The Next Ride: Sunday 31 May 2015 – Dell Quay

***CANCELLED due to bad weather; rescheduled for 9 August 2015***

Chichester – Centurion Way – West Stoke – Fishbourne – Dell Quay (for lunch) – Salterns Marina – Chichester Ship Canal Basin (for tea)

We meet at the south side of Chichester railway station at 11.15 am and then go round over the railway level crossing to the north side to start riding on the cycle track from the car park.  After a mile we begin a northward ride on the Centurion Way and in about three miles we take the West Stoke Road which has a gentle rise until the middle of the village.  We turn south into Lye Lane and on down until we go round the north and east of Fishbourne and pass under the A27.  We take the Salterns Way bridlepath past Apuldram and soon reach the Crown and Anchor Public House at Dell Quay – probably before 1.30.

After lunch we continue on the Salterns Way south and cross over the Chichester Salterns Marina lock gates to reach the Chichester Old Ship Canal.  At the northern end of the Marina Entrance road we ride along the towpath* on the east side of the canal until we cross over the Poyntz canal footbridge onto a wider well-surfaced track.  From this bridge there is a distant view of Chichester Cathedral apparently surrounded by green fields and trees and no sign of any urbanisation.  The ride ends at the Canal Basin where there is a fine Canal Trust tearoom.

*  The alternative to reach the Poyntz canal footbridge is to take the minor road east to the B2145 T-junction then north through Hunston – also more suitable for bikes with road tyres.  We can re-group at the entrance to the footbridge.

Trains to Chichester:  Brighton 10.00 and Hove 10.04 arriving at 10.55.

London Victoria 9.17 arriving at 10.59

Meet on the south side of Chichester railway station at 11.15.

Terrain:  a gentle gradient up to West Stoke, then downhill to the north of Fishbourne, and thereafter mainly flat.  17 miles – see O/S Explorer Map 120 “Chichester” (1:25000)

Roads:  a mixture of cycle tracks, footpaths along the canal side, and quiet country roads.

There are four busy roads to cross:  B2178 SE of Ashling, A259 in Fishbourne, A286 at Cutfield Bridge and B2201 at Crosbie Bridge.  However, we do not have to cycle along them.

Lunch:  at the Crown and Anchor, Dell Quay, with a quite expensive menu.  The Boat House Café prices at the Salterns Marina are probably lower.  Tea: by the Chichester Ship Canal Basin, just south of the railway station.

Return trains times to:

Hove 16.15H 16.27SN 16.53SN 17.15H

Brighton 16.15C 16.27SN 16.53SN 17.15C

Victoria 16.15V (arr.17.56) 17.15V (arr. 18.56)

H:  three stops before HoveSN: stops at all stations before Brighton

C: change at Hove, with three stops before Hove

V: no changes: with five stops before London Victoria, incl. Clapham Junction

Note:  the new Southern Rail timetables started on 17 May, but due to computer problems the printed timetables are not yet available.  These times were viewed on-line, but perhaps you should check them beforehand.

My mobile number is:  0789 635 3563

Julian

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The Next Ride: Sunday 21 September 2014 – Dell Quay Mark II

Chichester – Centurion Way – West Stoke – Fishbourne – Dell Quay (for lunch) – Salterns Marina – Chichester Ship Canal Basin (for tea)

We meet at the south side of Chichester railway station at 11.15am and then go round over the railway level crossing to the north side to start riding on the cycle track from the car park.  After a mile we begin a northward ride on the Centurion Way and in about three miles we take the West Stoke Road which has a gentle rise until the middle of the village.  We turn south down Lye Lane and on down until we go round the north and east of Fishbourne then passing under the A27.  We take the Apuldram road and soon reach the Crown and Anchor Public House at Dell Quay.

After lunch we take the Salterns Way track south and cross over the Salterns Marina lock gates to reach the Chichester Ship Canal.  At the end of the Marine Entrance road we ride along the towpath on the east side of the canal until we cross over the Poyntz canal footbridge, from where there is a distant view of Chichester Cathedral apparently surrounded by green fields and trees and no sign of any urbanisation.  The ride ends at the Canal Basin where there is a fine tea facility.

Practicalities

Trains:  Brighton 10.00 and Hove 10.04 arriving at 10.56.  Victoria 9.17 arriving at 11.02.

Meet on the south side of Chichester railway station at 11.15

Terrain:  a gentle gradient up to West Stoke, then downhill to the north of Fishbourne, and thereafter mainly flat.

Roads:  a mixture of cycle tracks, footpaths along the canal side, and quiet country roads.

There are four busy roads to cross:  B2178 SE of Ashling, A259 in Fishbourne, A286 at Cutfield Bridge and B2201 at Crosbie Bridge.  However, we do not have to cycle along them.

