West Sussex Coastal Walking, Wildlife and Wonder

The restorative power of water - whether it’s a self-guided coastal nature walk, a cold water dip, or a full blown watersports adventure  - will do wonders for your wellbeing.  

Why not take a stroll along the new stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path? Did you know when complete it will be the longest managed coastal path in the world, an impressive 2,700 miles long and will go all the way around the coast of England! 

From the sweeping grandeur of RSPB Pagham and the Medmerry to catching a glimpse of a kingfisher on the tiny RSPB Reserve on the Adur River in Shoreham town centre, wildlife lovers will delight. Sea swimmers will find plenty of fellow dippers in Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and in Worthing where there’s a beachside sauna and dip combo. Kitesurfers, surfers and paddlers will love this coast. Wherever you stay, you won’t be far from a watersports experience from the coastal waves of 2XS in West Witterings to the relative calm of Chichester Harbour where you can enjoy a paddle tour with Fluid Adventures. Or keep your feet dry with a nature tour on the solar boat. 

The KCIIIECP features new boardwalks, improved path surfaces and better signage, it’s now easier than ever to visit our beautiful Sussex coast. In terms of accessibility, there are no stiles and people who use walking aids such as rollators will find most of the route is easy to access with promenades in Worthing, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis and Selsey. 

West Sussex’s unique landscape means nature lovers don’t need to go far to find quality locally sourced produce from a dizzying choice of eateries. 

All that fresh air needs sustenance whether it is a sumptuous hot chocolate from The Perch on Lancing beach to power you through to the next stop, or a full menu of delicious locally sourced produce, foodies will not be disappointed.  

Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and Worthing all offer unique responsibly sourced dining experiences  with sweeping seascapes - The Landing Place Bognor Regis, East Beach Cafe in Littlehampton or The Perch on the Pier Worthing - which view will be your favourite?  Where will you sample a glass of Sussex sparkling wine?   

For an extra special experience, and panoramic views of the coast, take a little detour up to the South Downs National Park to Wiston Estate Winery and Chalk Restaurant and try one of their award winning wine tasting tours, or - for the more active minded - an off-road bike tour and lunch with Marmalade MTB who offer guided mountain biking, skills and coaching. 

Filled with food and fresh air, perhaps you’re keen to find out more about our Sussex Kelp Recovery Project. You can take marine conservation walks with Mulberry Marine Experiences. Or a trip with The Sussex Dolphin Project learning about our Sussex dolphins. The Chichester Conservancy is also a great source of information on the unique Protected Landscape of Chichester Harbour. 

And finally, why not add a special bit of extra wonder to your trip - West Sussex offers the most spectacular Winter sunsets and sunrises so make the most of them with an early morning walk or a cocktail sundowner.  

Once the sun has set, you can extend breathtaking views with a dark skies experience in one of the three dark skies reserves. Top spots for stargazing can be found in and around Chichester Harbour. RSPB Pagham is another popular venue and they sometimes run stargazing events.  And if the stars aren’t shining on the night, you can always check out the South Downs Planetarium or visit during February for the Dark Skies Festival

West Sussex is less than 2 hours from London by train.

Getting to and around the West Sussex coast couldn’t be easier with regular trains from London, Gatwick,  Brighton and Southampton. A coastal bus runs along the coastline from Brighton to Littlehampton. Or try the South Downs Discovery Ticket - for unlimited travel across the South Downs National Park and coastal region.