Pagham Harbour (4.5 miles each way)

I have walked to the Eastern and Western spits on either side of Pagham Harbour entrance. This walk plugs the gap in between.

From Pagham village, I walked through the Haven Holiday Village, along the North Wall to Sidlesham Quay, and onward to the RSPB Visitor Centre. Since there are no convenient public transport options, I did an 'out and back again' trip. I walked outward in the morning, and it being low tide, I tried to stay along the shore where possible (RED route). I came back in the afternoon at high tide when the shore was flooded, and hence followed the official England Coast Path, which is routed inland where necessary to provide a 'dry' route at all times (BLUE route).

Doing the walk out and back again spanning both low and high tides made the walks different as the harbour basin was largely mud flats and salt marsh on the way out, and a blue lagoon on the way back.

The shoreline (low tide) route running up to the Salthouse on North Wall

It's about 4.5 miles each way, so 9 miles in total.

I did actually first do this walk some time ago (March 2023), but both outward (shoreline) and return (ECP) routes were so muddy I couldn't bring myself to grace it with a blog post. This time I did the walk after a summer heat wave, and found the shore sections to be largely dry: the inevitable limited muddy parts left when the tide recedes were easily traversed or avoided. The worst muddy section of the ECP (Eastwards from Halsey's Farm) has been provided with a hard surface.

The shoreline sections are on the Eastern shore of Pagham Harbour, between the Holiday Village and the Salthouse at the Eastern end of the North Wall, and along the Southern Shore between the North Wall and Sidlesham Quay. To follow the shoreline walk, you should of course time your walk to coincide with the period around low tide. In winter, the shore route will still be very muddy, and is best avoided. There are two footpaths providing an escape route back to the ECP (see PURPLE routes on map).

The shoreline at high tide

I parked in Pagham. There is a car park opposite the Beach Cafe, which seems to be free at quiet times, £3 at busy times (no machines or pay-by-app details: I think there will be an attendant: check notices).

Pagham Car Park

Pagham Harbour is a nature reserve, managed by the RSPB, and plays host to waders and waterbirds, terns and gulls and the occasional peregrine or osprey, although the best viewing will be in winter when large flocks arrive from the North to overwinter. The knowledgeable volunteers at the RSPB Visitor can provide the latest sightings info.

At Sidlesham Quay, now literally a quiet backwater, there used to be a large tidal mill. It was also a halt on the Tramway which linked Chichester to Selsey: the ECP follows the old Tramway to the Visor centre.

For refreshments, try the retro Beach Cafe in Pagham at the start and/or end of the walk, and the Crab and Lobster Pub at Sidlesham Quay for lunch. The RSPB Visitor Centre has a tea/coffee machine.

Pagham Beach cafe

This blog covers the walk to the East, from Pagham to Elmer.

This blog covers the walk to the West, a circuit including Church Norton, Selsey Bill and the Medmerry inundation.

Photos

Hot July day, cloudy morning, sunny afternoon, with a cooling breeze

Beach Cafe, Pagham

Walk up Well Road

Pagham Holiday Village

Becket's Barn: scheduled ancient monument, part of an episcopal palace dating from the 13th Century. Now, somewhat incongruously, repurposed as the reception for the holiday village