Walk 96 Hayling Island

 Walk  96  Hayling Island (Hampshire)

(Second leg of English coastal walk – Broadstairs to Lands End)

Map: L/R 197

Distance: 10 miles or 15 km
Difficulty: Fairly easy
Terrain: Mainly footpath and pavement
Access: Parking near The Ship Inn, Langstone
Public transport: Rail to Havant and walk to Langstone Bridge. Return journey from Eastoke area of Hayling Island on 30 or 31 bus back to Havant – runs every half and hour or so Mon-Sat.

Start on the Havant side of Hayling Island. Walk past the Ship Inn before crossing Langstone Bridge. This pub, which was originally a mill, is worth making a note of especially if you like real ale and/or seafood. As you begin to cross the bridge look back to the east and an old windmill (a well known local landmark) can be spotted. The original bridge was timber built and replaced the Wadeway in 1824. This foot crossing, used for 3000 years, is still visible at low tide. The current bridge was built in 1956 to replace the fragile timber original. Before this date bus passengers had to get off on the mainland and continue their journey on the other side.  

To the west of the island is Northey with its marina and nature reserve to the south of Northey Manor. However, the eastern coastal part of the island is mostly inaccessible so the walk concentrates on the western and southern sides.

On the other side of Langstone Bridge find the start of the Hayling Billy Coastal Path which follows the route of the old rail line along the west coast of the island. The line started at Havant and was opened in 1867. It was closed in 1963 as part of the cuts imposed by Dr Beeching. Special lightweight engines were used so that the old Langstone Bridge could be safely crossed. The Hayley Billy Terrier Tank Engines now form part of the Isle of Wight steam railway. The path gives some good but not continuous views of the coast. Portsea Island can be clearly seen to the west.

At the end of the old railway line some careful navigation along the roads will lead you to an area called The Kench. This is an inlet where failed attempts were made to construct a marina. During the 1950s several surplus military boats were purchased and converted into house boats. I spotted a few still in use as living accommodation.

Continue walking to the western point of the island and the Ferry Boat Inn. The pub was originally called The Norfolk Lodge as the Duke of Norfolk owned much of the land in South Hayling. The timbers used to build it were from HMS Impregnable (clearly not!) which sunk here in 1798. It changed its name in the 1950s to capitalise on a popular song at the time “Down at the Ferry Boat Inn”.   A passenger ferry runs from here to Portsea although a local told me it remains under threat of closure as it is subsidised by the local authority.    

Follow the path on to the southern coast of the island and past Sinah Common with its golf course. Hayling Golf Club was founded in 1883 by Colonel Sanderson who was a famous producer of sherry and port.  This area is of special scientific interest and the rare Dartford Warbler has been sighted here.

Continue the walk along the sea front past The Inn on the Beach and then to various flats and buildings overlooking the large grass frontages and dunes. Norfolk Crescent and the impressive white building – The Royal - were part of a failed attempt in the early nineteenth century to create a grandiose development to attract wealthy visitors.

The beach is mainly of pebbles although I thought it once had grey sand when I visited here as a child in the 1950s/60s. A local suggested that the beach had been manually filled with gravel and pebbles to prevent erosion. A fun fair and a 2 foot gauge railway operate along the front in the season.

The path continues towards Eastoke Point. A number of bungalows are close to the beach – some with interesting gardens made of beach debris. From this point there are good views back to Chichester Harbour.  

Snaps show: The Ferry Boat Inn; The Kench; The Royal and Norfolk Crescent; one of the interesting beach gardens.

Walk 95 Southbourne - Thorney Island - Emsworth

Walk  95  Southbourne - Thorney Island - Emsworth (Hampshire)

(Second leg of English coastal walk – Broadstairs to Lands End)

Map: L/R 197

Distance: about 10 miles or 15 km.
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Mainly footpaths, some pavements
Access: Parking at both ends
Public transport: Rail link between Southbourne and Emsworth

Take one of the paths out of Southbourne which connects with the coastal path that passes along the northern edge of Thorney Channel. This area abounds with coastal defences. Continue westwards until Thornham Marina (near to the village of Prinsted). Form here there is access to Thorney Island.

The island is under military control and before starting your walk a secure gate has to be opened. Be prepared to give information over the intercom including your name, age, address, phone number, nationality and the reason you want to visit the island. If the military are satisfied they will open the gate but not before warning you to keep strictly to the path. Makes you wonder what is on there! Just in case you forget there is a notice telling you that trespassers will be prosecuted and that guard dogs are on patrol. A similar procedure is waiting for you when the walk is finished.

