Chichester Harbour: Bosham to Dell Quay via Itchenor Ferry

The Walk: Starting from the A259 at Cutmill Creek, the walk goes along the shore of Chichester Harbour to Bosham, across Bosham Harbour on the causeway exposed at low tide, and on around the shore to take the ferry across to Itchenor. The North East arm of the Harbour is then followed through Chichester Marina and along the permissive shore path through Apuldram Farm to the waterside hamlet of Dell Quay. The walk passes through the Fishbourne Meadows Nature Reserve to end back on the A259 near Fishbourne. There is an optional extension to the Fishbourne Roman Palace museum.

Map

NB The map shows my GPS track, with various diversions and excursions which you may not wish to follow precisely. Main route in BLUE, Colner footpath in RED. Route to Roman Palace in PURPLE.

Why do it: Views to blue waters dotted with sail boats, across mud flats, echoing to the cry of curlews. The historic village of Bosham, pretty in its own right, and surely having one of the most picturesque locations in England (according to legend, where King Cnut commanded the waves to recede, try it yourself.) Walk a tidal causeway across Bosham Harbour. A ferry ride to Itchenor, another pretty village, popular with the sailing fraternity. Remnants of the Chichester to Portsmouth Canal. Gongoozling beside the heavy duty lock at Chichester Marina. Dell Quay, another pretty waterside hamlet. If you have the energy for a short extra walk, the outstanding mosaics of Fishbourne Roman Palace, the largest such building discovered North of the Alps.

Waiting for the Itchenor ferry

Distance: 10 miles

Logistics: Start by parking on the road off Newells Lane, opposite the Snow Goose B&B at the head of the Cutmill Creek inlet. (It is nice to 'bag' the Cutmill shore to complete the walk around Chichester Harbour, but it can be quite muddy, since it floods at high tide. This can be avoided by taking the official footpath at Colner Creek (marked in RED on the map). Parking in Old Bridge Road is a possible alternative.

The walk ends at the bus stop at Fishbourne Road West. Catch the 700 Chichester to Portsmouth bus back to the start.

To do the route in reverse, considerate parking is allowed in the car park of St Peter's and St Mary's Fishbourne, provided there is no event on in the church (donation requested).

Challenges:

My route stays on the foreshore where possible (map in satellite view shows where I took to the foreshore). The foreshore (including the tidal causeway across Bosham harbour) gets submerged at high tide, confining you to the official paths, which are sometimes away from the waterside and /or behind hedges. The shore path round to the Itchenor ferry is impassable at high tide, and you must walk along Lower Hone Lane. The 'inland' paths themselves get quite muddy after rain and in winter, and the foreshore might actually be the drier option! For these reasons, doing the walk around low tide gives more options.

It is therefore a challenge to get the right combination of tide, weather, daylight and ferry operating times (the ferry is seasonal, check web)!

As noted under 'Logistics' above, the first part of the walk around the Cutmill foreshore is covered at high tide and hence can be quite muddy. You could avoid this by using the footpath shown on the map in red.

The foreshore is pebbly, muddy, slippery and overhung by trees in places, so take care..

Refreshments: No shortage on this walk! Cafes and pubs at Bosham, Itchenor, Chichester Marina and Dell Quay (and the Roman Palace if you go there)

Nearby Walks

To the South: West Wittering to Itchenor (you could combine this with the current walk to do West Wittering to Bosham, or West Wittering to Dell Quay, using buses to return to your start)

To The West: Thorney Island and Chidham Peninsula

For a map showing all of my coastal walks, see here.

Photos

October, Sunny until Dell Quay, then clouded over with rain for final section.