For those with SatNav a nearby postcode is BN43 5TD.
Get a map with driving directions to start (enter the postcode of your starting point at A)
Suggested Launch Site - Best at east side of Old Shoreham footbridge, where there is some gravel even at low tide and free roadside parking. Alternatively at the public hard in the centre of Shoreham, by the footbridge, but parkng is restricted
General
Description - This was an exhilarating trip with the tide, both going up and coming back. Even at our age (a combined 124!) we covered over 20 miles in 4 hours; but the current was probably responsible for 12 of those 20!
Put in about half an hour to one hour before high tide at Shoreham, and go up river as far as you feel like (up to 10 miles) before stopping for a picnic, and wait for the tide to turn. Start downstream again as soon as tide slackens, or the take out at Shoreham at low tide will be muddy. Expect currents of 4 mph or so at spring tides, but smooth with no turbulence, even at the narrow arch of Bramber Bridge.
The scenery is very pleasant through the gap in the South Downs, but after that nothing dramatic. Last mile or so, above the A281 bridge, is weedy.
Comments on this trip
Keith Day 27 May 2010
An alternative put in is here on Combe's Road, half a mile north of the A27. There is a height restriction on the car park and a short portage along the north bank of the inlet to a concrete slipway at Lancing College Sailing Club to give access at all states of the tide.
Nick 21 Jun 2009
Have just pottered about at the upper end of this, nice put in just south of Partridge Green at 50 56 742N 0 18 512W. From there I had a very easy (and tranquil)trip south for about 0.56 of a mile which brought me very close to the Adur junction but also brought me to a weir which for a whole bunch of reasons I didn't want to traverse. Headed back the direction I came and went about .75m upstream from launch point to 50 57 194N 0 19 324W. Weedy in places and at the end getting a bit Apocalypse Now like as the river narrowed and there were corpses in the water (ok a dead sheep). Probably could have gone further upstream but ran out of time and inclination. All told a very pleasant nature paddle - and all the fishermen I encountered were also pleasant :)
John Radoux 27 Feb 2007
I learned to canoe on this river and can recommend it to anyone
