Dog-friendly West Wittering Beach

» Why so popular?     » Are dogs allowed?     » High / low tide     » Getting there     » Facilities     » Safety     » Best walks     » Best time to go     » What to pack for your dog     » Accessibility     » FAQs

Why is West Wittering Beach so popular amongst dog owners?

West Wittering is a popular beach for so many reasons.

Firstly, and most importantly, West Wittering beach is very dog-friendly and stunningly beautiful with vast golden sands that stretch for miles. Dogs love running around on the soft sand and it’s a lovely setting to go on walks with your dog with spectacular views, sand dunes and beach huts. They provide dog waste bags and bins too. 

The dog-friendly West Wittering beach has a huge car park you can book in advance and once booked you know you are always guaranteed to get in on the busy and popular summer days. Just a few steps from the beach, this car park is more than a place to park. It has all the facilities you’ll need for a great day out with your dog. Boasting a brand-new café, toilets and other food and drink pop-up shops too.

It also has an equipment hiring area should you decide to try something like paddle boarding, which is an amazing way to take your dogs out into the ocean with you.

Are dogs allowed on West Wittering Beach?

During the peak summer months (1 May- 30 September) there are restrictions in place that mean you cannot enter the area between the groynes marked 14A-18 with your dog. As a guide, this correlates to the area that the beautifully painted and colourful beach huts reside within. See the estate map below for more details.

All other areas of the frankly massive beach is accessible with dogs, so there is no real issue with this limitation. In fact, in our opinion by walking five minutes away from the beach huts towards East Wittering (to the left as you look out to sea), you’ll discover so much more space to enjoy, as the crowds quickly fade away.

Image courtesy of West Wittering Estate.

All other standard rules you would expect are in place. You must clear up after your dog and keep them under control at all times. As West Wittering is a very popular beach with families with small children, this is an important rule.

West Wittering high tide and low tide

At the dog-friendly West Wittering beach, the sea can be very shallow – you’ll often look out and see people dotted about seemingly miles out.

However, do bear in mind that there can be a rip tide at certain times on this beach as well as sand banks. There are resident lifeguards on the beach during peak months in case anyone gets into trouble.

Having your dog swim too far out is something best avoided. The flags on the beach will tell you where the safe swimming areas are, although these often coincide with where dogs are not allowed.

One of the really lovely things about West Wittering beach is that as the tide recedes, it leaves behind pools of water that are only a few inches deep. These warm quickly in the summer and are filled with children and pets splashing about completely safely. So, if your dog likes jumping in the waves (who doesn’t) or just likes dipping in their paws then this is a great and safe beach for them.

Check the Met Office page for West Wittering Beach tide times and weather information.

How to get to West Wittering Beach

Where is West Wittering?

West Wittering is a village in Chicester, West Sussex on the south coast of England where the beautiful and dog-friendly West Wittering Beach is located. Chicester is a bustling and historic town well worth a visit on its own.

Driving to West Wittering Beach

Driving is, in our opinion, the easiest way to get to West Wittering beach with your dog.

For instance, from London you can go on the A3 and then take the A27 towards Chichester and follow the signs for West Wittering. It will take around 2 hours to make the journey depending on traffic. The Sat Nav postcode to use is PO20 8AJ.

Parking at West Wittering Beach

Before Covid restrictions, the car park at West Wittering was open, until it wasn’t. It is a huge car park, which is in essence a series of fields. This meant that on busy days, queues to get into the car park became legendary around the local area. It was not uncommon to see cars abandoned miles away and families loaded up with inflatable unicorns and picnic hampers, carrying their dogs down the road.

With the Covid restrictions in place, West Wittering moved to a booking in advance only policy for their car park. This had the effect of reducing the number of people arriving on a whim on hot sunny days. Whether this policy continues post-Covid is unknown, but it would not surprise us as the traffic into West Wittering can be extremely busy. So, with a dog in the car, you really must book your spot before you set off from home to avoid disappointment.

Check out the map of the West Wittering Estate with car park so you can pre-plan your trip.

And here’s the link to book your West Wittering parking space in advance.

Public transport to West Wittering Beach

You can take the train to the nearest train station to the beach, which is Chichester. Then you need to take a bus or taxi from Chicester station to West Wittering Beach.

Again, as an example assuming you’ll travel from London, you can take a train from Victoria Station or Waterloo Station and arrive in Chichester. But, having done this trip a few times, do not expect it to be a speedy journey. It suggests the travel time to be 1hr 30 minutes, but we have yet to manage this ourselves.

Chichester is also a good 20-minute drive from West Wittering beach. Once in Chichester, you can take the No 52 or 53 Stagecoach bus from the Chichester Bus Station. These drop you off at The Old House at Home pub which is virtually opposite the car park entrance to the Beach. You’ll have a 10-minute walk from here to the beachfront, just follow the signs to West Wittering Estate or the queue of cars.

If you are planning to use the train and the bus, you might be interested in our post all about using public transport with your dog.

West Wittering Beach facilities

The beach is very popular not only with dog lovers and sun worshippers but also with water sports enthusiasts too.

Water sports

The beach towards East Wittering is known for its waves in the winter, so you can often find surfers out in the winter and occasionally summer months, but more regularly you’ll see kitesurfers and windsurfers using the beach. There is a windsurf club on site and a place where you can hire various water sports equipment for some fun in the sea.

Toilets and showers

The estate/car park has three sets of toilets/showers, one near the entrance and one by the new café and further on.

