I wake up at 6 am and dimly recall the alarm going off at 5 am — not a great start. This is my first two-day hike, with an overnight kip in the well-prepared Viano, but the car has other plans, revealing a flat battery. The back seat of the Mazda will have to suffice, parked at Bosham before a bus ride to West Wittering.
The beach is stunning, with gorgeous white sand and towering dunes.
Walking towards East Head Spit, I’m overjoyed to meet a pack of rather wet English Setters. Almost 300 miles of hiking and not one spotted. Now I’m surrounded and slightly overwhelmed. It’s a year since our beautiful Bella died. Their owner suggests joining the English Setters Facebook group and arranging to meet more on my journey round Britain. Brilliant idea!
The rest of the walk to West Itchenor is lovely. One of my favourites so far.
The Ship Inn serves a noon pint of Castle, by local brewers Arundel, to celebrate my first beer at a pub in 2021. A local fisherman, enjoying a drink in the sun, offers a boat across the Chichester Channel. It’s tempting, but there’s a lot of daylight left and I want to walk the seven miles round the channel, so I decline.
“Good luck in reaching John o’ Groats!”
The hugs the water, winding through marinas and conservation areas.
Bosham is beautiful, but I only take a few photos from a distance, as the plan is to explore the village at sunrise. Sleeping in the back seat of the Mazda might be conducive to an early rise.
I’m fortunate to get the last free table at The Anchor Bleu pub for a meal before retiring to the car park, somewhat apprehensive to be fully visible through the windows.
“The night is dark and full of terrors”.
Walk distance: 15 miles.
Total distance: 289 miles.
It’s a lovely beach at West Wittering isn’t it. Took me by complete surprise as I wasn’t expecting it. Bosham is lovely too, but walking in and out can be difficult at high tide. Hope you didn’t park in the tidal car park!
That would have been interesting. I am not sure I could cope with a second flat battery!
Hi Tony,
sorry I missed this the first time around. So now I understand your comments in my post when I walked through the area re: Setters. Always tough when you lose a dog, we lost our Roxanne Tinkerbell Chutney in 2019, but still have two other lovely dogs.
Two pubs in one day! Passed through Bosham yesterday, TR to follow, the Anchor Bleu at Bosham looked charming, but it was well before opening time when I passed through.
I may get another one, or two, but that will be after the coastal path is completed!