Much as we enjoy Surrey and the surrounding countryside, we relish a visit to the coast too. Perhaps it’s the sound of the waves that provides the instant sense of calm. Maybe it’s POD’s sheer delight at being able to build sand castles, hunt for shells and jump the waves. Whatever it is West Wittering in Sussex is one of our favourite beaches with its miles of sand, sand dunes and colourful beach huts.
We tend to shirk away from crowded beaches, and when abroad always head off the beaten track, so our usual approach is to arrive early and leave before the masses appear. That way we can ensure we have a great time, don’t have to queue for the cafe (or the toilet!) and miss being stuck in traffic. It’s a beautiful beach so it does get busy in the summer months. Not only do the locals love it, many people from the South of England travel there too. We’re lucky in that West Wittering is only an hour an a quarter from us so it’s easily doable in half a day. Don’t tell anyone but it’s a superb place to visit in the winter months as it’s unsurprisingly much quieter.
Our last visit saw us arrive just before 9.30am and there was already a queue to get into the car park. It’s worth persevering at that time of the morning though as the beach is enormous. At low tide, it can take a few minutes to reach the sea so there are always quiet places to sit even if the main stretch of the beach is busy. For POD, this time around it was all about the sand – building sandcastles, lying in the sand and covering herself in sand! If you’ve not visited before, do get yourself down there.
