Activities
There are endless activities available in the area to suit most tastes. If you are looking for quiet secluded walks, interesting villages, historical sites, lovely beaches or access to the beautiful waters of Chichester Harbour then the Deckhouse is definitely for you. A comprehensive set of guide books will be found at the Deckhouse.
Eating out
There are a number of very good restaurants and pubs in Emsworth. During a week’s stay, you could eat out in a different recommended restaurant every evening! Probably the best is “36 On The Quay” the former home of the Slipper Sailing Club who are now based opposite in the old mill . The other restaurants and pubs are just up the high street and include the Bluebell Pub.
Walks
The Deckhouse is an ideal location to explore the coastal path and beach. There is a wide range of wildlife in the grounds and from the Causeway, which runs from the harbour wall and encloses the salt water marshes. It is possible to walk right round the perimeter of the military base on Thorney Island simply by seeking permission from the sentry post on the harbour wall. From the southern tip you can observe the nature reserve on Pilsey Island and East Head beyond. Alternatively, the beautiful undulating Downs lay to the north.
Beaches and swimming
The foreshore is just 100 yards away. Beaches for swimming are to be found on Hayling Island and the Witterings. The main entrance to Chichester Harbour is found between these locations. Sandy Point on the South Eastern tip of Hayling Island offers a wonderful vantage point from which to view the entrance and the coming and going of boats. Please note that the entrance itself is not suitable for swimming because of the currents.
Hayling Island has many of the attractions of a typical seaside resort. If you are looking for something quieter then you should head for West Wittering which has miles of beautiful beaches leading on to East Head, a huge sand spit with lovely dunes and grasses. This is looked after by the National Trust. There is a good car park operated by the Wittering Estate This is a fabulous place for a day out especially if you like peace and quiet. There will always be a hideaway that you can find in the dunes. To the north of East Head there is a safe anchorage for yachts some of which will dry out on the beach providing plenty to see. If you have children, East Head is a brilliant place for serious kiting. If you are a big child then you simply buy a bigger kite! Off shore at the Wittering beach you will find the amazing sport of kite surfing.
The Harbour Office has details of boat trips around the Harbour. There is a pedestrian ferry which operates between Hayling and Southsea (for Portsmouth) but there is no ferry service between Hayling and East Head.
Harbour Life and the Sea
The Harbour is both an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a busy area for boating particularly sailing. The Harbour is carefully managed by the Harbour Conservancy . A number of very interesting books on the area can be found at the Deckhouse.
If you are interested in the sea, there are several points around the harbour from which to view the many activities. The Conservancy has an office in Itchenor from which you can obtain more information and full details of its work may be found on the above web site. If you would like to know about the tides in the Harbour, their height and time may also be found via the link on this site. High and low water timetables will also be found in the Harbour Guide on our book shelf.
If the state of the sea interests you, then a good vantage point is Sandy Point on Hayling Island which is also the location of the inshore lifeboat ("inshore" as opposed to the full sea going lifeboats located at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight just across from Hayling.
Spectacular seas can sometimes be seen at the entrance to the Harbour at times of high winds from the south combined with spring ebb tides which reach their fastest around 3 hours after high water. If the conditions are right, the sea state over Chichester Bar (an area of shallower water) can be very exciting. You will not see many boats around as their skippers will hopefully have anticipated these conditions. Attempting to cross the bar in such weather can be very dangerous - but from the shore, Mother Nature in all her glory can be fascinating.
Boating
The Deckhouses have their own slipway which is accessible for up to 3 hours around high water. This is only suitable for light craft such as dinghies and canoes. Emsworth Yacht Basin has a slipway suitable for larger craft but it has a sill rather than a lock and so is not accessible from the sea at all states of the tide. Chichester Harbour has an 8 knot speed limit and is generally not suitable for powered craft.
Portsmouth & Chichester
Chichester is an attractive city with its Cathedral and famous Festival Theatre and also offers excellent shopping. Glorious Goodwood is just a few miles to the North East with its airfield and Festival of speed at the race circuit and the race course itself beyond, on top of the Downs.
Portsmouth to the West of Emsworth has a host of maritime activities with its active naval base as well as the historic dockyard where you will find Nelson’s HMS Victory and Henry VIII’s amazing flagship the Mary Rose which was recovered from just outside the harbour in 1982 where it sank in 1545. Both vessels are spectacular sites and fitting tributes to British maritime heritage.
If you want to wander further, the Isle of Wight is just a few miles across the Solent and can be reached by Ferry from Portsmouth to Ryde or by fast Hovercraft from Southsea.
Further West just before you get to Southampton finds you at the Hamble River and Bursledon which are also meccas for yachting. Hidden away on the banks of the Hamble you will find the Jolly Sailor pub made famous by the 80’s television series “Howard’s Way”
Whatever your interests, our Deckhouse will provide the ideal base to explore a fascinating and beautiful area.
Aerial picture of East Head
by kind permission of the Chichester Harbour Conservancy.
- Contact us:
- 15 Godstone Road
- Old Oxted
- Surrey, RH8 9JS
- Tel: +44 (0)1883 732144
- Email Us