Bosham
On this walk, children will enjoy exploring the quay, paddling, crabbing or getting an ice-cream or treat from the old fashioned sweet shop.
Views of Bosham Village from the footpath
The Basics
Time: 1 hour there and back to the end of the road or 2 hours there and back to the end of the footpath
Distance: 4.6 km / 2.9 miles to the end of the road and back or 7 km / 4.4 miles to the end of the footpath and back
Terrain: Pavements, very quiet village road and foreshore.
Pushchair: Pushchairs will make it to the end of the road.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome, but you will probably want them on leads around the village and on the quay.
Refreshments: There are lots of choices such as Shoreside Café and Pop In Cafe which are operated by The Millstream Restaurant and you will also find Wendy’s Tea-Room, or The Anchor Bleu Pub. A picnic on the quay is also pleasant (no tables, bring a blanket).
Toilets: There are public toilets in the car park.
Public Transport: Stagecoach route 56 travels between Chichester and Bosham.
Parking: Pay and display car park just off the high street (Postcode: PO18 8HZ - W3W: ///unheated.sublet.showrooms)
The stream beside the quay where generations of children have enjoyed paddling
Picture postcard Bosham is the kind of place you will want to spend an entire day. As well as this walk there are craft shops, galleries, tea-rooms, pubs, a quay, stream and views of Chichester Harbour National Landscape to enjoy. To make the best of the views, our walk is a there and back one. Those wanting a surfaced path can walk until the road leaves the shore, or those up for going further can walk until the footpath ends at the ferry terminal.
The Route
Walk down Bosham Lane towards the harbour. You will pass Bosham Walk which is an arts and craft centre, including café, sweets, gifts, art gallery, and local produce. Once past this diversion, turn left where the road meets the water. If the tide is out, you can walk along Shore Road beside the shore, otherwise you will need to take the higher path beside the houses. You can access this by taking the path opposite Shoreside Cafe/The High Street.
Whether you take the high road or the low road, continue around the harbour, always with the water to your right. Shore Road will bend right the way around in a huge hairpin bend and from the other side, you will have wonderful views back to the village.
We usually walk until the road turns away from the shore and then we return the way we came.
You can continue onwards at this point and follow the footpath that continues beside the shore (best at low tide). The footpath will eventually end when you come to Bosham Hoe and the point where the ferry from Itchenor docks. It is possible to make a circuit by following the road back round to Bosham, but we recommend returning the way you came to enjoy the scenery again. Alternatively, you can catch the ferry over to Itchenor and extend your walk using this loop around Itchenor.
On arrival back at the village, we highly recommend walking up the high street by turning left beside Shoreside Café. You will pass some pretty cottages before reaching the church and then the quay. This is a large grassy area managed by The National Trust, where there are benches for looking out across the harbour and often various boats to watch entering and leaving the yacht club. The wall here is a good place to go crabbing. There is also a stream running along the edge, where children will enjoy playing using the little steps down into the water.
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Did you know?
The correct way to pronounce Bosham is ‘Bozzum’.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one at Chidham, which goes along the land you see on the opposite side of the water at Bosham Quay
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