Our Sussex Exclusive Urban Walks are designed to help you discover the stories, landmarks and hidden corners that give our Sussex towns their character, all on foot, and generally over a shorter distance than our country hikes.
This Shoreham Urban Walk packs an extraordinary amount into just a few miles, following the River Adur between Old and New Shoreham and taking in ancient churches, historic streets, wildlife-rich riverbanks, remarkable houseboats, Shoreham Beach Nature Reserve and Shoreham Fort. It’s a walk through nature, maritime history and nearly a thousand years of Shoreham life.
Walk summary
Main walk: 3 miles / 4.8 km
Optional Shoreham Beach & Fort extension: 2.6 miles / 4.2 km
Full extended walk: 5.6 miles / 9 km
Start/finish: Car park south of Norfolk Bridge
Character: Riverside, historic town, harbour, beach and nature
Allow: 2–2½ hours for the main walk, longer if visiting the church/museum or stopping for food.
Stage 1: The River Adur and Old Shoreham
From the car park near Norfolk Bridge, head north along the western bank of the River Adur, following the riverside path towards Old Shoreham. The path wiggles a little but essentially follows the river for just under a mile. On your left you’ll see Brighton City Airport/Shoreham Airport; on your right, the Adur Estuary Nature Reserve is a mix of mudflats, saltmarsh and important wildlife habitat. It is managed by the RSPB.
At Old Shoreham Toll Bridge, cross the river. The bridge was built in 1781. On the eastern side, look out for the Shoreham Airshow Memorial, commemorating the eleven men killed in the 2015 disaster, before visiting nearby St Nicolas Church, Old Shoreham. The church was founded before the Norman Conquest and was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. There is surviving Saxon work in the nave walls.
Stage 2: Back along the Adur into historic Shoreham
From the Amsterdam (the pub on the corner) and the memorial, pick up the riverside path again, this time following the River Adur south towards Shoreham town centre for approximately one mile / 1.6 km.
Make your way into the historic streets around St Mary de Haura founded at the end of the 11th century. Wander through the surrounding old streets, looking out for the flint walls and historic buildings in Church Street, including the building associated with Nathaniel Woodard and the beginnings of the Woodard schools.
Continue to the High Street and Marlipins Museum built in the 12th century and oozing history from every brick. It is the oldest secular building in Sussex. Then head towards the river and the Adur Ferry Bridge.
Stage 3: Adur Ferry Bridge and the houseboats
Cross the Adur Ferry Bridge to Shoreham Beach. On the far side, look out for the three figures representing Charles II, Joan Morgan and RNLI coxswain Peter Huxtable.
From here, turn west, following the water’s edge and passing Shoreham’s wonderfully eccentric collection of houseboats made out of all sorts of things, including a coach. When you reach the A259, turn right and follow it back towards Norfolk Bridge and the starting car park.
Main walk complete: 3 miles / 4.8 km.
Optional extension: Shoreham Beach & Shoreham Fort
For a longer walk, after crossing the Adur Ferry Bridge, instead of immediately turning west towards the houseboats, pick up the signs for the King Charles III England Coast Path and follow the river east, towards the port. The Coast Path is waymarked with the National Trail acorn symbol. Follow the edge of the Adur towards its mouth. As you approach the end of the peninsula, you’ll begin to see Shoreham Lifeboat Station, Shoreham Harbour and the port, before arriving around the corner at Shoreham Fort, completed in 1857 to protect our shores against an attack by Napoleon.
From the fort, turn west and make your way back along Shoreham Beach, using the boardwalk. This isn’t just a beach: Shoreham Beach is a Local Nature Reserve, designated in 2006 because of its internationally rare vegetated shingle habitat. Plants include sea kale and yellow-horned poppy, and the boardwalk now extends for more than 1.2 km.
Follow the beach and boardwalk back towards the Adur Ferry Bridge. From there, rejoin the main route past the houseboats and return to the starting point.
Extension: 2.6 miles / 4.2 km
Complete walk with extension: 5.6 miles / 9 km
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