West Wittering is a village in West Sussex tucked away in the western corner of Chichester Harbour. A hop and a skip away, you’ll come to East Wittering and then a little further you come to Bracklesham. All along this stretch of coast, you have fabulous views across the water to the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth. In 2024, West Wittering and West Itchenor were named by The Telegraph as two of the most upmarket towns in the country.
Things to do in West Wittering
So you fancy a day at the coast? West Wittering is home to an excellent family beach.
The beach
From East Head in the west to East Wittering, you’ll find approximately 3 km of wide, sandy beach. It’s a Blue Flag beach with shallow waters and lots of facilities. There is a café, toilets, water sports hire (surf, SUP, windsurf and kite) and lots of space.
Getting there
There is a large car park but it is expensive and at peak times, requires pre-booking. Alternatively, there is a bus service from Chichester or you can cycle via Salterns Way and there are bike racks in the car park.
Dogs
From the 1st of May to the 30th of September, dogs are excluded from the main swimming beach between groynes numbered 14a to 18 (roughly the area in front of the beach huts). Dogs are welcome on the whole beach during the rest of the year.
Walking and things to see
At the west end of the beach is East Head which is a sand dune spit. You can walk round this and enjoy views across the bay and the sail boats moored on the shores edge. It’s often quieter than West Wittering beach. From West Wittering you can also walk along the coastal path to Itchenor.
As you head east towards East Wittering and Bracklesham, the beaches gradually becomes more of a mix of shingle and sand. East Wittering cafés and restaurants line Shore Road as it leads to the sea.
Look out for beautiful houses along the seafront and Cakeham Manor – once a palace of the Bishop’s of Chichester and later home to Richard Branson’s mother. If you come early evening, you may spot horse riders on the beach at Bracklesham.
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