Climping Beach and Middleton on Sea Walk

2 miles (3.2 km)

This walk takes you from the Climping Beach car park to Middleton-on-Sea along one of the last undeveloped stretches of the West Sussex coastline.
Starting near Littlehampton at the hamlet of Atherington, the route leads you away from the more manicured resorts into a rugged landscape of shifting shingle banks and historic sea defences.... The area is defined by its sense of isolation and the raw beauty of the "Climping Gap", where the absence of a high coastal path means the journey is largely dictated by the rhythm of the tides. At low tide, the receding water reveals vast, flat sandbanks that offer a firm and expansive surface for walking, contrasting with the steep mounds of pebbles closer to the shore.
This stretch is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a vital nature reserve home to specialized coastal wildlife. You may see sea kale with its distinctive waxy leaves and yellow horned-poppies flourishing directly in the shingle, anchored by deep roots against the salt spray. The area is also a significant habitat for birds such as oystercatchers and ringed plovers, which can often be seen foraging along the shoreline. If you are exceptionally lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the rare sand lizard hunting for insects among the marram grass of the dunes.
As you approach Middleton-on-Sea, the wild moor-like atmosphere of Climping begins to blend into the coastal estates and private beaches of Elmer. You will pass impressive boulder sea walls designed to combat the intense coastal erosion that has historically reclaimed entire villages along this stretch. The transition into Middleton is marked by a return to more residential surroundings, but the views across the English Channel remain expansive and uninterrupted, providing a peaceful conclusion to this approximately three-mile coastal trek.