Food and drink

The new Beach Café was built much closer to the sea than the old one and higher up to offer views across the beach. This café is much like what you’d expect at a Starbucks (it is not one), but you’ll find teas and coffees for take away and to enjoy inside. Very nice on cooler or wetter days. It also offers a menu of hot food too.

Outside the cafe is a couple of pop up style take away eating and beverage stands that are popular all year round. The Drift-In is a pop-up stand that’s parent restaurant and café are based down the road at East Wittering.

Safety at West Wittering Beach

Rip tide

Be careful letting your dog too far out as there are high tides and sand banks at certain times as we mentioned above in the tides section. Make sure you check the tide times before visiting the beach to be on the safe side.

Kitesurfers

Kitesurfers, in particular, should be something all dog owners should be aware of. They will set up on the beach and fly the kite as they walk backwards into the sea. It is not uncommon for the kite to land back on the beach and the wires and rope to lay across the sand. It is worth keeping a wide berth from these, especially with a dog, as you will not want your best friend getting tangled up.

In peak summer months, kite surfers are only allowed on certain areas of the beach and if they are registered with the club. Once in the sea, they should be much further out to have any impact. In winter months when it is less busy, they have more access.

Weather

Although it’s lovely to cool down while splashing about on a hot day, remember there is no shelter on the beach from the sun. To avoid a heatstroke, alwals walk your dog in the morning or late afternoon on very hot days. Remember, if it’s too hot for you to walk barefoot, it is for your dog too. 

The beach can get very windy. Especially in the winter, wrap your pups in waterproof coats if they feel the cold. 

Saltwater poisoning in dogs

Drinking excessive amounts of salt water can cause saltwater poisoning for dogs. Always carry fresh water with you and don’t let them drink the sea water. If you notice symptoms of dehydration and salt water poisoning, which include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, lack of appetite, and lethargy, take them to the nearest vet immediately. 

Lifeguards

Lifeguards operate in set areas on the beach between May and September and you’ll see the standard flags flying to denote how dangerous they consider the sea to currently be. There can be a rip tide here, as well as sand banks that people can find themselves stranded on. You should always look out for these flags, so your dog or you do not find yourselves in trouble by going too far out.

Best walks at West Wittering Beach

Coming to the beach with your dog may just be to relax, sit in the sand and let your dog play in the sea. However, if you love walking and your dog does too (find me a dog that doesn’t) then there are a couple of lovely walks to enjoy from West Wittering car park.

East Head

As you look to the sea, turn right and you will find yourself walking toward East Head. This is a sand dune spit which sits at the entrance to Chichester Harbour. You can either walk around it along the beach first or follow the pedestrian exit of the car park (to the east, the far end) and walk it in reverse, coming back up the beach at the end. We prefer this route.

It is a truly stunning place to walk, with unique wetlands, sand dunes and grasses and set out paths to enjoy. You’ll also get views of the harbour and boats. It takes around 30-40 minutes but, can be way longer depending on how fast you walk and how often you stop for photos and to sniff things. We stop a lot!

One of the nicest things about this walk is that you feel you are getting away from the crowds, but you are still close by to the facilities and your car should you need them. In essence, it’s a very pretty loop from your car and back again.

East Head and view of Chichester Harbour

East Wittering

This small town is less popular than West Wittering purely due to the fact it has a stone/shingle beach rather than the pure golden sands of West. However, when the tide is out the sand is revealed, so depending on the time of day you visit, you will be met by sand or stones.

East Wittering is a small village with shops, takeaways, restaurants and pubs. It is a lovely place to visit.

The walk to East Wittering from West Wittering beach takes around 25-40 minutes. You walk along the beach the whole way which is lovely in itself. Look at the sea at West Wittering and turn left and you’re heading to East Wittering. As you walk and look inland, you’ll see some truly stunning and huge beachfront mansions and immediately buy your next lottery ticket.

Once at East Wittering you can grab a coffee, do some shopping and relax before making your way back again.

It’s a much longer walk than East Head, so if you have small dogs you might find they tire too soon.

East Wittering Beach

Beach huts

West Wittering has a collection of pretty beach huts that draw photographers and visitors from all over. They are small, colourful and quaint, oh and expensive.

What is the best time to visit West Wittering beach?

Visiting the beach with your dog is great at any time of the year. Obviously, in winter you’ll need to wrap yourself and your dogs up well. We recommend Equafleece or Ruffwear dog coats for the perfect balance of warmth and flexibility.

In summer, the beach will get crowded although a five-minute walk away from the centre will find you much more space. Visiting in the early morning or later in the afternoon/evening is lovely and less busy, you’ll also enjoy some very pretty sunsets from West Wittering beach.

As West Wittering beach is tidal. Checking the tides before you leave is a good idea. At high tide, you can sit back and watch as everyone hurriedly picks up their stuff and moves backwards as the sea rushes in. At peak times, this makes the beach even more crowded and is not ideal in the current socially distanced world.

If you know when high and low tides are you can pick your spot more carefully if you are intending to stay on the beach for a while. West Wittering beach is slightly less affected by tides than East Wittering beach. There will always be a beach here, whereas at East Wittering the sea comes up much higher.

Check out the tide timetable to help plan your visit.

Accessibility at West Wittering Beach

West Wittering beach has a constantly shifting environment of sand and pebbles. This makes access more difficult across the beach. The main access point is in the form of a steep concrete ramp by the windsurfing club (near the entrance of the car park).

The three toilet blocks all have an accessible toilet that can be accessed with a RADAR key.

View of dog-friendly West Wittering Beach

Here is a lovely footage of the dog-friendly West Wittering Beach in summer: