Thorney Island, West Sussex (Circular Route)

Thorney Island is a peninsula which juts out into Chichester Harbour, driving a wedge between the Emsworth Channel and Thorney Channel.

Thorney Island is best known for its military airbase, but before the airbase was built there was a small but thriving village here. The thirteenth century Church of St Nicholas is the best remnant of West Thorney.

A lovely a 3 mile walk on the South Downs in West Sussex countryside, with great views looking over Chichester, Chichester Harbour and Bognor Regis. If you fancy a bite to eat after the walk...... This route also includes geocaching.

Distance: 7 miles

Time: 2.5 hours

Elevation: 7 foot
Terrain: Coastal footpaths and country lanes.
Map: Ordnance Survey Pack - Explorer Map 120 ~ Chichester, South Harting & Selsey

Start Point: Thorney Road Car Park
End Point: Thorney Road Car Park


Leave the car park and walk back to the road. Turn left and walk along the pavement. Ignore the public footpath just past the pub and continue until you reach Slipper Road.

Turn left along Slipper Road, walking with the houses on your left and the millpond on your right. When you reach the "private road" sign, don't let this put you off - there is a fingerpost on your left confirming that this is a right of way. Go straight ahead here past Slipper Mill and pass through the gap by the sign for Emsworth yacht harbour. Walk straight ahead here between the boats. When you reach the waterfront and can see some chalet houses, bend left around the front of Emsworth yacht harbour clubhouse, pass the chandler's and follow the concrete route between the boats. At the end of the concrete you will see a fingerpost.

Turn right here. Pass the entrance to Emsworth yacht harbour and head for the black and white posts which you can see ahead. Again don't be put off by the "private" sign - it is a right of way and you will shortly see some more footpath signs to confirm this. Go through the black and white posts and walk between the boats as directed by the white painted blocks of wood on the ground. After a few paces you will arrive at a track between the boats.

Turn right here, walk the shingle track between the boats and you will arrive at the seashore. Look to your left and you will see some fingerposts by a wooden fence.

Go through the gap here and walk with the sea on your right and the chalet houses on your left. At the end of the houses you will see a fork in the paths, with a fingerpost.

Fork right here. You can choose either the high or the low route. Continue for 7km. Eventually you will come to a gate where you will have to give your details before being allowed any further, as this is MoD property. Continue until you reach the buildings and a yellow post with a sign "FV6A".

(It looks like there has been an unofficial diversion here as there used to be a footpath post marking the high water footpath which has now disappeared. That footpath is now getting overgrown and a new path has been created a few metres earlier.) Here you have a choice of footpaths depending upon the state of the tide. Continue straight ahead if it is passable; if not, turn left here along the high-water footpath. Follow it behind the sailing club and through the car park, where you will come to a lane.

Turn right and walk back to the seashore, where you turn left.

Just before the boatyard take the little path running next to the seashore. Continue to the checkpoint where once again you will have to give your name, address and phone number to be allowed to leave Thorney Island. Follow the coastal path until you reach a stile with a fingerpost ahead.

Cross the stile and turn right. Go through the marina, passing over a couple of bridges and continue until you reach a lane.

Turn left here. Go through the metal gate at Thornham Farm House. There is a public footpath sign confirming that this is a right of way. You will soon arrive at a fork to the right, with some fingerposts.

Fork right here. Pass between the house and garage along the driveway. Look for the fingerpost by the house and follow the grassy route. Pass through the metal barrier and walk between the fields as directed by the fingerpost. After a while you gain a fence on your left. Continue to the field corner and follow the enclosed path as directed by the fingerpost, soon to arrive at a road. Cross straight over the road and climb the stile opposite. Go straight ahead across the field and head for the stile. Go over the stile.

Turn right here along the path and walk with the chalet houses on your left, then follow the route ahead on the concrete path through the boatyard.

Soon you will arrive back at the yacht club and chandler's. Bend left here in front of them and retrace your steps through the boatyard. Pass Slipper Mill once more. Just past the mill you will come to some fingerposts. Turn left here for Emsworth and carry straight on for the Sussex Brewery.