The walk: Circular walks around two peninsulas jutting out into Chichester Harbour. Can be done as two separate walks, or one rather long walk.
Map
NB The map shows my GPS track, with various diversions and excursions which you may not wish to follow precisely. BLUE= Thorney Island RED = Chidham Peninsula
Why do it: Views across Chichester Harbour (the views from Chidham over to Bosham Church are particularly fine). Shore birds, including large flocks of Brent geese in winter. Sense of adventure when passing through the controlled gates into the MoD enclave on Thorney Island. Pilsey Sandbank off Longmere Point, the south east tip of Thorney Island. Dodging path erosion and flooding at high tide, especially on the Chidham Peninsula. Chidham walkway, a path along the embankment separating Chichester Harbour from the lake at Cobnor Point.
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| Bosham Church from Chidham |
Distance: Thorney Island: 9 miles Chidham: 8.5 miles from Prinsted (could be shortened to 5 miles if you could park on the peninsula)
Logistics: Car park (free) by the shore at Prinsted village. Pay car park at Emsworth Yacht Harbour. Car park shown on the OS map to the south of the village of Chidham, on the track to Cobnor Farm (not verified).
Challenges:
On Thorney Island, the route is around the shore of the MoD enclave, once an RAF airfield, now an Army barracks. There are buzzer operated gates on both sides of the island: they seem always to be opened by someone or something. Notices warn that no access off the path is permitted. The path and concrete sea defences are eroded in places, and it may be easier to walk on the beach. Because of this, and if you wish to walk out on the Pilsey sandbank, you should do the walk around low tide. The beaches are strewn with brick and other building debris (presumably just dumped there by the MoD when they demolished buildings), so proceed with care.
On the Chidham Peninsula, the path and sea defences are eroded, and the path has been diverted somewhat inland on the Western side, though I managed to get around on the beach. At high tide the Southern shore and parts of the Eastern shore are flooded, and there is no alternative (I just managed to scramble around a short flooded stretch). Hence, this walk should be done around low tide.
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| Just sneaked through before high tide |
Expect mud in winter.
Refreshments: Pop up coffee stall in the car park at Prinsted. The Deck cafe in Emsworth Yacht Harbour. The Huts in Thornham Marina. The Old House at Home, Chidham.
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| Inside a cosy Hut, Thornham marina |
Nearby Walks
To the West: Bedhampton to Emsworth
To the East: West Wittering to Itchenor
Photos
Thorney Island
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| Footpath cutting across Thorney Island from Prinsted to Emsworth Yacht Harbour |
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| Parking charges at Emsworth Yacht Harbour |
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| Deck Cafe, Emsworth Yacht Harbour |
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| Path heading South down the Western side of the Island |
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| Water channels cut across the Island, and make it an Island |
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| Inquisitive calf |
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| On the beach |
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| Bad erosion and rubble in places |
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| It sometimes isn't quite clear where you are permitted. I took it to mean you can't go inside the fence to the left |
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| You have to alternate between the path and beach |
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| Memorial bench at Longmere Point |
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| On Pilsey Sands |
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| Pilsey Sands |
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| Barbeque? |
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| Extensive Pilsey Sands |
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| Longmere Point info board |
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| There are some muddy tracks |
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| Path on the East is between hedges in places |
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| I tried to walk along the salt marsh, but it's very boggy |
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| Path is narrow in places |
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| Thorney Island Sailing Club notice board |
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| Foreshore at Thorney Island Sailing Club |
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| Slipway at Thorney Island Sailing Club |
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| Approaching the security gate on the East side |
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| The Huts cafe at Thornham Marina |
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| Footbridge at Thornham Marina |
Chidham Peninsula
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| Pop-up coffee stall at Prinsted car park |
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| Path heading East along the sea wall from Prinsted |
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| Diversion: an alternative path is available.... |
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| ...but I continued along the shoreline |
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| Lots of broken concrete on the beach |
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| Erosion |
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| Where the diversion rejoins the beach |
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| Path along the Southern beach floods at high tide |
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| The shore was flooded here, I had to scramble through the trees |
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| Bleached beach tree |
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| Stairs access path |
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| Map of Chidham path flooded at High Tide |
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| Rounding Cobnor Point |
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| Chidham walkway |
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| Chidham walkway |
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| Chidham walkway |
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| Cobnor Activity Centre |
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| Path heading North |
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| Bosham church across the water |
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| Path flooded near Harbour Way |
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| Path flooded near Harbour Way |
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| Harbour Way |
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| Derelict Plant Nursery |
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| Chidham Church |
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| Tea at ..... |
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| .......the Old House at Home |
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| Path cutting across Chidham Peninsula from Chidham village to Prinsted sea wall |
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| Brent geese on the fields |
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| Heading back to Prinsted |
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