Beautiful Bracklesham Bay Beach Ride Report

timbobs

timbobs

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Yesterday dawned sunny and warm and Magic, my friend and I were due to go down to the beach!

Low tide was at 2.45pm so we were a bit worried about getting a parking space for the box and how busy the beach would be, but we went ahead and drove down to Bracklesham Bay which is about 1hr30 from us.

It was an absolutely perfect day for it! We parked fairly easily and we had quite a few people come over and investigate to see if there really were horses on board and if we were planning to ride on the beach! Lots of people wanted to say hello and ask questions about the horses which was lovely.

By the car park and cafe it was quite busy on the beach, but within a couple of minutes we were away from the crowds and had the best time. Both horses were a little unsure of the water to start with, but loved it by the end.

If anyone is planning a beach trip, I would definitely recommend it. We had a fantastic time and it was lovely to do something a bit different. There's nothing like a flat out gallop along the water's edge with no need to pull up until you're ready- such a feeling of freedom!

https://imgur.com/8oQYmWJ
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https://imgur.com/RVjbQLP
https://imgur.com/Tr0Doou
 
AlexHyde said:
Great pictures!
But where are you, my weekend was just endless rain :p...
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We're in Surrey and Bracklesham Bay is near Wittering on the South Coast in West Sussex. I was wishing for rain as I was worried the beach would be mega busy, but it was much cooler than during the week so it worked out perfectly.
 
timbobs said:
We're in Surrey and Bracklesham Bay is near Wittering on the South Coast in West Sussex. I was wishing for rain as I was worried the beach would be mega busy, but it was much cooler than during the week so it worked out perfectly.
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Ah up North it was relentless, looks lovely where you were though :).
 
jenni999 said:
Hi @timbobs - I am planning a trip to Bracklesham. Can i ask where you parked? I have a big 7.5 ton lorry.
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Hi Jenni,
There isn’t loads of parking, so you need to go when the tide is out really early ideally so you get a spot. You need to park next to Billy’s on the Beach. I would think if you try and go in the middle of the day you wouldn’t get a space.

I have taken a 7.5t lorry and paid for the spaces I took up in the car park.

Let me know if you have any other questions :)
 
Brilliant, thanks. I've been to Hayling and the car park is bigger there. Just need to work out tides for the week we want to go and see which is easier. And of course Hayling is restricted times now, where Bracklesham isn't.
 
jenni999 said:
Brilliant, thanks. I've been to Hayling and the car park is bigger there. Just need to work out tides for the week we want to go and see which is easier. And of course Hayling is restricted times now, where Bracklesham isn't.
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No problem! 808308F9-6647-49BA-9800-15211DA8F4A9.jpeg
This is the car park so you can really see how small it is. For a 7.5t you need to get one of the middle spots so you can take up 2 spots and not block the whole car park. If you have a side ramp, be prepared to shuffle the lorry around to get the horses on and off so have a helper!
 
Hi, thanks for your post. I have taken the kids and their ponies to bracklesham bay Pre COVID. I’m planning on going Friday evening but was wondering if you have to book parking? TIA.
 
Kidsdogshorses said:
Hi, thanks for your post. I have taken the kids and their ponies to bracklesham bay Pre COVID. I’m planning on going Friday evening but was wondering if you have to book parking? TIA.
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I don't think you need to book parking at Billy's but it does get very busy! Unless low tide is very early I don't think you'd get a parking space for a lorry/trailer.
 
Hi! I'm looking to go to Bracklesham when the 'stay at home' lifts. I would probably arrive there early/mid morning (tide depending), but am worried about a parking space for my car and trailer... I've only ever been to Camber but the restrictions will be in place there by the time we are allowed out!

TIA :-)
 
heatherdp55 said:
Hi! I'm looking to go to Bracklesham when the 'stay at home' lifts. I would probably arrive there early/mid morning (tide depending), but am worried about a parking space for my car and trailer... I've only ever been to Camber but the restrictions will be in place there by the time we are allowed out!

TIA :)
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Parking is tight, so I would only go for an early-morning low tide with a trailer. Otherwise, I’d also recommend Hayling Island. Loads of easy parking, and it’s fab to gallop up the sand bar.
 
timbobs said:
Parking is tight, so I would only go for an early-morning low tide with a trailer. Otherwise, I’d also recommend Hayling Island. Loads of easy parking, and it’s fab to gallop up the sand bar.
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That sounds good, thanks! I’ll check the distance but if we go to Hayling is it a public car park that allows trailers? So excited to get out somewhere soon!
 
Do you remember the Lloyds Bank advert of Downland’s Cancara galloping on the beach? It was filmed either on Bracklesham or West Wittering beach, Bracklesham I think? ? I was very lucky to keep my horse near the beach and I regularly rode on the beach, summer evenings and winter. I arrived one night to find fire engines and police everywhere. Turned out a plane had just crashed into the sea. The pilot who died was a man called Charlie Purley, whose dad owned Lec Refrigeration, which some of you may have heard of.
 
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