West Wittering beach is a beautiful beach located near the Chichester harbour. With its stunning view of the south downs, and marvelously clean sand and water it is a fantastic beach to visit, and excellent for children. Hotels in Chichester are plentiful and support the high demand for accomodation in Chichester and the surrounding Witterings area. The beach is popular amongst wind and kite surfers, who can be seen in the splendid waters often, adding to the truly awe inspiring picturesque view of the sea. Next to the beach are fields of clean, mowed grass which provide a perfect spot for both picnics and car parking – far from the water so your car doesn't end up like Gumdrop!

Of course, parking comes at a price, and you can expect to pay up to £6.00 per day in the Summer, compared to up to £2.00 in Winter. These prices do vary depending on the time of day and the day of the week (weekday or weekend). In the Summer the beach is open from 6:30 to 20:30, after which the gates are locked; it is therefore advisable to leave slightly in advance of this time.

If you are planning a short break or holiday in West Wittering then it may be more economic to book a hotel in Chichester within driving distance of the beach. Crouchers Country Hotel in Chichester near West Wittering provides outstanding accommodation in Chichester and is one such hotel, and a viable option.

Towards the Eastern side of the beach is East Head, a naturally occurring sand dune spit. The 'pseudo island' is a sight of special scientific interest, and is only connected to the land by a narrow pathway. This pathway (referred to as 'the hinge') flooded in October 2004, completely isolating the spit from the land – though it has since been recovered. Occupying ten hectares and spanning four hundred metres at its widest point, East Head is a small area of land consisting of wetlands, grass, shingle and fine sand. The spit is open to the public, but is managed by the National Trust, and fires are prohibited.

The beach is a haven for many kinds of wildlife, including lizards, rabbits, butterflies, oysters, crabs, woodmice and numerous species of bird. Obviously this makes the area hugely popular amongst nature watchers and ecologists. Of course, not only ecologists and nature watchers can take advantage of the rich variety of animal life on the beach – anyone with a remote fascination with nature will be able to appreciate the vast array of animals coexisting. The beach also features a crabbing pool.

West Wittering beach really is the cream of the crop of south coast beaches, but if it doesn't catch your fancy then there are plenty of other beautiful beaches along the South coast that you can choose from. Bognor beach is a superb shingle beach with a promenade and fair ground rides which make it fun for all the family. Bognor Regis also provides a great opportunity for holidays or short breaks.