The second storm of the week had passed over and we were in the lull after it,
so I decided to go down to the coast and complete the section between
Littlehampton and Worthing. The aim was to park on the beach in Littlehampton,
walk along the England Coast path to Worthing (the pier seemed a good point)
and then up to the railway station to catch a train back to Littlehampton and
then back down the river Arun to the car.
We parked in the first car park along the coast from the river Arun. This was
the same car park that the pipe band had parked in for the armed forces parades
here. The tide was in and there was only stones visible on the beaches, so we
set off down the promenade.
Where the promenade ended we dropped down to the bit of beach left for a short
section, but it was hard work on the stones.
We found a small path high up the beach to get off the stones and continued.
At Rustington we moved onto the green sward - a strip of grass between the beach
and the row of housing. This green area stretched all the way along to East
Preston beach
We dropped back down to the beach for a while - trying to find all the packed
areas that did not move when you stepped on them.
Back onto the next Green sward along Kingston beach, up to the Bluebird café.
Along side the green strip someone had created some sculptures in the stones.
Moving on from the cafe there was a tarmacked path after a short section on the
stones.
One of the houses we passed had fantasy wooden sculptures in the garden.
Moving into Goring we walked along marine drive (lots of campers parked here!).
Then the path wiggled around the scrub bushes sometimes on the seaward side
others on the land side.
The path ended as it approached sea lane café. Beyond the café we walked along
the path behind a continuous row of beach huts, until we got fed up and went
down onto the beach once again.
This time we had a small piece of sand we could walk along. There were occasions
when we had to leap out of the way of the big waves, but generally it was good
walking. Unfortunately we did miss one wave and we both got wet feet, as it
crashed around us.
Back on the promenade as we arrived at the edge of Worthing. This was very wide
with the road on one side and staggered batches of beach huts. There was a beach
garden and landscape.
Then it was just along the promenade getting closer to the pier we could see in
the haze in front of us. We paused for a drink and rest in a shelter then into
the WC opposite.
As we got closer the wall disappeared and the beach encroached onto the
promenade.
As we got close to the pier, we passed the Worthing Lido and had a full view of
the pier. We turned inland into Montague Place
Next we wiggled around the back streets to get to the A259, using Liverpool
gardens and road.
Up the major road passing the borough council, and the merging with the A24.
Over the A2031 and down a pedestrian path that came out beside the railway car
park. then down the railway approach to the main station offices.
As we arrived a train came through, I though to myself that it could have been
ours, we found out later that it was!. We bought a ticket and had to wait 50
mins for the next train after just missing this one - however it did give time
for food and refreshments sitting on the platform watching the Southampton and
Portsmouth trains go past.
On the train Bertie got a prime position under the table.
Leaving the train station down the lane opposite that came out on the river
path. down around the harbour lights café and the RNLI station with its ramp
into the water.
Continuing alongside the river past the pond and amusements park to the sea.
The sea and the east pier
We turned back along the beach - the tide now sufficiently lower so that we could walk on the sand. Then inland back to the car park and back to Brinsbury to pick up Sue.
