If like me, you love boats, then any excuse to linger about a marina will do.

Chichester Marina is particularly attractive because of its setting in the countryside, and this walk, part of which is along the Salterns Way, shows you the Sussex countryside at its best.

This is a Chichester Harbour Conservancy walk, and with thanks to them, I have directed to their itinerary.

This walk is another that has a mix of walking the foreshore to Dell Quay, and through the fields back to the marina. The birdlife is therefore plentious, so don't forget your binoculars for this one.

Distance: 7.4 km, 4.6 miles

Walking Time: 1 hour 50 mins

Difficulty: Easy

Wheelchair Accessible: Difficult in parts

Start/End: The visitor car park at Chichester Marina

Access:
20 minutes drive from the Square in Emsworth
700 from Emsworth to Chichester Station then 52 to Chichester Marina

Itinerary

The walk starts from visitor car park at Chichester Marina.
From the end of the car park, turn right and pass the barriers with the marina on your left.
You will pass a large reed bed on your right and then a bird hide.
Take a few moments to stop to visit the hide from which you may be able to spot
Reed Buntings and Reed Warblers and hear Cetti's Warblers.
Continue down the road to the waterside.
In the distance look out for the white roofs of the Goodwood Racecourse Grandstand.
When you reach the water, turn right into Salterns Copse and immediately take the left fork. This path follows the shoreline and continues to the edge of the Copse.
The path then continues ahead along a field boundary.
You will shortly be able to see the green roof and spire of Chichester Cathedral and the village of Dell Quay.
Continue along the path which eventually turns inland around a garden fence before reaching a road.
Here you can turn left to visit Dell Quay. Walk down the road where you will find The Crown and Anchor, a pub with wonderful harbour views. Past the pub you can walk onto the historic quay which at high tide is likely to be busy with sailing activity.
To continue the walk, return back up the road and past the entrance to the path from which you emerged. Turn right at a wide farm track signposted Apuldram Manor Farm. You are now on a section of the Salterns Way cycle route so please watch out for cyclists.
Follow the farm track which passes between arable fields and then past a cow shed before bearing right to cross a field down to Salterns Copse.
Continue straight ahead alongside the Copse until you reach the entrance.
From here, walk ahead towards the Marina office to cross the lock. If the lock is open you may have to wait a few minutes as boats use it, before the lock keeper closes it for you to cross.
Continue straight ahead towards the canal and then follow the road round to the left with the canal and houseboats on your right.
Make your way across the car park and pick up the path running alongside the Marina.
This will take you through a small complex with The Spinnaker Bar, a small general store and a chandlery.
The path follows out of the complex and will lead you back to the visitors' car park,