New Lipchis Way

The New Lipchis Way is a 60.8 kilometres (37.8 mi) long distance footpath which runs from Liphook in Hampshire to West Wittering in West Sussex. Running north–south across the Western Weald and South Downs to the Sussex coastal plain and Chichester Harbour the path crosses several geological rock strata and their associated soils and habitats. Landmarks on the route include Cowdray ruins, Goodwood Racecourse, the Trundle, Chichester Cathedral and the city walls, and East Head at West Wittering.  Waymarked, but not on OS Mapping.  The original trail, opened in 1985, was between Liphook and Chichester, with the name being an amalgam of the two. The extension to the coast, opened in August 2008, has led to the trail being renamed "New Lipchis Way".

Chichester to West Wittering and East Head Circuit

Sunday 29 January 2012 - 11.5 Miles

ID29012012#5

Not my first choice - that was The Wandle Trail, but as things go this was the one that my canister ended up choosing and it was a great walk.  This section most appealed for my first taste of this walk.  Cold but sunny and after arriving at Chichester Station I walked the very short distance to the canal basin and the followed the Chichester Ship Canal for four miles to reach the Marina (after picking up a Snickers Bar from those friendly peeps at The Chichester Ship Canal Trust - a very pleasant easy walk along the towpath following the New Lipchis Waymarks (mostly well done but at the marina they are absent on a few posts) and then following pleasant paths near the Chichester Channel to pass through West Itchenor and just keeping near by the water to eventually reach Snow Hill near East Head, where the bus timings made it possible to do a quick shuftie round this lovely and very busy National Trust land before retracing my steps to Snow Hill and then following New Lipchis Waymarking to very soon reach West Wittering and catching one of the very regular Stagecoach Charabancs back to Chichester.  With a McDz latte had returned home with a warm feeling of a job well done (or maybe that was just the coffee I spilt on my carcass)

Chichester Ship Canal Southgate Basin

Sweet plant filled rowing boat - 'Our Bill' - there is a lot of construction work going on round the basin, the usual 'gentrification' - It would all be a lot more impressive if all parties can get a wriggle on and get the canal back up and running to the marina

Just round the corner, and this part of the canal does look quite spiffing!

Poyntz Bridge - Very rarely swung closed.  This canal is ununsual in that all the crossings are nearly at grade instead of the usual hump back bridges and this factor has clearly made it harder to restore

A27 Chichester Bypass at Stockbridge - surprisingly they didn't screw the canal up with yet another culvert as the canal had been officially abandoned in 1928!

The only moving boat I saw on the canal - Shame...

At Hunston you cross this bridge and rejoin the canal which makes a sharp right immediately afterwards

Quite attractive waymarkers - although a curious foamy construction that probably won't last that long - you can see a very faint direction arrow superimposed that was almost impossible to discern - you just know that this is the 'forward' position

Looking back to Chichester - with spire of Cathedral

Presumably members of the trust, doing some work - I love the dinky little barge

No place like gnome...

I did not know what this railway was at the time of my walk but it turns out to be the remnants of the lifting bridge carrying the Hundred of Manhood and Selsey Tramway over the canal, which was snooked in 1935 although it outlasted the canals commercial use

Houston, we have a problem...at Crosbie Bridge there is no longer a swing bridge, just a sad little culvert - even the canoists will be stumped at this point.  One of the unfortunate impediments to restoring full navigation

On the other side of the road the canal recommences - I love the epithet of ship canal - I have visions of a bleedin great freighter stoking up its boiler and ramming this pathetic obstruction

Slightly further on this monstrosity awaits at Cutfield Bridge.  I am sure the good people of the trust are as frustrated as I would be - it must be tempting to come here and 'get jiggy' with a Kabuta!

Remains of Casher Lock converted to Weir

The erstwhile lock chamber at the Marina

As I was saying...

The Salterns Way is followed for some of the route

Lovely little swing bridge.  This part of the canal is populated by houseboats

The rather forlorn end of the Canal leading into tidal Chichester Channel

Does that mean me?

I felt like I had warped back to the States - the boat nearby is from Galveston Texas (I love the song)

Okay - certainly making the Yanks feel welcome

Yessss....I'll take two please

Change of scene approaching Westlands Farm

All very agreeable approaching West Itchenor

The Ship Inn, West Itchenor

Tree Tunnel

This beauty goes on for miles - Bliss

Private slipway from boathouse

Nearing East Head

On East Head

Info Board.  A very popular area for families and other walkers

Thorney Island in distance - previously circumnavigated on Sussex Border Path.  Very near Hayling Island still to be visited

Buoy - we say 'boy' ,stateside it's 'boo eey'

Getting a wriggle on to catch the next bus

After retracing my steps back off East Head, regained Lipchis waymarks to head to West Wittering

View to West Wittering

The poor horsey in question appears in top left of shot...I know the feeling!

The Old House at Home Pub - unusual name.  Anyway, bus stop and some friendly punters awaited (I mean conversations) then hightailed it back to Hasties