Chichester Harbour
Location: Chichester Harbour (West Sussex, United Kingdom)
Explorer: Jamie C.
Board Used: Waterwalker 126
Date Logged: April 25, 2022
Website: conservancy.co.uk
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Chichester Harbour is a relatively undeveloped and scenic estuary in an otherwise busy part of the country. It’s internationally recognised and nationally protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and includes a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its diverse wildlife and unique geomorphology. The natural harbour is made up of several wide, open tidal channels and smaller creeks and inlets lined by saltmarshes, mudflats and shingle beaches. There are several places to launch from and if you time it right, the tides will do most of the the hard work so that you can relax and take in the views.
I recommend putting in on the Chichester Channel at Dell Quay and then following the tide down to West Itchenor, calling in at Chichester Marina on the way. You can then follow the tide back up to Dell Quay when it turns or keep going, following the channel past the sand and shingle spit at East Head to the sand dunes and surf beaches of West Witterings, where Chichester Harbour meets the English Channel. At the weekend I was fortunate enough to share some of the journey with a particularly inquisitive grey seal, who seemed to want to play hide and seek beneath the waves. There’s plenty of other wildlife as well, mainly seabirds such as cormorants, shags, terns, plovers, egrets, curlew, shelduck and other ducks and geese.
SUP Explorer Photos from Chichester Harbour
SUP Explorer Tips For Your Visit to Chichester Harbour
- Park for free opposite the pub at Dell Quay or on Dell Quay Road.
- Note the harbour dues for paddlesports.
- Watch out for strong undercurrents and rips at West Witterings.
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