I’m back at the boatyard where I finished last time, and the onwards path plunges into some bushes…
After running past some back gardens, it comes out on a picturesque quayside…
The next section follows the bank of the Chichester Channel with it’s collection of boats…
Unfortunately it’s not long before I come to some very posh houses that all have private waterfronts, so the path has to continue along the road.
At the end of the road the path veers slightly further inland, through a small copse, and across the fields of Westlands Farm…
This takes me to the tiny settlement of Westlands. I walk past the houses and then more fields…
A few minutes later I arrive at Birdham Marina. There is a shipyard here and a crane, giving it a bit more of an ‘industrial’ vibe than most marinas!
A couple of hundred yards further on is the disused Chichester Ship Canal. This was built a couple of hundred years ago but was only used for a few years before being mostly abandoned. It was officially closed in 1928. Today it is run by a charitable trust and seems to be home to an interesting selection of houseboats…
I cross over the lock gates and head into Chichester Marina. Now, this is a posh marina!
Access from the marina to the sea is controlled by another lock, manned by a very efficient young lady. A yacht is just leaving the harbour and I have to wait for the gates to close again. She tells me that it will only take five minutes, which is a lot quicker than walking all the way round the marina!
The lock soon fills up, the barriers open, and I’m on my way.
From the marina, the path enters a small patch of woodland called Salterns Copse…
The ‘official’ right of way leaves the copse and heads inland across fields all the way to Dell Quay. But this is a coast walk and there is ‘permissive’ path all along the edge of the channel. So I take that option! And a very pleasant little stroll it turns out to be…
Approaching Dell Quay even this path gets diverted inland of some buildings. However, the tide is out and the beach looks do-able…
The seaweed is a bit slide-y but I reach Dell Quay safe and sound, where the nice looking pub is very busy…
Dell Quay turns out to be a tiny place with some boats. I’m quickly back on the bank-side path…
Apart from a short erosion-induced diversion at one point, I follow the channel bank all the way to Fishbourne. The village is just outside Chichester and is probably most famous for its Roman Palace. Not just a villa, this was a huge building with lots of mosaic floors and ornamental gardens. Well worth a visit!
I follow the path along a stream past some cottages until I reach a small bridge and the road. This is my finish point for today.
This has been a great walk today. Lots of variety and even the weather was good!