About a mile or so in is West Thorney – not that you can see much of it. For a while in the 1970s village was home to several hundred Vietnamese ‘boat people’ who were accepted into the country for settlement. Since that time the area has been in the control of the Royal Artillery. I understand that the 12^th century St Nicholas’s Church, which can be seen from the path, is open to the public. The path to it did not look very inviting to me and, bearing in mind the dire warnings I had received, I decided to give it a miss.

On the southern most tip Pilsey Island can be seen; this is home to an RSPB nature reserve. Near here is Thorney Island Sailing Club and a model aeroplane club was also in action when I was walking. As the path continues northwards the runways of the old RAF aerodrome (built in 1938) are evident. Hayling Island can also be seen to the west.

I met nobody else on this walk but I did have an altercation with a lot of cows. These had been released by the farmer (deliberately??) to completely block the path and the ground either side of it. I was forced to walk through the obstinate creatures who made their displeasure clear by releasing considerable quantities of, let’s say, dung, at my feet.

The walk ends in Emsworth. To the east of the town is Skipper Mill Pond which was built in the 1780s; the mill was converted into homes after it ceased functioning in 1936. An attractive street leads to Emsworth Quay. There was once large oyster beds here but the business came to an unfortunate end following a banquet held by the Dean of Winchester in 1903. The dean and several of the guests died of typhoid as the oysters had been infected by sewage flowing into the harbour.  

Look out for the old tide mill on the sea front which is now the HQ of a sailing club. This dates back to 1760 and was once operated by steam power. This is an attractive spot.

Snaps show: parts of the path and coast on Thorney Island; St Nicholas Church, West Thorney; Thornham Marina.

Walk 94 Bosham to Southbourne (West Sussex)

 Walk  94   Bosham to Southbourne (West Sussex)

(Second leg of English coastal walk – Broadstairs to Lands End)

Map: L/R 197

Distance: about 8 miles or 13 km.
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Mainly footpaths, some pavements
Access: Parking at both ends
Public transport: 55A Bosham to Chichester every hour or so Mon-Sat (a few on Sundays). Rail link to Chichester at Southbourne

There is not too much to write about this quiet and pleasant walk.

Follow the path to the north out of Bosham until it meets the A259. Walk west along this road (which follows the route of the old Roman road) and turn down the footpath that leads to Chidham.

This village, which is a little inland from the coastal path, has been occupied for more than 4000 years (recent finds have confirmed this). The name Chidham is derived from ‘ceod’ (meaning bag or pouch) and ‘ham’ (meaning settlement) – it refers to the shape of the peninsula. St Mary’s Church, Chidham was built in the 13^th century.

On the walk around the peninsula a number of flood defences can be seen including piles of rocks in fields. Cobnor Point is at the southern most tip and there are good views across Chichester Channel to the West Itchenor area.

On the walk northwards is Chidham Point which provides good views of Thorney Island opposite. Around here is the Nutbourne Marshes Nature Reserve – a saltmarsh which is an important habitat for wildfowl and waders.

Follow the path round into the now expanding village of Southbourne.

Snaps show sea defence in a field; a caravan at Chidham; view from Cobnor Point; view from Chidham Point.

Walk 93 East Wittering to Bosham

 Walk  93   East Wittering to Bosham (West Sussex)

(Second leg of English coastal walk – Broadstairs to Lands End)

Map: L/R 197

Distance: 11 miles or 16km approx.
Difficulty: Fairly easy – stony beach walking can be tiring
Terrain: Paths, pavements, beach  
Access: Parking at both ends
Public transport: 52/53 frequent service from Chichester to East Wittering Mon – Sat (once and hour on Sunday). 55A Bosham to Chichester every hour or so Mon-Sat (a few on Sundays).

This walk can only be done between mid May until the end of September as it involves using the West Itchenor ferry.

The first part of the walk from East Wittering/Bracklesham Bay is along the pebbly beach. A very large caravan park is on the eastern side with some interesting modern houses overlooking the beach. Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight are usually visible from here. The beach was used by Canadian forces to practise for D Day in 1944. Now it is very popular with surfers.

Continue the walk on the path alongside the sandy shoreline to the entrance to Chichester Harbour. Some of the houses along this stretch have their own beach gardens. There is a choice at the end of this path either take a walk around East Beach or turn right and continue past West Wittering. The sandy dunes along here make it a pleasant spot to sit and rest. Much of the area is managed by The National Trust and it has a range of wildlife specific to the conditions.

The walk continues past West Wittering through an area called Snowhill (no snow, no hill). Carry on to West Itchenor, a village which appears to be dominated by the sailing community. Catch the seasonal ferry from here to Smugglers Lane on the other side. As the name suggests there was a lot of smuggling in the area especially the sending of brandy into Chichester. The ferry dates back to the 17^th century and, following a period when it was out of use it was reinstated in 1976.

