Chichester Harbour & West Wittering: Saturday Sussex Adventure

This is a train- assisted full day ride, with a late return. It is not challenging in terms of ride distance or gradients, but you need the stamina to be outdoors all day and to manage getting your bike on & off trains.

Please read the ride description carefully.

Travel Arrangements:-

We will take the 09.12 train from Clapham Junction to Chichester, arriving at 10.37.

Clapham Junction is easily reached by London Overground services, e.g. from Willesden Junction. Remember to allow time to transfer by lifts between platforms.

Meet on the platform (probably Platform 13) from 09.00.

An off-peak day return is approx £36, discounts might be available. Please buy your tickets in advance if possible.

We will expect to return to Chichester Station by approx. 6pm. Direct trains to Clapham Junction go at 09 and 39 mins past the hour, with a journey time of 1 hour 28 mins.

The Ride:-

This is a circular ride starting and finishing at Chichester train station.

We will explore the strangely named Manhood Peninsula (!) to the south of Chichester. This is an area of saltmarshes and wetlands, developed into nature reserves for birdwatching, walking and cycling in a peaceful environment. There are almost no gradients on this route. Much of it is traffic free on unsealed paths and tracks. These are generally in good condition, there are some gritty/gravelly sections, and some short areas which can be muddy after wet weather.

**Please bring enough food & water with you for the day, as opportunities to buy food are limited.**

We start with a short ride along the lovely Chichester Canal, before navigating a stretch of busy road to reach the traffic free tracks and quiet country lanes of the Salterns Way https://www.conservancy.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Salterns_Way.pdf . This takes us down to Chichester Marina and then on, through small villages, until we reach the coastal resort of West Wittering. If the weather is fine, we will have a picnic on the beach. (If it isn’t, we can head to East Wittering where there are several cafes.)

Riding on, we reach the RSPB Medmerry Nature Reserve https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/medmerry where we enjoy off-road tracks in beautiful scenery. We follow the tracks on to Pagham Harbour https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/pagham-harbour-local-nature-reserve (possible stop for ice cream or tea). The last section of our ride takes us along tracks and quiet roads through Sidlesham Quay and North Mundham, before returning to the Chichester Canal and retracing our outward journey to the station.

Train to Chichester. Circular ride exploring Chichester Harbour & West Wittering.

Mainly traffic free tracks, unsealed, generally good surfaces. Quiet country lanes. Some short stretches on busier roads.

Picnic lunch on West Wittering beach.

Money/card for rail fares. Food & drink for picnic lunch, snacks for ride.

First-timers welcome!