Pagham Beach
NEED TO KNOW
Type of beach
Dogs
Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the beach all year round, but must be kept under effective control.
Lifeguard
Beach cleaning
Parking
Nearest town
Postcode
OS grid reference
What3words
ABOUT
Pagham beach is a large sweep of pebbles that’s popular with dog walkers and wildlife watchers.
Situated along the coast to the west of Bognor Regis, Pagham is a large shingle beach with a nature reserve at one end. Although it’s not very comfortable to sit on and you won’t be able to build sandcastles, as one of the sunniest spots in Britain and often quiet it’s a lovely place for a walk.
The beach is dog-friendly all year round, which means you can bring your pooch with you. And look out for washed up cuttlefish, shells, sea glass, and crystals as you stroll along the coast.
On calm days, the water is safe for swimming although be aware there is no lifeguard cover and children should be supervised. It’s best to swim with an incoming tide and watch out for underwater obstacles at high tide.
The beach is also popular for watersports including paddle boarding, kayaking, and sailing. Pagham Yacht Club, located on the beach, organises year-round events, charter trips, and equipment hire for its members, as well as clubhouse facilities such as hot showers, and changing rooms. The club offers temporary membership for visitors from other accredited organisations.
Pagham is a good spot for sea anglers with rays, bass, bream, and smoothhounds all to be found in the water during the warmer months, while plaice and flounder can be caught in late winter. The best time to fish is at low tide when hundreds of metres of seabed are exposed.
STAR SPECIES
At the far west end of the beach is Pagham harbour, a Local Nature Reserve managed by the RSPB and designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It used to be a working harbour, but today is one of the few stretches of undeveloped land on the Sussex coast.
The sheltered inlet consists of saltmarshes, mudflats, reedbeds, grasslands, and open water, providing a habitat for a wide variety of birds. In the entrance to the harbour is Tern island, where common, sandwich, and little terns breed as do black-headed and Mediterranean gulls. Little egrets, avocets, little ringed plovers, swans, and black-tailed godwits can also be spotted on the reserve, and in winter, huge flocks of dark-bellied brent geese and wigeon arrive to graze in the surrounding fields.
There are two well-marked trails as well as public rights of way across Pagham Harbour and the RSPB runs a programme of guided walks and events throughout the year. Facilities include bird hides, a visitor centre with viewing cams and binocular hire, picnic benches, and toilets. Dogs are welcome on the reserve but must be kept on a lead and are only allowed on the public footpaths and bridleways.
There are several other marked trails around Pagham beach which are well worth exploring. The Heritage trail will take you past Pagham church built in the 12th century and one of the earliest to be dedicated to Thomas à Becket.
Don’t miss the pile of bricks, one of the few clues to Pagham’s industrious past. This is all that is left of a tidal mill built in 1775. The mill had three water wheels and eight pairs of stones for grinding corn, and was said to be one of the finest in the country. It ceased operations in 1865 and was demolished in 1919.
Continue to Sidlesham, where you can stop off for something to eat at the Crab and Lobster, a 16th century inn with many original features including beams and flagstone floors. The restaurant specialises in locally caught fish and the menu includes lighter options such as salads and open sandwiches.
Another interesting historical site, located about a mile from the beach are the remains of a Phoenix caisson, built as part of a Mulberry Harbour developed during the Second World War to facilitate the offloading of cargo onto beaches during the invasion of Normandy in 1944. The reinforced concrete caissons were built as floating breakwaters and designed to sail across the Channel, but some sunk and never made it, including the one at Pagham.
At the back of the beach is a row of cottages converted from railway carriages. During the 1920s a famer sold off plots of the beach which coincided with the sale of surplus rolling stock from the railway tram serving Chichester. The carriages were used as holiday homes and many are still visible today, although many have been covered in lean tos and trussed rooves, which means their original shape isn’t quite as obvious.
For those looking for more of a traditional seaside holiday experience, there is a retro amusement arcade just behind the beach. The Pagham Family Amusement Centre has a collection of machines dating back to the 1950s. The same family also own the Beach Café located on the beach. With its formica tables, rock and roll memorabilia, and vintage one-arm bandits, it’s like stepping back in time. The menu includes traditional seaside favourites including fish and chips, as well as kebabs, wraps, and a range of delicious pies and cakes.
Other shops, restaurants, and cafés can be found further inland in Pagham village, as well as a car park and public toilets. Parking is also available at Pagham harbour visitor centre.
AMENITIES
