Wake up quite early in our holiday cottage in West Itchenor, where my husband, daughter and I have stayed the night – take a wander by myself down to the water’s edge, it’s beautiful looking over Chichester harbour. My sister and brother-in-law arrive, we have a cuppa then drive towards East Wittering park in the RSPB car park at Medmerry nature reserve.

Wander down the road towards the sea, passing a holiday park – abandon the others while Nigel and I walk along the beach to find the spot where we left off the walk last time.  Finding the spot we discuss whether, had it been summer, we would have thrown over our boots and belongings and swum across the 10 foot or so wide inlet??

Back on track we head towards the Witterings collecting the others along the way. The groins along this stretch of beach appear to have only been serving an aesthetical purpose for the budding photographer for many years – I obligingly snap a few!

We have chosen the sunniest day so far this year, woolly hats and scarves to be replaced by sun hats and sunglasses and sun cream if only we’d remembered them!

Just as we were starting to tire of the stones under foot we come to the edge of the village of East Wittering and chose a spot in the sunshine outside the Drifters restaurant. Enjoy a beer, nachos and fish finger sandwich.

The walk continues along the beach admiring the dwellings – one new build in particular has everyone walking along the beach trying to peer in the windows! They must feel like goldfish! As we move from East to West Wittering a grassy pathway appears between the beach and the seafront dwellings, similar to many we have seen along the route through West Sussex. A sign tells us this is owned by the Cakeham Manor Estate and we are requested not to fly kites, launch jet skis or ride horses or motorbikes.

The pathway leads us very unexpectedly from a stony beach to sand dunes and out onto a stunning sandy beach. Not only has the scenery dramatically changed but we feel we have been transported between the seasons. Having left behind our woolly hats and gloves for the first time in months we are now surrounded by families playing frisbee, young kids making sand castles, couples sunbathing and it’s the middle of February!

We very much enjoy the sensation of now walking along soft sand and the sunshine on our faces and continue along taking photos of the brightly painted beach huts. The beach comes to a gradual end as Chichester harbour appears and we squint over the estuary towards tomorrow’s walking point – Hayling Island. I stop the Garmin to record today’s very enjoyable coastal stroll as we wander through the car park to find the bridleway to West Itchenor.

The sun is slowly setting to the west over the harbour, the pathway is at first busy but after the junction to West Wittering village there are only a smattering of other walkers. It’s lovely how sometimes a walk can really surprise you of just how beautiful our English countryside really is.

The pathway is edged on both sides by scrub and trees with stunning glimpses through to the estuary which is glinting sunset reflections shades of pinks and orange with birds singing and geese flying over in formation. We stop from time to time to take in its beauty and to watch the sun slowly set over the hills in the distance.

Other families had gathered on the shingle foreshore, one family had even climbed a tree to observe the setting of the sun – reminding us of an occasion in a pub on the Thames when we observed a family of chickens doing a similar thing – the flower pot inn I seem to remember!

The path finally meanders across a marshy area into the little hamlet of West Itchenor where we are staying.