A 4.65 mile, figure-of-eight walk taking in one the largest marinas in the country and the tiny village of Dell Quay which was once a busy commercial port.
1. From the end of the car park, turn right and pass the barriers with the marina on your left. You will pass a large reed bed on your right and then a bird hide. Take a few moments to stop to visit the hide from which you may be able to spot Reed Buntings and Reed Warblers and hear Cetti’s Warblers.
2. Continue down the road to the waterside. In the distance look out for the white roofs of the Goodwood Racecourse grandstand. When you reach the water, turn right into Salterns Copse and immediately take the left fork.
3. This path follows the shoreline and continues to the edge of the Copse. The path then continues ahead along a field boundary. You will shortly be able to see the green roof and spire of Chichester Cathedral and the village of Dell Quay. Continue along the path which eventually turns inland around a garden fence before reaching a road. Here you can turn left to visit Dell Quay. Walk down the road where you will find The Crown and Anchor, a pub with wonderful harbour views.
4. Past the pub you can walk onto the historic quay which at high tide is likely to be busy with sailing activity. To continue the walk, return back up the road and past the entrance to the path from which you emerged. Turn right at a wide farm track signposted Apuldram Manor Farm. You are now on a section of the Salterns Way cycle route so please watch out for cyclists.
5. Follow the farm track which passes between arable fields and then past a cow shed before bearing right to cross a field down to Salterns Copse. Continue straight ahead alongside the Copse until you reach the entrance. From here, walk ahead towards the Marina office 4 to cross the lock. If the lock is open you may have to wait a few minutes as boats use it, before the lock keeper closes it for you to cross.
6. Continue straight ahead towards the canal and then follow the road round to the left with the canal and houseboats on your right. Make your way across the car park and pick up the path running alongside the Marina. This will take you through a small complex with a café and general store. The path follows out of the complex and will lead you back to the visitors’ car park.
Chichester Marina
The marina was opened in 1966 with eight pontoons. Further pontoons were added in 1968 and 1970. It can now berth 1071 boats and is the second largest marina in the country.
Apuldram Airfield
As you walk down the farm track at point E try to imagine the field on your right as an airfield. Back in February 1943 two runways were laid here to make a temporary airfield. The runways were a metal track which allowed the grass to grow between the steel mesh. This allowed farmers to graze their animals on the airfield when it was not in use.
Salterns Copse
The copse is an eight acre woodland adjacent to the shoreline of Chichester Harbour on Apuldram Manor Farm. It is the largest ancient woodland remnant on the Manhood Peninsula and is of great ecological interest. The area is managed by coppicing. It is divided into ten sections which are coppiced in rotation. Trees such as hazel are cut back to the ground leaving the ‘stool’ to grow new stems sometimes as many as 30-50.
Chichester Canal
The canal runs from the city of Chichester down to the Harbour, ending at the lock gates by Chichester Yacht Club. It was opened in 1823 as part of a larger canal scheme to carry cargo between London and Portsmouth. Competition from the railways meant that the canal was never commercially viable and it fell into disuse by 1906. A footpath runs alongside the canal and would extend this walk into Chichester. To pick up the path, cross the A286 at the Marina entrance and you will see the canal path opposite you.
DISTANCE: 4.65 miles
START: Chichester Marina Visitors car park, Birdham PO20 7EG (charges apply)
MAP: OS Explorer 120: Chichester
For more information, please visit conservancy.co.uk/exploring/walking/.
Image: Boats moored near Dell Quay
