West Sussex has over 3,300 km of public rights of way across the South Downs, the coastal plain and the Weald. That sounds brilliant until you are standing at a kissing gate with a sleeping toddler, a double buggy and a dawning sense of regret. The truth is that only a small fraction of those paths are genuinely pushchair-friendly, and online route descriptions rarely mention the one detail parents actually need: can I get a wheel through it?
We have picked seven walks across West Sussex that work with a standard pushchair or buggy. For each one we cover surface type, distance, gradient, toilet access, nearest cafe, parking and an honest buggy rating. No guesswork, no "should be fine in summer" hedging. If a path turns to mud after rain, we say so.
For more family route ideas, see our guide to South Downs family walks.
Quick Comparison
| Walk | Distance | Surface | Buggy Rating | Toilets | Cafe | Parking | |------|----------|---------|-------------|---------|------|---------| | Chichester Canal | 4 miles (out and back) | Compacted gravel | ★★★★★ | At basin | Canal Cafe | Free at basin | | Littlehampton Prom and Riverside | 2.5 miles (circular) | Paved/tarmac | ★★★★★ | Multiple | Several | Pay and display | | Arundel Riverside to Swanbourne Lake | 1.5 miles (out and back) | Tarmac/compacted gravel | ★★★★☆ | At Swanbourne Lake | Lakeside cafe | Pay and display | | RSPB Pulborough Brooks Nature Trail | 1.2 miles (circular) | Compacted gravel/boardwalk | ★★★★☆ | At visitor centre | Visitor centre cafe | Free for RSPB members | | Pagham Harbour Visitor Centre Loop | 1 mile (circular) | Compacted gravel/grass | ★★★☆☆ | At visitor centre | None on site | Free | | Wey and Arun Canal, Loxwood | 2 miles (out and back) | Grass/compacted earth | ★★★☆☆ | At Canal Centre | Canal Centre cafe | Free at Canal Centre | | Slindon Estate (National Trust) | 1.5 miles (circular) | Woodland track/compacted gravel | ★★★☆☆ | None on route | None on route | National Trust car park |
The Walks
1. Chichester Canal Towpath
This is the gold standard for pushchair walks in West Sussex. The Chichester Ship Canal runs 4 miles from the canal basin near Chichester city centre to the harbour at Birdham, and the entire towpath is a designated public footpath surfaced with firm, compacted gravel. It is dead flat throughout with no stiles, no gates and no steps.
The canal basin is walkable from Chichester train station in about 10 minutes, making this one of the few genuinely car-free options. The Chichester Canal Trust maintains the towpath, and there is a Canal Cafe at the basin with toilets, hot drinks and light meals.
You can walk as far as you like and turn back. The first two miles to Donnington are the most scenic, with mature trees lining both banks and views of Chichester Cathedral and the South Downs. The path is wide enough for two buggies side by side for most of its length.
📍 Start: Canal Basin, off Canal Wharf, Chichester, PO19 8DT 🅿️ Parking: Free at the canal basin (small car park, arrives early at weekends) 🚻 Toilets: At the canal basin ☕ Cafe: Canal Cafe at the basin 👶 Buggy rating: ★★★★★ (flat, firm, wide, no obstacles)
Top tip: Walk south towards Hunston for the quieter stretch. The towpath can get busy with cyclists at weekends near the basin end.
2. Littlehampton Promenade and Riverside
Littlehampton seafront has been properly invested in and the result is a smooth, paved promenade that runs the full length of the beach. Combine it with the riverside path along the River Arun for a satisfying circular walk that is paved or tarmacked throughout.
Start at the East Beach car park, head west along the prom past the award-winning East Beach Cafe, continue to the harbour mouth, then follow the riverside path back along the Arun. The entire route is flat, with dropped kerbs at every crossing. There are public toilets at the seafront, multiple cafes, and the Harbour Park amusement area if your toddler spots it and negotiations begin.
📍 Start: East Beach Car Park, Sea Road, Littlehampton, BN17 5NZ 🅿️ Parking: Pay and display (East Beach or seafront) 🚻 Toilets: Seafront (multiple locations) ☕ Cafe: East Beach Cafe, Windmill, plus seafront options 👶 Buggy rating: ★★★★★ (fully paved, flat, wide)
Top tip: The riverside section is more sheltered on windy days. East Beach Cafe does excellent coffee but books up quickly for lunch.
3. Arundel Riverside to Swanbourne Lake
Arundel is a beautiful starting point for a gentle pushchair walk. From the town centre, follow the path along the east bank of the River Arun south towards Swanbourne Lake. The lake sits below Arundel Castle and is home to ducks, geese and swans that toddlers will find endlessly entertaining.
The path from the town to the lake is mostly tarmac and compacted gravel. There is one slightly rougher section near the lake where the path narrows, but it is manageable with a standard buggy. The lakeside cafe does teas, coffees and sandwiches, and there are toilets at the lake.
The walk itself is short at about 1.5 miles out and back, but you can extend it by walking further along the riverbank towards the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve or combining it with a look around Arundel's town centre shops.
📍 Start: Mill Road Car Park, Arundel, BN18 9PA 🅿️ Parking: Pay and display at Mill Road 🚻 Toilets: At Swanbourne Lake ☕ Cafe: Swanbourne Lodge cafe at the lake 👶 Buggy rating: ★★★★☆ (mostly smooth, one rougher section near the lake)
Top tip: Feed the ducks with proper duck food (available at the lakeside) rather than bread. Swans here are bold, so keep small fingers inside the buggy.
4. RSPB Pulborough Brooks Nature Trail
The RSPB reserve at Pulborough Brooks is described as a family-friendly nature reserve with fun trails to explore. The main nature trail from the visitor centre loops through the reserve on compacted gravel and boardwalk sections, giving views across the wetland to the South Downs.
