Two Towns, One Estuary

Shoreham-by-Sea and Lancing sit barely three miles apart on the West Sussex coast, yet the walk between them feels like a proper day out. The River Adur runs between the two, curling down from the Downs and out to sea, and the footpaths that thread along its banks offer a rare mix: working harbour on one side, quiet saltmarsh on the other, and the long green ridge of the South Downs rising steadily behind. You do not need a car, you do not need much time, and you will almost certainly want to return in a different season.

The route works in either direction, but starting in Shoreham gives you an easy rail arrival and a choice of cafés before you set off. Allow two to three hours for a gentle out-and-back, or half a day if you plan to linger over a pub lunch and a wander up to the Downs.

The Riverside Track from Shoreham

Begin in Shoreham town centre and make for the river. Cross by the modern footbridge or the road bridge, then pick up the path on the western bank. The surface is a mix of tarmac and compacted gravel, flat and largely pushchair-friendly for the first stretch, with benches placed where the estuary opens out.

Follow the water upstream and you will pass the old wooden toll bridge at Old Shoreham — a beautifully weathered structure that has carried traffic across the Adur since the eighteenth century. Beside it sits the small Norman church of St Nicolas, one of the oldest buildings in the area and well worth a detour. Beyond the bridge, the character changes: the path narrows, the banks turn to reedbed and mudflat, and the noise of the road fades behind you.

• Surface: mostly firm gravel and tarmac, with some rougher sections after rain.
• Facilities: toilets and refreshments in Shoreham town before you leave.
• Best light: early morning, when the estuary is still and the birdlife is busiest.

Tides, Mud and Staying Safe on the Estuary

The Adur is a proper tidal river, and that is the single most important thing to understand before you walk it. At low water it looks like an enormous expanse of sand and mud; within a few hours it can be a fast-moving channel again. Spring tides here can rise several metres, and the incoming water moves across the flats far quicker than most people expect.

Stay on the marked paths and never attempt to cross the estuary bed, however tempting the shortcut looks. The mud is soft, deep in places, and not something to test. A few practical habits make all the difference:

• Check a tide table for Shoreham before setting out, and know when high water falls.
• The lower riverside path near the airfield and the bypass can flood on big tides — take the higher alternative if in doubt.
• Keep dogs on a lead around the mudflats and reedbeds, both for ground-nesting birds and for your dog's safety.
• Wear shoes with grip; the gravel sections become slick after rain.

If you are walking with children, agree a meeting point in advance and keep them away from the water's edge where the bank undercuts.

Widewater and the Lancing Shore

As you approach Lancing, the path brings you out towards the coast. The shingle beach here is quieter than its Brighton counterparts, popular with kite surfers when the wind is up and near-empty on a still winter morning. Behind it lies Widewater Lagoon, a brackish strip of water separated from the sea by a narrow spit — a haven for swans, little grebes, coots and the occasional visiting wader.

The lagoon path is level and easy, with plenty of benches facing the water. Birdwatchers tend to gather at either end with telescopes; everyone else simply enjoys the stillness. Carry on along the promenade and you reach Lancing's own seafront, where a stroll west brings you back towards the Adur mouth and a full circuit of the estuary.

History Underfoot

This stretch of coast has been busy for a very long time. The Romans moved goods along this shoreline, and the Adur was a working port long before either town grew up around it. Shoreham built ships, traded across the Channel and later defended its harbour with a mid-Victorian fort that still stands near the river mouth.

Old Shoreham's church, with its sturdy Norman nave, has watched the river shift and change for the best part of a thousand years. Lancing, meanwhile, has its own landmarks: the college chapel on the hill above the village is visible for miles, and the chalk downland at Lancing Ring preserves ancient field systems and old flint tracks. Smuggling was once a quiet local industry along these beaches, and the lanes inland were built for moving goods discreetly. Today the Monarch's Way long-distance path passes nearby, linking the coast to the Downs.

Eating Well Along the Way

Shoreham's farmers' market, held monthly on a Saturday, is a fine place to stock up before you walk: local cheese, bread, preserves and seasonal vegetables all travel well in a rucksack. Independent bakeries and greengrocers in the town centre supply the essentials for a picnic on the estuary bank.

Down by the water, look for what comes out of it. Mackerel, cockles and samphire all have a long history here, and a simple plate of locally caught fish is the best possible end to the walk. Pubs on both sides of the river serve generous Sunday roasts, and a flask of tea on a bench above the mudflats, watching the light change over the Downs, is arguably the finest refreshment of all.

Take your time, check the tides, and let the estuary set the pace. It rewards patience more than speed.