Selsey Tramway Walk

11.2 miles (18 km)

The Selsey Tramway Walk follows the trackbed of the old West Sussex Railway which ran from Chichester to Selsey. The route starts from Chichester Railway station and runs south for just over 11 miles.... The first section heads along the Chichester Canal to Hunston before continuing through the countryside towards Sidlesham. A fine section along the western edge of Pagham Harbour is the next highlight of the walk before passing Selsey Golf Club and finishing near the coast in Selsey.
The railway line itself, affectionately known as the Selsey Tramway, originally opened in 1897 to transport passengers and agricultural goods before closing permanently in 1935. Starting from Chichester, the trail moves through flat, expansively rural landscape that was once a busy transit corridor for local farms. The section through Hunston and toward Sidlesham follows low-lying agricultural land, tracing the path where intermediate steam train halts once served the local farming communities.
As the route approaches the coast, it cuts along the edge of Pagham Harbour, a expansive nature reserve managed by the RSPB. This tidal estuary consists of saltmarshes, mudflats, and lagoons that form a critical habitat for a wide array of wildlife. Walkers can regularly observe migrating birds including dark-bellied brent geese, lapwings, little egrets, and grey plovers feeding in the shallow waters, while birds of prey like marsh harriers can often be seen hunting over the reedbeds.
The walk concludes in the seaside town of Selsey, historic for its ancient fishing heritage and famous for its local catches. The final trail section brings you near Selsey Bill, the prominent headland that marks the easternmost point of the Solent. For return logistics, visitors can easily board the frequent number 60 Stagecoach bus service from Selsey town centre, which takes passengers directly back to the starting point at Chichester railway station.