BSumC25: Hamlets, harbours and high tides: Flat out on the Manhood Peninsula (Sat 9:20am)

This event is intended for participants at Big Summer Camp 2025

Though a manhood or two might well be seen on the isolated naturist beach we'll visit at the end of the walk, Manhood is also the name of the peninsula that stretches south from Chichester to Selsey Bill. Expect to see wide golden wheat fields and broad brown mudflats broken up by rows of poplars, massed masts of yachts and sporadic spires of churches. Much of the area has been reclaimed from the sea and is drained by the ditches we'll follow, along with the Chichester Canal. The scattered settlements domesticate an expanse so flat that despite walking 17 kilometres, we'll not climb at all.

The sights:

The Manhood Peninsula: The southernmost part of Sussex and part of the Sussex coastal plain. Bordered to the west by Chichester Harbour and to the east by Pagham Harbour. Its name comes from the Old English maene-wudu meaning "men's wood" or "common wood", i.e. common land.

Chichester Canal: Opened in 1822, its last load was transported in 1906. Runs 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from Birdham to Chichester. Some of its length is still navigable and the towpath is a popular route. 

Sidlesham: Set among cornfields are half a dozen scattered hamlets, the nicest being Sidlesham Quay beside Pagham Harbour, which looks like a miniature Bosham. We will have lunch here. The historic Crab & Lobster pub has a lovely garden.

Pagham Harbour: A glorious, tranquil area of saltmarsh, mudflats, saltings (for salt extraction) and shallow lagoons. Precious for wildlife as it's an SSSI, a Local Nature Reserve and a Ramsar Site.

Church Norton: Just the chancel remains from the 13th century church. The setting is the remarkable thing: surrounded by trees and almost on the shore, the leafy, isolated locale is rare on the Sussex coastal strip.

Route and costs:

This is a linear walk involving a return train to Chichester and a bus from the end of the walk back to Chichester train station. Both have frequent service giving us plenty of flexibility.

This walk involves us walking from the site to the local train station, Angermering (1 mile / 20 minutes) to get the 10:06 service to Chichester, arriving at 10:25. An off peak day return is £9.40, though tickets of 3 or more adults get a third off GroupSave discount.

We'll leave Chichester by way of the canal and walk along it to Hunston. At Hunston, we'll walk to Hunston Church along Church Lane. We'll then use footpaths to go to South Mundham and use Fisher Lane to Fisher Farm. Further footpaths will take us to Bramber Farm and Honer Farm. We'll then walk around Paghan Harbour to Halsey's Farm and then pretty Sidlesham Quay for lunch. We could also have a quick drink at the Crab & Lobster pub. Further walking around Pagham Harbour will bring us to the hinge of Pagham Harbour Spit at Church Norton for a sunbathe on the secluded beach (swimmers optional - no pressure either way!).

Footpaths and then a walk along Grange Lane and Rectory Lane will take us to the bus stop (Stop is Selsley, Norton Corner) where the No. 51 Stagecoach bus departs for Chichester every 20 minutes (£3 single fare). We aim to back to the campsite between 5.30pm and 6pm.

(Image credits: Shingle beach south of Pagham Harbour: Photo © Stefan Czapski (cc-by-sa/2.0); View north across Pagham Harbour; Photo © Ian Cunliffe (cc-by-sa/2.0); Leisure pursuits; Photo © Chris Thomas-Atkin (cc-by-sa/2.0); Gate on footpath between Honer Farm and Halsey's Farm: Photo © Jeff Gogarty (cc-by-sa/2.0); Breach Pool north of Pagham Harbour: Photo © Patrick Roper (cc-by-sa/2.0); Saltmarsh at Sidlesham Quay: Photo © Patrick Roper (cc-by-sa/2.0); Bremere Rife with reed bed: Photo © Jeff Gogarty (cc-by-sa/2.0); Saltmarsh, Pagham Harbour: Photo © Simon Carey (cc-by-sa/2.0); Pagham Harbour: foreshore north of Church Norton: Photo © Stefan Czapski (cc-by-sa/2.0); A Several - one of several: Photo © Stefan Czapski (cc-by-sa/2.0); and View northwards along the shingle ridge, Selsey East Beach: Photo © Stefan Czapski (cc-by-sa/2.0). All pictures are copyrighted but are licensed for reuse under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 2.0 and are here attributed to their copyright holders.)