Bosham Hoe Walk

3.2 miles (5.2 km)

This walk explores the area around the hamlet of Bosham Hoe in the Chichester Harbour AONB. You can start the walk at the roadside parking area near the Bosham to Itchenor Ferry.... The walk then follows the shoreline along Bosham Channel before looping round and branching off to stroll along Smugglers Lane through Bosham Hoe.
The walk begins on the eastern side of the Bosham Channel, opposite the main historic village of Bosham. The starting point near the ferry terminal provides access to the seasonal foot passenger ferry, a service that has transported people across the deep water channel to West Itchenor for generations. This opening stretch follows the shoreline path, offering elevated views of the tidal waterway which is continuously busy with traditional wooden dayboats, modern racing dinghies, and larger cruising yachts navigating the moorings.
As you follow the curve of the Bosham Channel, the path passes saltmarshes that directly border the water. This intertidal zone is part of the broader Chichester Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The shoreline habitat provides shelter and food for a vast selection of coastal wildlife, including dunlins, redshanks, shelducks, and grey herons. During the quieter morning hours, lucky walkers can also catch sight of harbour seals swimming in the main channel or resting on the exposed mudbanks at low tide.
The route then turns inland, looping away from the water to join Smugglers Lane. This quiet, tree-lined avenue cuts through the heart of Bosham Hoe, a secluded hamlet characterised by its private estates, historic thatched properties, and dense canopy of mature woodland. The name of the lane itself points to the rich 18th-century maritime history of the area, when the secluded creeks and hidden inlets of Chichester Harbour were heavily used by local smuggling gangs to unload contraband away from the eyes of the revenue cutters.
While there are no commercial shops or pubs directly within the quiet hamlet of Bosham Hoe, walkers can find excellent food and drink options just a short drive away at the Anchor Bleu pub in main Bosham village, or by taking the foot ferry across the channel to the Ship Inn at West Itchenor.
N.B: When navigating the inland section, walkers must remain strictly on the designated public rights of way and the main public roadway of Smugglers Lane. Bosham Hoe is a highly private residential estate, and many of the gravel tracks, driveways, and waterfront paths branching off the main route are explicitly marked as private property or restricted access for residents only. Official route guidelines and local conservancy maps emphasise that there is no public right of way through these private residential lanes or lawns, so visitors should respect the local signage to avoid trespassing.