Walk Report

Havant to Chichester by the Sea, Saturday 8th August 2015
17 walkers, 20 miles - leader Jennifer Caddy
Seventeen set off in sunshine from the start at Havant railway station (09.15). The route was flat (too flat for one person who left at the lunch stop); the only climb was up the steps of the new pedestrian crossing (greeted with grumbles) over the railway line near Chichester.
From the station we walked south along the route of a disused railway line, joined the Wayfarer's Walk and headed east to Emsworth. At Emsworth we took a footpath past the Slipper Pond and continued to Prinsted where we joined the shore footpath by the First Southbourne Sea Scouts HQ. This was open for refreshments so we stopped briefly for cold drinks.
We continued round the shore on the sea wall to its end where we branched left on a grassy embankment and reached the section of footpath that is flooded at high tide. Continuing round the peninsula past Cobnor Point, we reached the A259, turned east and in half a mile came to a footpath that led to Bosham, our stop for lunch (12 miles so far). Forty-five minutes later (14.15) we set off again and headed south across the causeway (low tide was noon), walked on the road and then on the footpath by the shore to the causeway for the ferry to West Itchenor. This seats only eleven but two were in use so we were all over in about ten minutes.
From West Itchenor we continued on a footpath that took us to Chichester Marina where we stopped for more cold drinks at the new cafe. Reinvigorated, we carried on to Dell Quay and Fishbourne, crossed the A259, turned east, went through the subway under the A27, continued on towards the centre of Chichester and reached the railway station at 17.35.
Notable views along the route were the South Downs, the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, Chichester Cathedral, numerous sailing boats on the blue water of the Chichester Channel and, way in the distance at one point, the Isle of Wight.
Photographs by Lindsey Bailey

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