We offer walks in London and Home Counties, accessible by public transport.
Barbara B.
A full day out walking down one side of the Chichester Channel of Chichester Harbour before reaching West Itchenor and crossing by passenger ferry to walk up the Bosham channel to Bosham village and then further north to Bosham station.
This is a chance to visit a scenic and peaceful estuary Area of Outstanding Beauty dotted with sailing boats. There are brief road walks from Fishbourne Station at the start and towards Bosham station at the finish, the remainder of the day is on footpaths, some woodland, much in full sun/unsheltered. We walk through Dell Quay, and Birdham marinas, and reach the picturesque West Itchenor for a late lunch stop.
There will be stops for photographs, water breaks and bird spotting - on the recce we saw a wonderful black-tailed godwit as well as numerous swans and cygnets.
Do bring binoculars, sun hat and sunscreen.
This walk is not for those with time constraints - please don’t come if you would be anxious about the exact time you will return to the station as there are so many variables. Birdham marina has a swing bridge that opens for boats when they wish to enter or leave, so walkers and cyclists may have to wait. The passenger ferry runs all day but may be elsewhere on the Channel, so passengers wait on the quay. It can only carry 12 passengers, and locals needing lifts to their boats take priority over visitors. Much of the walk is tide dependent, the ferry deposits passengers at a choice of 3 landing stages for high, medium and low tide, some paths are shut if it’s high tide so there may be diversions. The ferry costs £3 per person (cash or card - pay on ferry)
Train: 10.05 Victoria, 10.12 Clapham Junction, 10.23 East Croydon arrives Fishbourne 11.41. Freedom pass/60+ Oyster holders buy a return from Boundary zone 6/East Croydon to Bosham. The train divides at Horsham, please sit in the front 4 coaches of the train. Leave the train at Fishbourne, we return from Bosham (hourly trains).
Lunch: at West Itchenor, pub for drinks and toilets only (and for refilling water bottles). Bring a picnic and a snack too - because of the late start we’re likely to reach West Itchenor after 2 pm.
Toilet: on the train, at the pub at West Itchenor or at the quayside there, also at Bosham village.
Fishbourne Station
Bosham station