Follow the path into Bosham which is a very attractive place. When the tide is in it covers the road and you can see how houses have been specially adapted to cope with this. If the tide is out there is an extraordinary, picturesque stretch of green algae instead of the water.

The village goes back to Saxon times. Legend tells of a Danish raid in which the church bells were stolen. The Danish ship sank in the channel and the lost bells are said to ring in answer to the present bells. It was at Bosham that King Canute supposedly tried to turn back the waves (other places make this claim as well) – legend also has it that his young daughter was drowned in a millstream nearby and was buried in the church. In 1865 an excavation found the bones of a girl about 8 years old so maybe it is true. Bosham Church is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry showing King Harold going in there to pray for safe passage to Normandy in 1064.

Snaps show: East Head, Chichester Harbour; buildings on the beach Brackleshem Bay; Snow Hill; Bosham.

Walk 92 Pagham to Selsey

Walk   92   Pagham to Selsey (West Sussex)

(Second leg of English coastal walk – Broadstairs to Lands End)

Map: L/R 197
Distance: 10 miles or 16 km approx.
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Paths and pavement
Access: Parking at both ends
Public transport: 51 bus from Selsey to Chichester, 60/700 Pagham to Chichester

Start at Pagham and take the path that skirts around the edge of Pagham Harbour to Church Norton. This is a pleasant, peaceful walk with good views.

Pagham Harbour is 1000 acres of natural saltmarsh, lagoon and tidal mudflat. It is now a significant nature reserve with 200 species of birds, 340 varieties of flowering plants and even 13 species of woodlice. There was a harbour here from 1345 until 1875 but it became silted up and much land was reclaimed. However, in 1910 a combination of high tide and heavy rain punctured the sea wall and the water spilled back in.

To the south of Sidlesham there is walk along the main road before returning to the path. Look out for the old thatched cottage and the many geese.

At Church Norton is St Wilfred’s Chapel, it is still used and was open to visitors when I went. The main church which gave the settlement part of its name was moved to Selsey in 1865. A large graveyard provides evidence of a much larger population in the past.

On the approach to Selsey some conversions of old railway carriages are easy to spot. Look out for the plaque to Eric Coates who was inspired by the view back to Bognor Regis and composed The Sleepy Lagoon in 1930; this became the signature tune for the BBC radio programme Desert Island Discs.

The walk continues along the promenade to Selsey Bill, this low lying headland is the most southern point of Sussex and has eroded more in the last century than any other part of the UK. The famous Mulberry Harbours were assembled off Selsey. Sections of concrete were assembled, towed to the Normandy Beaches and used in the D Day landings of 1944.

Walk past the lifeboat station and pier to the beach at West Selsey. Here there are some strange looking conical stone structures on the beach – I have not been able to find out what these were/are for.

Selsey was the centre for a thriving mousetrap industry in Victorian times. They were taken by cart to Chichester and exported to countries around the globe – evidently they never wore out! A famous resident in the distant past was St Wilfred the patron saint of Sussex and one time Bishop of Northumbria. He was shipwrecked here in the 7^th century and returned a few years later to found a monastery, which, because of the sea encroaching, was later moved to Winchester. A more recent resident of Selsey was the astronomer Patrick Moore.

Snaps show: two views of Pagham Harbour; St Wilfred's Chapel; Selsey Bill.

Walk 91 Littlehampton to Pagham

Walk   91   Littlehampton to Pagham (West Sussex)

(Second leg of English coastal walk – Broadstairs to Lands End)

Map: L/R 197

Distance: 11 miles or 18 km approx.
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Paths and pavement some beach walking if preferred
Access: Parking at both ends
Public transport: regular buses from Littlehampton (700) change at Bognor Regis for 60 to Pagham.

Take the walk out of Littlehampton along the west bank of the River Arun then follow the path which runs along the edge of the golf course to Climping Beach and the small settlement of Atherington. From here to Bognor Regis access to some of the beaches is restricted as they are privately owned. If you walk below the high tide mark then (so I have been told) it is OK as this part is not owned by anyone. However, I tend not to do this having been bitten by a dog which was released by its arrogant owner in a similar situation.

Further along is Middleton on Sea. The village grew from a World War 1 sea base to become a holiday destination. Follow the road, promenade or beach along to Felpham with its brightly coloured beach huts and larger wooden structures (presumably used for holiday accommodation). William Blake the artist and poet lived here for three years (1800-1803) and the house is still there.

