Chichester Harbour

The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on Fishbourne's doorstep

Chichester Harbour is one of the finest natural harbours in southern England and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It lies immediately south and west of Fishbourne, and the village's character is inseparable from its proximity to this remarkable stretch of tidal water.

The harbour covers approximately 27 square kilometres at high tide, with a complex network of channels, creeks, and inlets separated by low-lying peninsulas and islands. At low tide, much of the harbour drains to mudflat, creating vast feeding grounds for wading birds and wildfowl. The harbour is internationally designated for its wildlife, holding important wintering populations of brent geese, dunlin, grey plover, and many other species.

Fishbourne Creek, the tidal inlet that extends northward towards the village, is the nearest part of the harbour to Fishbourne itself. The creek is shallow and tidal, drying at low water, and the path along its edge provides a walk from the village to the harbour shore. Dell Quay, at the head of a side channel south of Fishbourne, is a small waterside settlement with a pub, a sailing club, and a slipway that has been in use since the medieval period.

The harbour is managed by the Chichester Harbour Conservancy, which balances the needs of recreation, navigation, and nature conservation. Sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing are all popular, though the harbour's shallow, tidal nature means that navigation requires local knowledge. The harbour speed limit is eight knots, keeping the waters relatively calm and suitable for small craft.

For walkers, the harbour shoreline provides miles of footpaths with views across the water, through saltmarsh, and along ancient sea walls. The Salterns Way walking and cycling route passes through the area, connecting Chichester to the harbour shore at East Head, West Wittering.