21 Jan Family-friendly walk near Chichester
The specialist on family-friendly walks on our patch, Sally from the_ambling_path has put together this walk, a loop around Itchenor, a sailing village near Chichester, an excellent waterside walk with a pub on route and plenty of interest for children.
Time: 1.5 hours
Distance: 4.12 km
Terrain: Firm coastal path, some roads and muddy field section.
Pushchair: No, too narrow in places.
Dogs: Yes
Parking: P&D car park near Itchenor quay.
Location: PO20 7AE
What will kids enjoy? Plenty of boats to see and a shoreline to beachcomb along.
Follow the walk
🚶♀️Exit the car park and turn left to walk along the main street. Itchenor is very attractive with beautiful old cottages. After 50m, you will find yourself at the quay, where there are plenty of boats to watch. This is also the point where you can catch a little ferry to Bosham or take a boat tour with @chichesterharbourconservancy
🚶♀️Facing the water, turn left and take the narrow footpath squeezing between houses. This will bring you out into the boatyard. Cross the boatyard and join the coastal path opposite.
🚶♀️The next section of the walk is really straightforward. Just follow the path with the water to your right and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
🚶♀️Almost immediately you will see a footpath to your left. Ignore this one. You need to keep going until after some time, you spot the next footpath on your left. This one will have a barrier narrowing the entrance to stop bikes getting through. Take this path.
🚶♀️The path will travel along the edge of a field before entering a farm track. Turn left here and follow the track all the way to the farm. Just before the farm buildings you will see a low stile on your right. Take this and follow the narrow path with a little wall along the side. At the end, turn left following the footpath sign along the farm entrance track.
🚶♀️At the end, turn left when you hit the road. Follow the road all the way back to the car park. The road has no pavement, but it is wide and quiet.
🚾. There are public toilets beside the harbour office.
The Ship Inn for lunch
🍽 Just past the car park, on the main street is @theshipinnitchenor closed for January 2022 so check if it’s open beforehand.
Situated in the sailing village of Itchenor, The Ship describes itself as a perfect dog-friendly pitstop for walkers, with locally sourced, fresh food, a selection of fine ales set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and only 200 yards from Chichester Harbour. Sounds good to us!
If you haven’t followed the_ambling_path family then head over to their Instagram now and… keeeep waaallking!
