Chichester Harbour is a natural harbour in West Sussex and Hampshire. It is south west of Chichester and in the west of West Sussex. It is a particularly beautiful part of Sussex with its own very unique atmosphere.
Harbour detail
The harbour is made up of a number of channels including Emsworth Channel, Thorney Channel, Chichester Channel and Bosham Channel as well as peninsulas that include Thorney Island, Chidham and Bosham, and parts of Hayling Island. To its west is Langstone Harbour and the Solent and to its east is the Manhood Peninsula and Pagham Harbour.
Chichester Harbour is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , a Site of Special Scientific Interest, part of the Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation, a Chichester and Langstone Harbours Ramsar site and includes Local Nature Reserves. It covers an area of 3,733.5-hectare (9,226-acre) and is managed by Chichester Harbour Conservancy. It is one of two natural harbours in that area of Sussex (the other being Pagham Harbour) along with two in nearby Hampshire.
Chichester Harbour landscape
The landscape includes sandy beaches and sand dunes, salt marshes, mudflats and tidal flats, creeks, rocky shore lines, tiny islands and inlets, and an absolute abundance of wildlife. At various times of the year you’ll find geese, wildfowl, waders and many other types of birds. In places, you’ll be walking across mud flats and in other places you can follow coastal paths where crop fields grow to your right and waves lap to your left.
It’s also an area with a rich history of Roman, Viking, Saxon and Norman visitors and invaders, and it is dotted with ancient churches and buildings. In short, the landscape changes as constantly as the tide and it is has a unique story that goes back many centuries.
Harbour life
The area is, of course, popular with lovers of the water, and there are sailing clubs, boat yards, marinas, surfers, fisherman and a raft of other gentle water sports dotted along its many shores. Pretty harbour and quay side villages abound with the likes of Bosham, Chidham, Dell Quay, West Itchenor, West Thorney and West Wittering, and you never have to go far to find coastal pubs and cafés.
Exploring Chichester Harbour
There are a variety of different ways to explore Chichester Harbour which include:
- A network of footpaths including the King Charles III Coastal Path and New Lipchis Way
- A number of cycle routes including Salterns Way
- Harbour boat tours and canal trips
- Travel by bus or by car
Chichester Harbour is perfect for short day trips, mini breaks or longer holidays, whether you fancy camping, glamping or boutique hotels. For more information about Chichester Harbour you may like:
