BSumC23: Nature and Naturism - The Saltings and Moorings of Manhood

This event is intended for attendees at Big Summer Camp 2023 but anyone can come.

Please note the meeting point of this event, detailed below the map view at the bottom of this event page.

There are no trains running on the day of the walk due to a rail strike. Please organise car shares in order to attend.

'Manhood' is not just a euphemism for what we might see on the nudist beach we'll visit, it is also the name of the peninsula that stretches from Chichester to Selsey Bill. It is a strongly horizontal landscape of contrasting blocks of colour: wide golden wheat fields and broad brown mudflats are backed by big skies, while the regular rows of poplars, the massed masts of yachts and the sporadic spires of churches provide vertical punctuation. We'll explore this glorious gap in the overdeveloped Sussex coast, walk around the edge of tranquil Pagham Harbour and stroll a little way along the vast shingle spit at Church Norton where folk can strip off unobserved and skinny dip in clean, safe water.

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. You could see curlew sandpiper and shelduck on the mudflats and long-tailed tit and willow warbler in the hedges.

Church Norton: Just the chancel remains from an old church, simple 13th century, with some fine tombs. 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. The secluded and inaccessible shingle spit nearby is a nudist beach and the sea in this location is clean and free from sewage according to Surfers Against Sewage.

The route (please note that this is a linear walk. A bus will take us back to Chichester):

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 thenw alk around Paghan Harbour to Halsey's Farms and then pretty Sidlesham Quay for lunch. We could also have a 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 break and a swim. Footpaths and then a walk along Grange Lane and Rectory Lane will take us to the B2145 and the bus stop.

Getting the bus back:

The No. 51 Stagecoach bus departs for Chichester every 30 minutes (at 6 and 37 minutes past the hour). If there are too many of us to get the bus altogether, we will take it in groups. 

Dogs:

I love having dogs on my walks and this walk is suitable for them apart from during very hot weather. There is sea for them to splash in but little shade. Dogs are permitted at Church Norton Beach but there are no poop bins. A dog off the lead must be obedient.

IMPORTANT! – Participation Statement:

You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.

(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. The pictures of OutdoorLads on a forerunner of the walk were taken by Will Thornton and are used with permission.)