Chidham Peninsula
Chichester Harbour
Children will enjoy the bridges and shoreline on this beautiful coastal walk.
Bridges on the way to Cobnor Point
The Basics
Time: 2 hours.
Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
Terrain: Flat, compacted coastal paths, fields which are sometimes muddy in winter, small section on a quiet village lane.
Pushchair: This route is not suitable for pushchairs.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk.
Refreshments: The Old House at Home pub in Chidham.
Toilets: There are no public toilets on this walk.
Public Transport: Stagecoach route 700 from Chichester to Portsmouth stops at Chidham, Drift Lane on the A259. From there it is a 15 minute walk along the lane to Chidham.
Parking: Cobnor Farm Amenity Car Park, Chidham Lane, small, free, height barrier (Postcode: PO18 8TE - W3W: ///span.goats.retraced)
A section of the longer walk best done at low tide
If you only ever do one walk in Chichester Harbour National Landscape, you should probably make it this one! This route around Chidham Peninsula via Cobnor Point packs in everything we love about the area. There are views across Nutbourne and Bosham Channels, coastal wildlife a plenty, scenery that changes with the tides, a cosy traditional pub and pretty cottages that have stood watch over the peninsula for centuries.
The Route
Take the steps out of the car park turn, then immediately turn left and follow the straight path along the edge of a field to the water’s edge. Turn right and walk with the water to your left.
Continue until you reach a large houseboat and a boatyard. At this point, drop down to your right and leave the coastal path. Walk along the path between two hedges with the boatyard to your left. Follow the path as it bends left and then passes the Christian Youth Enterprises Activity Centre. Go straight across a paved access lane and walk over the little wooden footbridge. Continue along the path between hedges and then go straight across the next paved access lane. Pass by Cobnor House away to your right as you veer to the left on a small tarmac path back towards the water.
Turn right at the water and continue on the coastal path. Bosham Channel begins to widen as it makes its way closer to the sea and you will walk over a series of two wooden bridges with tidal pools/mudflats to your right. Look out for a bench with a view at Cobnor Point at the end of the peninsula.
The path then bends off to the right. Where there are some wooden steps onto the shore, keep upwards and go over the new bridge and through the new gate. Follow the path along the edge of the field. At the end of the field, turn right and continue up the short edge. Go through the gap in the hedge and keep left along the edge of the next field. Cross over a little bridge over a ditch into the next field and then veer left again. At the field edge, go out through the little gate, over the bridge and veer right to follow the King Charles III England Coast path.
Bear right, away from the shore again, when you reach an old wooden fence. Stay with the grassy path, walking with the shoreline a distance away to your left for around two kilometres. You will eventually come to an old wooden fence at the end of this grassy section and should go through the gap to the right. Walk in the same direction, now along the top of the harbour wall.
Just after a short section of wooden fence on your right with a sign about ‘hand gathering’, look for the footpath marker to your right in a field. You will need to dip down into the ditch, using the wooden plank to help you cross into the field. Walk along the right-hand edge of the field, and about half-way across, go over the narrow bridge over another ditch. Continue across the field, and towards the other side, the path will narrow and go between hedges.
Turn right when you reach Cot Lane. Proceed along the quiet lane and you will pass The Old House at Home pub. Keep going after the pub until your reach St. Mary’s Church. Immediately before the church, follow the footpath arrow to your right and walk along a grassy path. Bear left when the path brings you up into a field and continue until you see a footpath arrow on your left. Drop down onto this path and it will shortly bring you to the road. Turn right at the road and in a few metres, you will reach the car park.
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Did you know?
In 2026, work was completed to re-route part of the footpath off the shingle beach and up into the fields. This meant the circular walk could now be completed at both high and low tides and allows for an uninterrupted route for walkers along the new King Charles III England Coast Path.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one on the other side of the water at Bosham
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