The visitor centre has a cafe, toilets and a shop, making it a good base. The nature trail is about 1.2 miles and mostly flat, though there are a couple of gentle slopes. The boardwalk sections are smooth and buggy-width.
A word of caution: the longer wetland trail involves steeper slopes and can be muddy, so stick to the main nature trail loop with a pushchair. Parking is free for RSPB members or pay and display otherwise.
📍 Start: RSPB Pulborough Brooks Visitor Centre, Wiggonholt, RH20 2EL 🅿️ Parking: Free for RSPB members, otherwise pay and display 🚻 Toilets: At visitor centre ☕ Cafe: Visitor centre cafe 👶 Buggy rating: ★★★★☆ (firm paths, some gentle slopes, boardwalk sections)
Top tip: Bring binoculars. Even toddlers get excited by the lapwings and swans visible from the hides. The reserve can flood in winter, so check the [RSPB website](https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/pulborough-brooks) for conditions before visiting.
5. Pagham Harbour Visitor Centre Loop
Pagham Harbour is a local nature reserve managed by the RSPB on the coast near Bognor Regis. The short loop from the visitor centre on Selsey Road takes you along compacted gravel paths with views across the harbour mudflats. It is a lovely spot for birdwatching with little ones, and entry and parking are both free.
The paths near the visitor centre are firm and flat. However, the longer harbour circuit involves grassy and uneven sections that are not ideal for pushchairs, especially in winter when the ground gets soft. Stick to the short loop of about 1 mile around the visitor centre for a comfortable buggy walk.
There are toilets at the visitor centre but no cafe on site. The nearest refreshments are in Sidlesham or Selsey.
📍 Start: Pagham Harbour Visitor Centre, Selsey Road, Sidlesham, PO20 7NE 🅿️ Parking: Free 🚻 Toilets: At visitor centre ☕ Cafe: None on site (nearest in Sidlesham/Selsey) 👶 Buggy rating: ★★★☆☆ (firm near visitor centre, grassier further out)
Top tip: The harbour is a great spot for wading birds at low tide. Visit [free things to do in West Sussex](/guides/free-things-to-do-west-sussex) for more ideas that cost nothing.
6. Wey and Arun Canal, Loxwood
The Wey and Arun Canal Trust has restored sections of this historic canal that once linked London to the sea. The stretch around Loxwood in the north of the county offers a pleasant towpath walk through woodland and open countryside.
The Canal Centre at Loxwood has a cafe and toilets, and you can walk along the restored towpath in either direction. The surface is a mix of grass and compacted earth, which means it is best in dry weather. After sustained rain the path can get muddy, making it harder work with a buggy.
In good conditions this is a lovely, quiet walk with narrow boats on the water and plenty of wildlife. The path is flat and the 2-mile out-and-back distance is just right for little legs that might want to walk part of the way.
📍 Start: Wey and Arun Canal Centre, Loxwood, RH14 0RD 🅿️ Parking: Free at the Canal Centre 🚻 Toilets: At the Canal Centre ☕ Cafe: Canal Centre cafe 👶 Buggy rating: ★★★☆☆ (flat but grass/earth surface, best in dry weather)
Top tip: Check whether the canal boat trips are running. Toddlers love them, and you can combine a short walk with a boat ride.
7. Slindon Estate (National Trust)
For a taste of the South Downs that actually works with a pushchair, Slindon Estate near Arundel is worth a look. The National Trust describes it as a great and ancient downland estate, and several of the woodland tracks are wide and firm enough for a buggy.
The main route from the National Trust car park through the woodland is on compacted gravel and hard-packed earth. There are some gentle gradients but nothing steep. The paths are wide and well maintained. There are no toilets or cafes on the route itself, so come prepared.
This is a quieter option away from the coast and a good introduction to downland walking for families. Autumn is particularly beautiful with the beech trees turning gold. For more walks in the South Downs with children, see our South Downs family walks guide.
📍 Start: Slindon Estate National Trust Car Park, Top Road, Slindon, BN18 0RG 🅿️ Parking: National Trust car park (free for members, otherwise pay and display) 🚻 Toilets: None on route ☕ Cafe: None on route (nearest in Slindon village or Arundel) 👶 Buggy rating: ★★★☆☆ (woodland tracks, some gentle gradients, best in dry weather)
Top tip: Combine with a visit to Arundel, which is just 10 minutes' drive away. The estate is also [dog-friendly](/guides/dog-friendly-days-out-west-sussex).
What to Pack
A quick checklist for buggy walks with toddlers:
- Rain cover for the pushchair (West Sussex weather is unpredictable year-round)
- Spare change of clothes for the toddler
- Snacks and water (cafes are not always open or nearby)
- Duck food if heading to Arundel or a nature reserve (not bread)
- Binoculars if visiting RSPB reserves
- Wellies for the adult pushing (paths can have puddles even in summer)
- A sling or carrier as backup in case a path turns out rougher than expected
When to Go
Spring and summer offer the best conditions. Gravel and earth paths are firmest in dry weather, and you will have longer daylight. That said, even the paved routes at Littlehampton and Chichester Canal work perfectly well year-round.
Avoid visiting after heavy rain if your chosen walk has grass or earth sections (Wey and Arun Canal, Pagham Harbour and Slindon Estate). Stick to the fully paved or compacted gravel routes (Chichester Canal, Littlehampton, Arundel riverside) when the ground is wet.
Weekday mornings are quieter everywhere. The Chichester Canal towpath and Littlehampton prom can get busy with cyclists at weekends, which means more manoeuvring.
For more family day out inspiration, see our guide to free things to do in West Sussex.