The walk progresses seamlessly into Bognor Regis, the first noticeable buildings are the tent like structures of the Butlins complex.

In the late 1780s, Richard Hotham, a well known London hat-maker, decided to create a new watering place to rival Bath and Brighton. He wanted to call it Hothamton but he died before this could happen and it retained the name of Bognor (which comes from the Saxon for ‘rocky shore’). Following a visit from King George V the resort gained its royal suffix ‘regis’. On his death bed he is said to have uttered “bugger Bognor” when told by his physician that he would be going back there to convalesce after his illness. Most buildings along the seafront are forgettable. Two exceptions are the impressive Royal Suffolk Hotel and The Royal Hotel.

Bognor pier has had a similar history to many others in the UK. It was built in 1865 and was 1000 feet long. From 1909 it had a large theatre, cinema, restaurant and 12 shops. In 1964/65 the sea end of the structure collapsed in a storm and in 1974 two fires broke out. In 1999 more serious storm damage occurred and the rather short structure is the one that can be seen today.

The walk continues out of Bognor Regis and on to Pagham. To appreciate the views, follow the path and then turn north along the narrow strip of land between the lagoon and Pagham Harbour. Many of the original beach dwellings are bungalows originally constructed from old railway carriages. A friend of mine used to stay in one of the carriages before they were converted when on his family holiday in the fifties/sixties.

The walk finishes at Pagham – mainly bungalow land although it dates back to the 13^th century.

Snaps show: the two hotels on Bognor seafront; a view to the beaches near Middleton on Sea; Butlins at Bognor.

Walk 90 Worthing to Littlehampton

Walk   90   Worthing to Littlehampton (West Sussex)

(Second leg of English coastal walk – Broadstairs to Lands End)

Map: L/R 198 and 197

Distance: 10 miles or 15km.
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Paths and pavement some beach walking if preferred
Access: Parking at both ends
Public transport: Buses and a rail link.
The walk begins at Worthing Pier.

Many of us including Michael King now 78 who lived around here, remember this area from our childhoods.

The pier was built in 1862 and was an attraction until Easter 1913 when a disaster struck. Strong gales washed the decking away leaving the end stranded out at sea – this bit became known as Easter Island. Like many other piers it has been damaged by fire and fear of an invasion in the Second World War also meant that a hole was blown in it. This was repaired and the pier, including the theatre, is still popular. The annual ‘bird man’ contest, originally held at Bognor Regis, now takes place off the end of the pier. People compete with some bizarrely devised contraptions the end launch themselves off to see who can land furthest away.

For many centuries Worthing was a small fishing village. It became a popular resort in the 18^th and 19^th centuries when it attracted well to do people. At the same time it was also a popular haunt of smugglers. Oscar Wilde wrote The Importance of Being Earnest while on holiday here (hence Mr Worthing in the story) and in more recent times Harold Pinter, the playwright was a resident.

On the walk out of Worthing there is an ‘ecologically sound’ garden on the beach so well suited to its habitat that it doesn’t require watering. Continue to Goring Gap where farmland comes down to the sea road. This area is called Goring on Sea to distinguish it from Goring on Thames. Another Oscar Wilde connection here – Lord Goring appears in his play The Ideal Husband. Some trivia – the beach sounds of The Who’s album Quadrophenia were recorded here.

Continue the walk to Ferring which was an ancient village mentioned in the Domesday Book. It has a Norman church but the view from the beach is of modern buildings. A path then passes through the Kingston Gorse Estate. A severe notice ‘welcomes’ you. Several things are not allowed including cycling, picnicking or listening to the radio. I listened to the Radio 4 afternoon play and ate a sandwich – no path police on duty that day!

Near to Rustington is a large impressive building facing the sea. This is a convalescent home owned by the Carpenters’ Company – an ancient trade guild. Built in 1897 it was designed as a place where working men could recover from sickness or injury. The area was once home to an American air base but is now mainly large estates of modern housing. More trivia – Flanders and Swan’s famous 1950s song ‘I’m a gnu’ contains the line: ‘I had taken furnished lodgings down at Rustington on Sea”.

The walk ends at Littlehampton with its modern harbour-side development. The unusually constructed East Beach Café is a good place for refreshment and a look out to sea. Like many settlements along this coast the town started out as a fishing community, then became a popular resort and now has a variety of modern housing stretching back inland. The walk continues alongside the River Arun back into the town – look out for the plaque on a rock which gives a recipe for a local delicacy – Hampton Oysters.

Snaps show: Littlehampton Harbour; ecological beach, Worthing; Worthing Pier entrance; Ferring; Convalescent Home, Rustington; 'footpath welcome' notice to Kingston Gorse Estate.