When you live pretty much in the middle of the country, a trip to the seaside at whatever time of year is a real treat. I’ve always loved visiting out of season but we often head to the same places and we all agreed that we wanted a new seaside adventure. So at the end of December we got up early and headed down the A34 to spend the day exploring the beach at West Wittering in West Sussex. I’d seem a number of people recommending the beach over the last few months and was eager to see if it lived up to expectations, even on a dull December day.
To spend time exploring the beach at West Wittering you need to enter the large car park via a barrier entry system. Parking can be paid with cash or cards and at this time of year costs £3.50 for the day. I have read that this charge increases in warmer months. We would need to vacate the car park by 6pm, which for us was fine as we’d got a long drive home anyway.
Once we’d parked up we discovered a number of toilet blocks along the stretch of the car park, with multiple cubicles. There are a number of picnic benches as well as an indoor and outdoor cafe. We had drinks indoors and then had burgers and hotdogs from the outdoors cafe for lunch. We were really impressed with the service and it’s worth noting that the outdoors cafe also takes card payments, useful if, like us, you don’t carry much cash on you.
We decided to head towards East Wittering along the beach and just take our time, enjoying the fresh air as we started exploring the beach at West Wittering.
The beach looked vast and my son was soon eager to explore.
The area is clearly popular, but with such a vast area to explore we never really felt that we were sharing the space with anyone else. It wasn’t long before my son decided to stop and enjoy having an expanse of sand all to himself. Wet sand at that, and perfect for a bit of artistry.
He started off just using his fingers to create his masterpieces.
As we moved along the beach his artwork got more complex and we realised he was making a portrait of Biff, his worry eater.
He was totally engrossed and signed the finished masterpiece, before heading off on his next adventure. We had to check that it was still there on our return walk.
Then he found a stick and it wasn’t long before he realised he could draw with that too.
The boy in his red coat, stick in hand, off exploring, having fun.
Often to be seen running into battle.
Or using his stick as a shell detector.
He may have just turned nine, but his love for his sticks shows no sign of waning just yet.
Exploring the beach at West Wittering had countless opportunities for him to use his imagination. He’s a huge fan of Horrible Histories and thought he’d try his own take on King Canute holding back the tide.
He was no more successful than the king, but thankfully gave up before getting wet.
We’d seen horseshoe tracks in the sand as we’d been walking along the beach, and we all enjoyed seeing the horses when we found them. Not something my son has ever seen before.
We also got to watch some birds flocking overhead and I wished I’d got my long lens with me!
My son’s favourite speed is full speed and he was in heaven with so much clear space to run in. It must have seemed like such a massive beach area to him.
Running, hurdling …….
and back to running. I wish I had his energy levels.
He’d go from one extreme to another, one minute running, the next stand as still as a statue. In this case as still as the Statue of Liberty.
Then just being a happy statue apparently.
Such a vivid imagination and so wonderful to see.
We loved finding reflections in the pools of water as we walked along the beach.
Walking in the opposite direction around East Head you get a totally different experience of exploring the beach at West Wittering. The sand dunes are wonderful to explore. Some are fenced off to protect them, but in other areas you are free to roam.
My son couldn’t quite understand why we could find him so easily when we played hide and seek. Bless him, his red coat isn’t so great if you want to be invisible.
He still had fun though just outrunning us.
But before we knew it, it was time to turn around once more and head back to the car park and make our way back home.
We’d had a wonderful day packed full of imagination and adventures and will definitely be returning in the future. If you know of any other gems that are reachable from North Oxfordshire, please let me know.
Have you had any winter beach adventures?
We’ve had many adventures to West Wittering beach, as it’s the nearest one to us. However we’ve only been in the warmer weather. It’s nice to see it so windswept and empty. Glad you enjoyed your winter walk. #CountryKids x
We loved it there, it would definitely be well visited if we lived closer too.
What a great imagination your boy has (and a very bright coat for hide and seek in the dunes!). Your story and photos very much reminds me of myself and Caroline – older Mum and only child. They are brilliant at entertaining themselves (most of the time..) but love it when they meet up with other children. Glad you had such a good day out, it’s heartwarming to watch our babies grow up like this. Thanks for sharing with us at #CountryKids
Thank you and yes, I guess their imagination takes the place of a sibling, it’s lovely to watch.
Yes we are well and truly land locked where we are. As for children I think they sap all our energy and as such parents have no need for gyms. #CountryKids
Exactly!
We are very in land too. I feel we need a winter beach visit soon. Looks like you had a fantastic day. Love the beach art. #countrykids
Thank you, it was worth the drive for sure.
We are also very landlocked where we are too. West Wittering is not too far from where my sisters live though and it’s a favourite of ours, although I’ve only ever visited in summer. Might have to try and winter trip now that I’ve read your post! I love how much fun your son was having drawing pictures in the sand and having so much space to run about in must have been wonderful. How lovely to see horses along the beach too. Thank you for sharing with #CountryKids
It’s a wonderful place to explore at this time of year I think when it’s less crowded.
How sweet that he drew a portrait of his worry eater, and what an imagination!!! My gang always draw or write in the sand when we visit a beach with fine enough sand (our local one has very coarse sand). Aren’t sticks the best toy ever?
#CountryKids
Sticks just provide hours of entertainment
We live near the beach but we never get tired visiting because of the things that you can do and the space that you have esp in winter.
Looks like you had the most fun! I always love your trips and seeing the red jacket. Where will the red jacket be seen next?
#countrykids
i’m always so envious of your photos by the sea.
I love wintery beaches. I try and get to the coast as often as I can – and hope one day I get to live on a beach! Your photos are lovely. The Witterings are fabulous. I used to scuba dive there in my youth! #countrykids
It’s a great time of year to visit isn’t it
We only discovered West Wittering a couple years ago and absolutely love it there, definitely our go to beach now and like you we are miles away from the beach in North Oxfordshire, just wish it was nearer, but it is so easy to get too down the A34 thankfully xxx
Yes the A34 is a godsend for beach adventures isn’t it