Bosham
On this walk, children will enjoy exploring the quay, paddling, crabbing or getting an ice-cream or treat from the old fashioned sweet shop.
The Basics
Time: 1 hour there and back to the end of the road or 2 hours there and back to the end of the footpath
Distance: 2.8 km
Terrain: Pavements, very quiet road and shoreline
Pushchair: Yes, to the end of the road
Dogs: Yes
Refreshments: There are lots of choices such as Shoreside Café and Pop In Cafe which are operated by The Millstream Restaurant and you will also find Wendy’s Tea-Room, or The Anchor Bleu Pub. A picnic on the quay is also pleasant (bring a blanket)
Toilets: Yes, in the car park (currently being renovated, portaloos in place - May 2024)
Parking: Pay and display car park just off high street (Postcode: PO18 8HZ - W3W - unheated/sublet/showrooms)
Picture postcard Bosham is the kind of place you will want to spend an entire day. As well as this walk there are craft shops, galleries, tea-rooms, pubs, a quay, stream and views of Chichester Harbour National Landscape to enjoy.
The Route
Walk down Bosham Lane towards the harbour. You will pass Bosham Walk which is an arts and craft centre, including café, sweets, gifts, art gallery, and local produce. Once past this diversion, turn left where the road meets the water. If the tide is out, you can walk along Shore Road beside the shore, otherwise you will need to take the higher path beside the houses. You can access this by taking the path opposite Shoreside Cafe/The High Street.
Whether you take the high road or the low road, continue around the harbour, always with the water to your right. Shore Road will bend right the way around in a huge hairpin bend and from the other side, you will have wonderful views back to the village.
We usually walk until the road turns away from the shore and then we return the way we came. You can continue onwards at this point and follow the footpath that continues beside the shore (best at low tide). The footpath will eventually end when you come to Bosham Hoe and the point where the ferry from Itchenor docks. Again, we recommend returning the way you came to enjoy the scenery again.
On arrival back at the village, we highly recommend walking up the high street beside Shoreside Café. You will pass some pretty cottages before reaching the church and then the quay. This is a large grassy area managed by The National Trust, where there are benches for looking out across the harbour and often various craft to watch entering and leaving the yacht club. The wall here is a good place to go crabbing. There is also a stream running along the edge, where children will enjoy playing using the little steps down into the water.
If you want a further exploration of the village, here is an additional little loop that we sometimes do, but be aware, this one is only accessible at low tide. See the latest tide times here. This extra route is not suitable for pushchairs and will take about 30 minutes.
Take the footpath that leads between the end of the church and the house, just beyond the little stone bridge that goes over the stream. The path cuts through the property and out onto the shoreline beyond.
Follow the shoreline with the houses on your right. Take the second footpath on your right that leads away from the beach. This will then narrow as it heads right and through the back of some houses. The path will open up on the road, where a right turn at the junction with Bosham Lane and then a left turn at Anchor Lane, will take you back to the car park.
Did you know?
The correct way to pronounce Bosham is ‘Bozzum’.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one at Chidham, which goes along the land you see on the opposite side of the water at Bosham Quay
