West Wittering to Medmerry Breach

The Walk: "From Beach to Breach": A walk along the shore from West Wittering Beach to the breach created by the Medmerry Coastal Realignment Scheme, which allowed the sea to flood in to create a tidal 'lagoon' habitat. (NB low tide essential to reach the breach.)

Map

NB The map shows my GPS track, with various diversions and excursions which you may not wish to follow precisely. In particular, don't take the track at the Medmerry breach literally: the ground here is flooded every tide and will constantly change.

Why do it: A bracing and adventurous seaside walk. Big open sandy beach at West Wittering, giving way to shingle and breakwaters as you head along the shore. Views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Medmerry RSPB Bird Reserve in the flooded area created by a managed realignment scheme. (It was decided to give up trying to keep the sea back with massive shingle banks, and instead to construct a circle of embankments inland, and breach the defences to allow the sea to flood in to create a tidal habitat, which has become a magnet for waders and wildfowl.) Strange rocky platforms and gullies as you approach the breach.

There are some treacherous muddy channels

For more details of this area, see the cycle rides described in my companion blog, Cycle Geography.

Distance: 11 miles in total there and back again. Excludes any exploration of the Medmerry Reserve - a walk along the embankments of the flooded area gives good views, though birdlife may be distant - take binoculars.

Logistics: I did this walk by parking at the car park next to Billy's on the Beach cafe in Bracklesham (charge), and walking down to the Medmerry breach and back, then up to West Wittering and back. You could also park in the West Wittering Beach car park (charge), and do a straightforward out-and-back-again walk.

Challenges: Low tide is essential in order to safely approach the Medmerry breach: only then is enough firm ground exposed. A deep channel still remains, so it is NOT possible to cross over to the other side of the inlet and continue on to Selsey Bill, so don't even think about it. Do this bit of the walk on a falling low tide. This area is also rough, rocky and muddy in parts, with shallow channels to wade through, so take care, watch the tide closely and be prepared to turn back if you encounter an unexpected incoming tide, or deep mud.

Low tide is desirable for the walk along the main beach, since a firm area of sand is exposed in parts, making for an easier surface to walk on.

The Medmerry area used to be a bombing test range, so if you see any suspicious looking objects.......

Refreshments: Cafe in the West Wittering Beach car park. Several cafes etc along, and in the streets behind, the beach in East Wittering and Bracklesham, for example, Billy's on the Beach at Bracklesham.

Nearby Walks

To The West: West Wittering Beach to Itchenor

To The East: Sidlesham-Selsey Bill circuit

Photos