Emsworth Tourist Guide Havant Hampshire Chichester Harbour

Emsworth Tourist Information

Emsworth grew up as a fishing town and has always been closely linked to the sea. Today, although some boat building continues, it is much more popular with recreational sailors and visitors.

Emsworth's largely Georgian village centre has a range of pubs, restaurants and specialist shops for you to browse. It's laid back atmosphere is certainly much more conducive to a leisurely stroll around.

A popular walk is past the Old Tide Mill along the mill pond walls walls that stretch out into the sea. If you're lucky you'll see a variety of birds in the ponds or feeding on the mud at low tide. You'll certainly see the swans that are always in attendance ready for any tit-bits you might have.

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Emsworth Museum - P G Wodehouse

To find out more about Emsworth's history visit the Emsworth Museum. Run by volunteers from The Emsworth Maritime & Historical Trust the museum holds a wide range of archive material relating to the town including an oral history collection on video and audio recordings.

Displays in the museum tell the story of the the old seafaring families of the village. The humorous author of Jeeves and Wooster, P G Wodehouse, was a famous resident of Emsworth and the museum details more about his life and work and how he incorporated several local names into his books.

The Museum is open every weekend and Bank Holiday between Easter and the end of October, as well as Fridays in August. Check the weblink right for opening times. Entrance to the museum is free but donations are gladly received for its upkeep.

Emsworth Museum, 10b North Street, (above the Fire Station) Emsworth, Hants PO10 7DD. Email: info@emsworthmuseum.co.uk

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Emsworth Sunday Markets

Up until recently an annual food festival was organised by volunteers from the village. However, after its huge success the Emsworth Food Festival has now been rejigged into four separate Sunday markets throughout the year.

The Markets will coincide with different seasons kicking off with a Christmas Market. All will bring stall holders from all over the county offering a wide choice of locally produced food and craft items.

The Emsworth Sunday Markets are held in The Square in the centre of Emsworth. Check out the link right for up-to-date information.

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Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Beauty - Birdwatching

The Chichester Harbour area incorporates several picturesque Sussex villages around East and West Wittering (surfing & watersports hotspots) as well as pushing into Hampshire at Emsworth and Hayling Island. They all fall within the Chichester Harbour designated Area of Outstanding Beauty. The terrain consists of shallow lagoons and sandy flats, perfect for watersports, walking and cycling. Both beginner and experienced sailors will feel at home in the area and a choice of sailing training and courses are available from the many sailing and yacht clubs. Thorney Island, the Island of Thorns, which jutts out into Chichester Harbour is today an army base but limited access is available to the public on foot and only on the island's perimeter footpath. Ancient Thorney Church sits on the edge of the island.

Chichester Harbour is not only popular for sailing and watersports but is internationally important for its wildlife, particularly its migrant bird populations. Autumn is the best time to visit for birdwatching. The part of the harbour around Emsworth and Thorney Island provide a range of habitats like saltmarsh and reedbeds. These provide feeding and roosting opportunities for ringed plover, grey plover, redshank, black-tailed godwit, dunlin, sanderling, curlew and greenshank, bar-tailed godwit, shelduck, teal and dark-bellied brent goose as well reed and sedge warblers.

Walking west from Emsworth towards Langstone Harbour you'll see a good variety of the habitats that make Chichester Harbour and the surrounding farmland so important including woodland and freshwater marsh.

If you want to find out more about Chichester Harbour the Chichester Harbour Conservancy organise year round walks and boat trips. These are aimed at all age groups to help people understand why the AONB is so special. Check the link right for more information.

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