East Head is in the bottom south east corner of and at the entrance to Chichester Harbour.
From a wider perspective, it’s one of the most western parts of the West Sussex coast (with only parts of Thorney Island further west). On the map it looks a bit like an island but it’s a sand dune spit. It is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Ramsar Site (a wetland site of international importance) and as you might expect, it’s very beautiful.
The National Trust now manage East Head (working with West Wittering Estate and Chichester Harbour Conservancy) but you can walk on it, and it’s just over a kilometre to the northern tip. From the entrance (The Hinge), it’s about a 2.5 km round trip walk.
A unique and breathtaking landscape
East Head is described as “a nationally rare and fragile yet highly dynamic sand dune system”. As you head on to the spit from West Wittering, the beaches and bustle of Hayling Island on the opposite side of the harbour entrance feel such a sort distance away, while to your right, salt marshes feel like a dramatic change from the vast open sandy beaches of West Wittering.
The entrance is marked with sea defences and there is a bench at the start if you just want to sit and admire what’s ahead. There is also an information board. It’s one of those places where it’s hard to believe you’re in Sussex. On a sunny day, even when it’s busy, it has a remote and slightly exotic feel and it’s not nearly as busy as West Wittering beach. You can hear the soft chime of life on the water from nearby yachts and fisherman, the water lapping and the aquatic birdsong. In bad weather, it feels wonderfully wild.
Alternative routes and parking
To get there, the main car park is at West Wittering which is expensive, although if you prebook, you can get a reduced rate. You are not encouraged to park in West Wittering village. Alternative options include to cycle (you can get there mainly off road via Salterns Way and cycle racks are available in the West Wittering car park) or to walk from East Wittering (it’s 3.3 km from East Wittering to East Head entrance, so if you walk there, around East Head and back, it is a coastal walk of about 9 km). There are places to eat during the day at West Wittering beach.
Or, walk along the coastal path from Itchenor (there is parking here which is also paid but not as expensive). It’s about 5.5 km from Itchenor, so with a walk around East Head and back to Itchenor, 13 km all in. There is a café and a pub in Itchenor.
If you’ve enjoyed this post about East Head, you may also like:
Island Hopping in Chichester Harbour
The Witterings to Itchenor Coastal Walk
Exploring the Sussex coast
