Sand dunes on beach at West Wittering (Image: Getty)
West Wittering recently made the list of Conde Nast Traveller’s best beaches in the UK. Coming in at number 25, this Sussex beach was described as pulling in crowds from across the south coast. The publication set the scene for the idyllic beach: “Low tide brings the promise of shallow lagoons to paddle in and creates a blank canvas for sand-castles. There’s a grassy patch ideal for picnics behind the beach huts that fringe the beach.”
editor Laura Nightingale had fond memories of the beach, but sadly hadn’t visited since she was a teenager. However, now with a child of her own, she decided to visit the Blue Flag beach for a day at the seaside.
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Laura Nightingale with her daughter (Image: Laura Nightingale)
Laura was surprised by the lack of crowds. She wrote: “Unlike most British seaside resorts with buzzing promenades, noisy arcades and rows of ice cream vans, this beach was very different. It was peaceful, naturally beautiful and surprisingly quiet.
“I expected it to be heaving on a sunny day, but it wasn’t. It was extraordinarily peaceful with no queues for the car park or the toilet, plenty of space on the beach, and I even secured an outdoor table on the cafe terrace.”
“While we didn’t go in the water as it was far too cold for my liking, we did play on the gorgeous white sand and walked along the shimmering coastline dotted with colourful beach huts. It took less than one hour to reach from Surrey and we spent a good three or so hours at the charming beauty spot.”
Laura visited on a weekday, which may have explained the quieter atmosphere, although she assumed the sunny weather would mean there were more beachgoers around.
She also visited the beach’s cafe, which is open 9am and 4pm next to the car park. Laura was impressed by the facilities on offer: “It had a small sun-trap terrace with umbrellas should guests want some shade. Child friendly, there were high chairs, a baby changing toilet and a kids menu.
“It was also dog friendly, and a few pups basking in the sunshine kept my toddler entertained while I perused the menu. I didn’t book a table, and just rocked up. I ordered a latte (£3.30) and a cake (£3.95) and my toddler enjoyed her packed lunch from home, but there were lots of lovely sounding dishes on the menu.”
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Beach huts on West Wittering beach (Image: Laura Nightingale)
The cafe serves a Beach Breakfast (£11.95) until 11.30am which comes with poached eggs, sausage, garlic and thyme mushrooms, show roasted tomato, beans, potato rosti and toasted bloomer. Visitors can also enjoy meals such as fish and chips (£17.25), a chicken burger (£16.95), crayfish slider (£11.25), bacon bap (£6), avocado on toast (£9.95), or a Caesar salad (£14.95).
She was also impressed by the toilet facilities, both in the cafe and the block next to the beach, noting they were clean and accessible.
However, she did notice the parking was pricey: “In March, parking costs £3.50 weekdays and £6.85 at weekends. In April, it will increase to £7.75 weekdays and £11.60 at weekends. And in the height of the summer, parking costs £13.90 weekdays and £15.45 at weekends. If you are organised, you can save 25% if you buy parking tickets online in advance.”
But overall, Laura enjoyed her day at the beach, saying: “Surrounded by stunning nature reserves and sand dunes home to rare wildlife and vegetation, West Wittering was a real natural beauty spot, and when I visited, wonderfully quiet.”
West Wittering beach can be found on Pound Road, West Wittering, Chichester, PO20 8GH.