Moorings on the River Arun

At about 60 km, the River Arun is the longest river wholly within Sussex. It rises in St Leonard's Forest, flows west through Horsham, turns south, is joined by the western River Rother and passes through the South Downs at Arundel before reaching the English Channel at Littlehampton. Littlehampton Harbour Board is responsible for the river from the sea up to Arundel Bridge. Above that there is no navigation authority, although the Environment Agency looks after drainage.

The Arun is tidal as far as Pallingham Quay, about 41 km from the sea, and is one of the fastest flowing rivers in the country, running at 4 to 6 knots. The harbour approach dries at low water and the streams in the entrance are strong, so arrivals need careful timing. Anchoring is not allowed in the harbour, harbour dues are payable, and masted boats heading upriver need the Littlehampton footbridge raised. Further up, nine bridges limit headroom to between about 1.5 and 2.4 m at high water.

Moorings on the Arun start at Littlehampton, where the harbour board lets annual berths at four sites on the east bank, including pontoons at Duke's Wharf, Pier Road and Workshop Wharf, and has a visitor pontoon at the Town Quay. Arun Yacht Club has a small drying marina opposite. Above the footbridge, Littlehampton Marina offers pontoon moorings for powered boats with no lock to pass, and the Ship and Anchor Marina at Ford has annual pontoon moorings on the tidal river between Littlehampton and Arundel.