A return to Selsey to continue the route from last week .. taking the new cycle/ walking route from RSPB Pagham harbour going to RSPB Medmerry meeting up with the other walk at Little ham then continuing to the edge of Bracklesham bay and then around the Eastern side to the caravan parks west of Selsey. Then around the beach to Selsey Bill and on passing the fishing boats before cutting inland to escape the shingle and cut over to Norton Priory. Finally up the coast path back to the car park.
From the car park, we crossed the B2145 and onto the cycle way that we had discovered last week.
In place of the previous route we kept to the cycleway as it curved around the opposite side to the sewage works
Still curving between the wheat fields on a raised farm track (and cycleway)
The track came out opposite where we had reached on the driveway to Little Ham Barn. We could have used this last time. Then along the driveway to Greatham house.
From the house the path curved around the garden before cutting over the tundra to the edge of the bay.
Up on the bank around the bay (this is a continuation of what we had walked on last week, just with the diversion around the private land.). The views down to the coast.
Along the rampart as it curved aroudn this edge of the bay and then once we had reached the sprawling caravan park(s) between it and the parks.
The rampart ended at the sea, and we looked across to the other side of Bracklesham bay.
Unfortunately the beach was closed to dogs - not that there were any people using it! The alternative route involved returning around to the a path on the other side of these huge caravan parks
I tried to see if I could go through the caravans but gave up and escaped onto the boundary path
Back along the path for about a kilometre before we could take the diversion path around the other side of the caravan parks. This actually cut into the parks and followed the driveway to the main gates
We then followed a serpent like track along a path and lane then back road to reach the windmill. this was the entrance to another of the caravan parks
Behind the windmill we took a recently mown track down to the beach and turned towards Selsey
Looking back along the beach to where we should have walked - about a 3km diversion to escape a 1km beach walk.
At the outskirts of Selsey the coast path goes inland and follows several roads though the residential areas then down the B2145 to the car park on the edge of the beach.,.
From the car park we followed the path above the shingle before dropping down to a firmer part where the tide had retreated slightly.
We continued along the shingle to the tip of Selsey Bill, where we had to step around the groynes and on to the promenade
We stayed off the shingle and on the concrete as we passed the RNLI life boat station and all the fishing boats pulled up. The next section was plain shingle and a green patch in front of the houses.
At the next car park area we pulled off the promenade and Bertie led me to the chip hut indicating it was lunch time ... however he decided they needed some added texture and I had to carry them home for supper
We went inland from here and followed the roads up to Holford and down a residential street leading to a new housing estate.
The path went into the fields after passing through Park Farm. Initially on a concrete track between wheat fields, then more stoney.
As we approached the shore once again we followed the field edges in a zigzag, then down a gravel track to the shingle.
We looked out along the spit at the bottom of Pagham harbour. This was closed due to nesting birds so we missed an opportunity to wander out and back to look at Pagham village
Along the coast path as it turned up along Pagham harbour - more a marsh these days. We stayed on the edge of the wet land passing Church Norton and its priory.
As the wetlands area curved around back on us we followed the edge on a bank through the grass lands.
The path followed the edge of the harbour area as it curved into the reserve area towards ferry house.
Back int he reserve area passing the huge hide beside the B2145 and onto the car park. As we came into the car park I noticed that there were a number of Pay to park signs that I had not noticed before. So I hurriedly signed in and paid for the day hopefully it will excuse me the delay.