Lunch:  at the Crown and Anchor, Dell Quay.

Distance:  16 miles – see O/S Explorer Map 120 “Chichester” (1:25000)

Tea: by the Chichester Ship Canal Basin, just south of the railway station.

Return trains times to:

Hove: 16.15, 16.29S, 16.53S, 17.15
Brighton: 16.15C, 16.29S, 16.53S, 17.15C
Victoria: 16.15N, 16.29SC, 16.53SC, 17.15N

C: change at Hove, with only 4 stops before Hove
S: stops at all stations
N: no changes: only 4 stops before Hove, also stops at Clapham Junction

My mobile number is:  0789 635 3563

Julian

The Next Ride: Sunday 7 April: Centurion Way, Dell Quay, Salterns Way, and Chichester Canal

Just a short way up Centurion Way, then off down, initially, the B2178 south to Fishbourne , a short stretch of the old main road and down to Dell Quay for lunch at the Crown and Anchor.* Then the Salterns Way cycle route down to the Salterns Marina, over the swing bridge and back via the Chichester Canal with probably time for a tea stop at the open-air café at in the canal basin.

Catch the 10.30 from Brighton Station, 10 34 from Hove or meet at Chichester Station at 11.25. Best trains back seem to be the  15.23, 15 23 or  16 23  

My mobile number is 07770743287   It will be switched on!

* I’ve never tried to “book” at the Crown and Anchor in the past – we’ve always gone there in the spring or summer and usually sat outside in the sunshine where there are masses of tables.  This time – with winter threatening to last until next autumn – I’m going to wait until a few days before and see what the forecast looks like before deciding whether to get in touch.

Ian

The Last Ride –Tessa’s Report

Saturday 16 June – Centurion Way, Dell Quay, Chichester Ship Canal.

Jim, Roger, Sean and Sue boarded the train at Brighton station. By the time Tessa joined them at Hove a lively debate/discussion had taken place around the subject of the Queen, prompted by Jim’s comments in the last report. It was all over by Shoreham when Tessa actually joined them in the carriage, having been ousted from hers by a wheelchair arrival.

We were met by Ian and promptly set off on the Centurion Way after a passer by took our photo. A slight delay while Ian returned to check that his car was locked, but we were happy waiting, relaxing in the windy sunshine. Marguerites were in bloom and they were waving in the wind as we passed the site of the Roman amphitheatre flanked by the metal Centurion sculptures, ‘A distinct lack of signage’ was Jim’s bugbear of today, and he was right- unless you knew it was a Roman amphitheatre there was nothing to tell you.

Once off the Centurion way, we headed for Fishbourne, weaving over and under the A27. We turned onto Dell Quay Road and into even stronger wind, so the sewage farm we passed was a mere whiff. The Crown and Anchor was a welcome sight. Beside the blackboard signs outside the pub advertising football matches being screened etc was another announcing ‘ Coming soon- Summer’

We had planned to eat outdoors but both food and conversation would have been blown away. Our indoor table was presided over by a very large photograph of the Queen Mother pulling a pint. Jim was persuaded to pose, smiling, with an arm extended towards it, in an embrace.

After lunch we joined the Salterns Way past Apeldram airfield, a wartime landing strip, now a field of wheat. We passed through Chichester Marina and joined the canal footpath where we were at last protected from the wind. We passed canoes, coots and water lilies in the beautiful afternoon light, on a narrow muddy track. When the footpath became a cycle route, the surface improved and the canal scenery gave way to ducks, swans, a rowing boat and a canal cruiser. Somewhere along the path Sue managed to gather a pannierful of elderflower heads, destined to become cordial when she got home.

Tea was at the delightful Canal Basin tea stop before we left Ian and boarded the train home. Maybe because the ride had been flat and short, there was energy for more conversation, again focussed on the Queen, the Royal Prerogative and Nuclear proliferation. The journey passed quickly!

Thank you Ian for a delightful ride on nearly a summer’s day!

Tessa

The Next Ride: Saturday 16 June 2012 (NB Note — Saturday!) Bloomsday.

Centurion Way, Dell Quay, Slaterns Way, and Chichester Canal

Just a short way up Centurion Way, then off down, initially, the B2178 south to Fishbourne, a short stretch of the old main road and down to Dell Quay for lunch at the Crown and Anchor. Then the Slaterns Way cycle route down to the Salterns Marina, over the swing bridge and back via the Chichester Canal with probably time for a tea stop at the open-air café at in the canal basin.

Catch the 10.33 from Brighton Station, or 10 37 from Hove or meet at Chichester Station at 11.24. Best trains back seem to be the 15.25 or 16.00
Meet at 10.15 for a chance of Groupsave.

My mobile number is 07770743287 – It will be switched on!

Ian