Flat 10 km Shoreham coastal walk.
This walk is a little bit different from our norm. My recommendation is to do it on a wild winter’s day. It’s gritty in (quite a few) places and urban but it still manages to feel wild and it takes in some interesting places. We did it from Hove to the east side of Shoreham Harbour and back. If you want to walk on, and all the way round to the other side of the harbour, then it’s another 5 km each way. The route is on Ordnance Survey Explorer 11 (but you really don’t need a map). It follows the route of the King Charles III Coastal Path and Monarch’s Way. We started in Hove and parked at the King Alfred car park. What3Words: event.value.shot.
Along the seafront
This is an easy route to follow because more or less all the way you can see the wind turbines at Shoreham visible ahead and that’s what you’re aiming for! So from the car park just head west along the seafront (and past Rockwater where you might want to stop for a drink on your way back). This is a fabulously wide stretch of esplanade and you’ll pass the Fish Shack (stock up there on your way back) before you come to Western Lawns and the Lagoon. On a sunny day, it’s gorgeous here. On a wild and windy day, it’s fabulously bleak.
You’re leaving Hove actually
At Western Esplanade, there is the Fish Shop and the Cheese Hut (think more supplies for the way back). Western Esplanade, AKA Millionaire’s Row, has been home to Adele, Sir Paul McCartney and Zoe Ball. If you’ve seen the photos of the inside of this little row of beachfront villas, you’ll know they look exotic and stylish. On a grey old day in the winter, they look quite mundane. Sorry Adele, I’m sure they’re lovely.
You’re leaving East Sussex actually
The next bit of your walk is particularly gritty as you walk with the wharf to your right and the sea to your left. Before you get to the power station, you cross into West Sussex. You also pass the naturist beach, although no one was braving it when I walked this way.
Once you’re past the power station, the wind turbines gradually get nearer but if you want to do the extended route you need to turn right and wiggle your way through the port (just past Carats Café). How much you like this stretch will be down to personal taste but it’s a working port and it’s really interesting to walk through. Industrial, yes, but not without beauty.
You’re also not far from Brighton Gin’s HQ if you fancy a detour. Otherwise, just follow Albion Street and then Brighton Road all the way to Shoreham and the Adur Ferry Bridge. Cross the bridge and double back along Riverside Road and Sussex Wharf, all the way to the fort. From here, you see the harbour from the other side and can follow the long boardwalk along Shoreham Beach and through the nature reserve back to the bridge (or keep walking all the way to Thorney Island – it’s only another 90 km give or take).
Shoreham harbour
For the 10 km walk, just keep heading to the wind turbines and the harbour wall. You walk right past the base of the wind turbines and can walk along the harbour wall to the end from where you can look back at the coastline. On a wild day, be careful. The waves can get quite lively. On a sunny day, Southwick Beach, just in front of you, is a great spot for a picnic. Then, just walk back again.
I got wet on this walk and it got dark. But there was no mud and it’s a fabulous way to blow away a few cobwebs. And once back in Hove, there are plenty of places to hunker down for a bite to eat.
If you like this Shoreham coastal walk, you may also be interested in:
Things To Do In Shoreham-by-Sea
Things To Do In Hove
Littlehampton Coastal Walk
East Sussex Walk: New England Coast Path
Stunning 12 km Sussex Coastal Walk at Chidham
