Boat Trips Watersports

The Chichester Harbour area incorporating the picturesque villages of East and West Wittering (surfing & watersports hotspots) and Itchenor, Bosham, Emsworth, Childham, Birdham, Nutbourne and pushing into Hampshire's Hayling Island area are all part of this designated Area of Outstanding Beauty. The terrain consists of shallow lagoons and sandy flats, perfect for watersports, walking and cycling. Both beginner and experienced sailors will feel at home in the area and a choice of sailing training and courses are available from the many sailing and yacht clubs. Thorney Island, the Island of Thorns, which jutts out into Chichester Harbour is today an army base but limited access is available to the public on foot and only on the island's perimeter footpath. Ancient Thorney Church sits on the edge of the island.

Sailing and yacht clubs in the area, including Chichester Yacht Club based at Birdham, Emsworth Sailing Club and Bosham Sailing Club are all listed in full on the Chichester Harbour AONB weblink right. Chichester Harbour boasts 17 sailing clubs in all. Both walking and cycling are also on the menu in the area which has over 90km of public rights of way with many running right along the magnificent shoreline with views across to Hayling. Suggested walking guides are also listed on the Chichester Harbour website in detail.

The Salterns Way is an 18km cycle route commencing from the Cross near the Cathedral in Chichester city centre which pushes all the way to the stunning sand dunes of East Head. The walk is broken down into sections via the Chichester Harbour website and on warm Summer days you can bypass all the busy traffic heading to West Wittering Beach and cycle the rural roads instead on the Salterns Way. The estuary area of Chichester Harbour is a haven for wildlife and a popular area with birdwatchers. Wading birds like Curlew, Godwits, Redshank and Dunlin are numerous on the tidal mudflats and the area has many birds which are Passage Migrants. The Conservancy which manages Chichester Harbour AONB offers a choice of birdwatching walks, activities and boat trips. More information in on the Chichester Harbour website. Chichester Harbour Conservancy, Harbour Office, Itchenor, Chichester PO20 7AW. Tel. 01243 512 301.

Chichester Marina is a mere 10 minute drive from Chichester city centre (see directions both by road and water to the marina via the Marina's webguide). One of the South's premier award winning marinas with the 17 miles of safe and sheltered channels of Chichester Harbour as backdrop, Chichester Marina boasts superb facilities including restaurants, bars, convenience store, laundrette state-of-the-art lock control, CCTV and round the clock security patrol and modern showers, toilet blocks and marina reception. The marina has the highest Five Gold Anchors award from the Yacht Harbour Association! With the Isle of Wight within easy sailing distance, and other premier marinas located along the Solent at Southsea, Gosport and Port Solent, Chichester Marina is a popular and busy place. Chichester Marina, Premier Marinas Ltd, Birdham, Chichester, West Sussex PO20 7EJ. Tel. 01243 512731.

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West Wittering Blue Flag Beach Watersports & East Head

You're in Blue Flag beach territory around the popular Witterings coastline within easy reach of Chichester via the A286. Facing onto Chichester Harbour, West Wittering Blue Flag beach has long been a favourite with families. The sea with its superb water quality which picks up the wind here, is a favourite spot for surfing, kite surfing and windsurfing. The expansive sands of Blue Flag West Wittering beach ranks as best beach for Sussex. More Blue Flag beaches are nearby at Hayling Island Central Beach and Hayling Island West Beach.

West Wittering beach is particularly popular with families (Child Safe Zones and full lifeguard service operates at West Wittering) and has a car park adjacent with a countryside backdrop and extensive mown grass areas perfect for barbeques, picnics and games. The carpark is extensive mown grass and no part of it is more than 100 metres from the beach area. Paddle and swim in the gentle sheltered sandy tidal pools. At low tide the waist deep lagoon on the West Wittering estate is perfect for windsurfing tuition (see X-Train, the tuition arm of West Wittering Windsurfing club for Windsurfing, Kitesurfing & Surfing tuition). High tide brings on the waves, perfect for surfing and kitesurfing. Other sports are popular on the beach at designated times including horse riding.

At the far western end of West Wittering beach car park you push into the National Trust managed East Head sand dune spit, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The two mile stunning coastal walk taking in the constantly shifting and evolving East Head sand and shingle spit is outlined in full via the National Trust and West Wittering Estate websites. The walk is an easy flat terrain through soft sand in places and the sand dune spit is around 1000 metres long and 400 metres wide

West Wittering Estate, The Estate Office, West Wittering, Chichester West Sussex PO20 8AJ. Tel. 01243 514143. West Wittering Windsurf Club, West Wittering, Chichester, West Sussex PO20 8AJ. Tel. 01243 513077. Bus numbers 52 or 53 depart from Chichester city centre bus station to West Wittering.

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