Emsworth

Emsworth is a small townlet at the end of an inlet in Chichester Harbour. It lies just on the Hampshire side of the Hampshire/Sussex border. It has an interesting history, developing from an ancient Saxon fishing village, like Bosham along the harbour, and some of the old oyster beds can still be seen at low tide. At one time, it had tidal mills for flour production and two old mill ponds are still attractive features with water fowl and a large group of resident swans and their cygnets. It has also had commercial flower growing, rope making and boat building. Emsworth played its part in WW2, with sections of the Canadian Army assembling in the nearby woods pre D-Day invasion.

Nowadays, it's a buzzing vital place with loads of pubs, interesting shops and in summer, visiting markets, a marina and quay, tourists in their droves and even [once to my knowledge] belly dancing in the streets. This year Dragon Boat racing returns to the Mill Pond after a gap of 7 years, and among the festivals planned is a Harbour Walk Festival taking in 40 miles of interesting and lovely coastline.

Today it was fairly quiet on a sunny and warm spring day, before the rush of tourism starts again. Walking along the shore path was idyllic.