West Wittering beach

Located at the mouth of Chichester Harbour, West Wittering Beach is sandy and within a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The sloping sandy beach is lined with multi-coloured beach huts (available to hire) in a relatively flat coastal area.

Access is fairly easy over the sand dunes, but there is limited disabled access. The beach is divided by groynes to prevent coastal erosion and faces the Solent and the Isle of Wight.

It’s an ideal beach for sunbathing, paddling and watersports such as surfing, windsurfing and kite-surfing when conditions are right. Although largely undeveloped, facilities include toilets, showers, parking and a café.

There are lifeguards in summer, along with deck chair hire and surf lessons. As the tide retreats, it leaves shallow lagoons of warm water – perfect for youngsters to splash and play.

West Wittering beach is a popular spot for bird-watching, with many waders and wildfowl visiting during the migratory season.

You can walk along the beach into Chichester Harbour or head east to the shingle beach at Bracklesham.

From 1st May to 30th September, dogs are excluded from the main swimming beach between groynes numbered 14a to 18, which broadly corresponds to the area in front of the line of beach huts. Dogs are welcome on the whole beach during the rest of the year.

Monty enjoyed his first visit to a beach and even paddled in the freezing cold incoming tide.