Colner Creek and Bosham

This is a short walk that takes in the rather interesting area around Colner Creek on the North East corner of Bosham Channel, Bosham village and it's foreshore. It's only two and a half miles long but good to take the dog for a walk in the morning to see what's happening in that part of the channel.

Parking is by the Hamblin Centre which is on a side road off the A259. It's not particularly attractive walking along the main road and crossing, but it doesn't take long to arrive at the foot path heading south across the fields to the harbour.

At the sea wall take the left hand path which goes over Colner Creek and follows the edge of the harbour round towards the South. The creek is very tidal, here it's low water
but at high tide most of this is submerged. It's a haven for wildfowl and waders so also very popular with wildfowlers.

Heading south there are good views of the harbour, especially Chidham Creek on the opposite bank. Usually there's plenty of geese, redshanks and widgeon in the winter as well as less obvious birds like Godwits.

Further on the path leads though some houses, along a road and down to the village where there's a coffee shop and the Anchor Bleu which is an excellent pub.
You can also see the main part of the harbour and the road that regularly floods at high water much to the dismay of visitors who have parked there.

Unfortunately the church yard is out of bounds to dogs so we didn't go there. If you follow your nose, you end up on the green in front of the Sailing Club which is a delightful place to be in summer; there's always something going on on the water there.

Turning right there's a foot path clearly marked that goes through several houses and out onto the foreshore opposite the spit on the other side known locally as the Wreck for
obvious reasons. This part of the path is tidal but it's only on high spring tides that it's impassable.

Between the houses is the site of the old boatyard with it's slip still in place although the rails are rather rusty; it all looks rather sad, it such a shame that it couldn't remain a working yard.

The path then rejoins the one taken earlier which you follow back along Colner Creek with a different perspective this time. If you're lucky there are huge packs of wigeon at the head of the harbour here in winter, hundreds all clustered together at the same time.

Emsworth and Warblington

Emsworth is always a lovely place to visit and this walk is an excellent excuse to go there. It can be as little as two miles long or can be extended at either end into Langstone or Emsworth itself;
naturally there are plenty of good places to go for a drink or something to eat. You do need to check
the tide however, it's impassable at high water.

The start of the central part of the walk is at the end of Warblington Road, where it meets the harbour; there's usually plenty of space. Heading west along the coastal park you soon come to Nore Barn
Woods which you skirt keeping near the estuary. It's very tidal here with acres of mudflats that are exposed much of the time attracting many waders and waterfowl, especially in Winter. Once past the woods the path heads south to go around Conigar Point before resuming in a westerly direction towards Langstone which is now visible in the distance.

It's a pleasant walk along the foreshore where the high water strand line is, always worth keeping an eye on. Along this stretch in winter will be plenty of Brent Geese, Redshanks and Oyster Catchers on the mud. In the gutters there will be wigeon and teal, especially where the Warblington Bunny flows out into the harbour. This is an old, local name for a stream and is a favourite spot for wildfowlers who follow the stony bed right out to the main channel keeping well clear of the soft mud either side.

Soon after passing this there is a sea wall and a signed footpath heading inland towards Warblington Cemetery which you need to take to make it a circular route.
This crosses a field that can get quite muddy in winter then enters the cemetery through an Iron gate. The path is well marked through this extensive burial ground that extends to the south and east of the pretty church. It's a rather busy place and fortunately, well looked after, with attractive iron gates at the entrances.

When you reach the road turn right in an easterly direction to return across farmland. These fields make a pleasant change from the coastline; if you look back you'll be able to see the remains of
Warblington Castle towering in the distance like a folly. The path crosses the stream that we saw earlier, drops down into a meadow then enters the north western corner of Nore Barn Wood.

There's plenty of Oak, Ash and Elder here which attract a variety of birdlife including many woodpeckers. Being so close to Emsworth it's a popular spot, especially for dog walkers so not an ideal place to see wildlife but there are plenty of squirrels and butterflies in summer.