Bracklesham Bay

Bracklesham Bay is a 200-hectare (500-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in West Sussex. It is a coastal bay on the west side of the Manhood Peninsula known for windsurfing, kitesurfing, and scuba diving in the wrecks off the shore. The bay looks out onto the English Channel and the Isle of Wight is visible from the beach, as is the Nab Tower lighthouse and the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.

Understand
Bracklesham Bay is a bay on the southwest coast of the Manhood Peninsular. The villages of Bracklesham, East Wittering and West Wittering are on or close to the shore. The majority of the shore is shingle bank with exposed sand at low tide and forms part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) up to and including the Medmerry Nature reserve near Selsey. West Wittering is known for sandy beaches.

By car
Road access is from the A286 from Chichester to Birdham. The B2198 and B2179 then form a loop round the villages. The nearest petrol station is at Birdham. When closed the next closest are at Siddlesham and Chichester.

By bus
A high-frequency bus service operates from Chichester (the closest rail station) and Birdham up to every 15 minutes. The Stagecoach South service 52 loops via Bracklesham, East Wittering and West Wittering, the service 53 loops via the reverse route. Compass service 150 also passes through the area from Selsey very infrequently.

By bike
A cycle route, Salterns Way, goes from Chichester to West Wittering then to the sand dunes of East Head. A portion of the cycle route is along busy roads. Access to West Itchenor is also possible from a small pedestrian and cycle ferry from Old Bosham.

Get around
The service 52 bus is up to half-hourly clockwise through Bracklesham, East Wittering and West Wittering on the B2179 road. The 53 bus traverses the villages counter clockwise.

A local taxi and minicab service is available, but for wheelchair-accessible vehicles it may be necessary to use Selsey or Chichester based firms.

Do
This area of the coast area is particularly known for Windsurfing and Kitesurfing. Other shoreline activities include scuba diving with a Valentine Tank and the submarine HMS A1 being among the noted wrecks off the shore. Diving permits are required for protected wrecks.

Buy
The main place to shop is East Wittering Village which has an interesting range of local independent shops as well as grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, and other services. Bracklesham and West Wittering also have local shops. There are surfing and kitesurfing specialist stores scattered across the area.

Eat

 * Billy's on the Beach is a grand little place for seafood on Bracklesham Lane, open Su-W 9AM-4PM, Th-Sa 9AM-9PM.
 * Billy's on the Beach is a grand little place for seafood on Bracklesham Lane, open Su-W 9AM-4PM, Th-Sa 9AM-9PM.
 * Billy's on the Beach is a grand little place for seafood on Bracklesham Lane, open Su-W 9AM-4PM, Th-Sa 9AM-9PM.
 * Billy's on the Beach is a grand little place for seafood on Bracklesham Lane, open Su-W 9AM-4PM, Th-Sa 9AM-9PM.

Sleep
The area is noted for caravan accommodation whist there is surprising little hotel and B&B accommodation for a coastal resort. The Pontins/Richardsons holiday village was closed and sold to property developers in late 2016.

Go next

 * Chichester
 * Selsey
 * West Itchenor for foot ferry to Bosham and harbour boat trips
 * Bognor Regis