Chichester Canal
Children will enjoy an entirely flat walk with plentiful wildlife to look out for such as kingfishers, heron, foxes, dragonflies, moorhens and coots.
The canal always looks lovely in autumn
The Basics
Time: It takes about 1.5 hours to walk the full length of the canal in one direction, so our child friendly option is to walk one way and get the bus back.
Distance: 5.4 km / 3.4 miles in one direction.
Terrain: Flat, well maintained paths, some busy road crossings.
Pushchair: A pushchair should be able to make it along the entire route, but I would be unsure about crossing the A286 Witterings road with a pushchair. This is towards the end of the canal, as you enter the approach to the marina.
Dogs: Should be kept on leads and out of the water to protect the wildlife.
Refreshments: Canal Cafe at the Heritage Centre, Chichester Canal Basin or The Boathouse at The Marina in Birdham.
Toilets: There are toilets at The Canal Heritage Centre and at Chichester Marina.
Public Transport: It takes about three minutes to walk from Chichester train station to the canal wharf at the top of the canal.
Parking: There is a small amount of free on road parking around Canal Wharf in Chichester which you can use for maximum two hours (Postcode: PO19 8DT - W3W: ///tides.fumes.organs). If you plan to walk the entire canal and get the bus back, you are better off paying to park in the Avenue de Chartes multi storey, pay and display (Postcode: PO19 8DJ) or the slightly more expensive train station car park, £6.90 for a whole day weekdays, £2.90 Sundays, pay on phone (Postcode: PO19 8DL). If you would rather start at the marina and walk to Chichester, there is free parking for two hours and then you pay on exit for anything over that (Postcode: PO20 7BG - W3W: ///lingering.files.cover).
*If you want to walk the whole length of the canal, but do not want to return by foot, there is a regular bus service that connects both Hunston and Chichester Marina with the bus station in Chichester. Look out for the 51 on Selsey Road at Hunston or the 52 or 53 on Birdham Road by the Marina. All of these buses run about every 15 minutes.
JMW Turner painted this view
Straight, flat, easy to follow and rich in wildlife; The Chichester Ship Canal ticks all the boxes when it comes to a family walk. If you have never walked here before, you will be shocked to discover the secret of this beautiful waterway that quietly passes right beneath the A27. You can walk the entire length of the canal between Chichester city centre and Chichester Marina at Birdham.
The Route from Chichester
We started the route in Chichester and walked to the marina, where we got the bus back. You could also reverse the route and start at Birdham Marina and walk to Chichester. The route is linear along the tow path, so very easy to reverse the directions.
Alternatively, you can cycle the entire route.
Wherever you parked in Chichester, make your way to the Chichester Canal Heritage Centre, Canal Wharf, PO19 8DT. There is a visitor centre and café. You can also hire rowing boats and organise boat tours here. Begin with the canal basin to your left and start your journey down the tow path.
The first things to look out for are the butterfly sculptures and then the original Poyntz Bridge, which has been placed where visitors can see it and read more on the information boards.
Continue along the canal as you leave the city and go under the A27. The urban area will give way to meadows and countryside and the first time you will need to alter your course is when you reach Hunston Bridge. You will need to cross the bridge, stopping to admire a view back to Chichester Catherdral that J.M.W. Turner once painted. On the other side, turn right and re-join the canal the other side of Canal Cottage, now with the water to your right.
The next ‘interuption’ will be where you need to cross Selsey Road at Crosbie Bridge. Cross with care as this is a fast road, and re-join the canal on the other side.
The canal becomes wilder as you venture forward and less easy to view behind the vegetation. Continue forward until the next bridge and road crossing. At this point, you will need to cross the Witterings road, which can be very busy in summer. The bus stop is on the other side of the road and a few metres along on your right. Routes 52 or 53 will take you back to Chichester stopping at Canal Wharf and terminating at the bus station, opposite the train station. The journey takes about 15 minutes and there are multiple services an hour.
To continue, and add a loop around Birdham Marina, follow the canal as it runs parallel to the entrance road. When you reach the visitors car park, continue straight on, passing more car parks and boat buildings to your right and some house boats to your left.
Before you reach the big black building of the sailing club, turn right and walk towards the Boathouse café. You will now have reached the shoreline of Chichester Harbour. Cross over the lock at the mouth to the marina with the boats to your right (you may have to wait a minute or two here if the gates are open).
On the other side of the lock, turn right and walk up the opposite side of the marina, with the boats to your right. You will pass a bird hide on your left before returning to the visitor’s car park. You can either re-trace your footsteps to Chichester or walk up to the road and catch the bus.
The Route from Birdham Marina
Exit the visitor’s car park and walk back along the access road you drove down. Traffic here is limited to about 15 mph and there are wide verges. You should see the canal on your right.
Walk up the middle of the wide grassy area that opens up between the canal and the access road, and at the end of this you will arrive at the A286. Cross with care and take the footpath directly opposite. You will now have the canal on your left.
Walk along the towpath to Donnington, where you will need to cross a road again at Crosbie Bridge. Continue along the towpath to Hunston Bridge. The canal will take a sharp turn to the left and you will need to briefly leave the canal before crossing the bridge and walking with the water to your right.
Continue to the canal basin in Chichester, from where you can catch the 52 or 53 busses back to Birdham Marina. The bus terminal is just north of Canal Wharf, off Basin Road.
Did you know?
The Chichester Ship Canal was built as part of a route that would connect waterways from the coast up to London via The Portsmouth and Arundel Canal, The River Arun Navigation, Wey & Arun Junction Canal, River Wey and River Thames.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one at Chichester Marina, which is a short walk at the southern end of the canal.
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