A Tour Along the Sussex Coast

by David Arscott

Published by Snake River Press
SUSSEX BOOK REVIEW

In A Tour Along the Sussex Coast prolific Sussex author David Arscott takes us on an enjoyable trip of the Sussex coastline from Camber Sands in the East to Thorney Island in the West.

Like all the lovely Snake River Press books about Sussex, A Tour Along the Sussex Coast is a slim affair, not quite stretching to the 100 page milestone.

Unfortunately for West Sussex lovers, the author finds far more to interest him in East Sussex than in our part of the county. If we assume that West Sussex starts at Boundary Road Portslade, the West Sussex part of the 41 mile journey lasts from pages 73 to 93.

As such a renowned Sussexophile, it's surprising yet entertaining that David Arscott finds plenty to annoy him. But these are some of the best bits of A Tour Along the Sussex Coast.

If you live in Worthing, then look away now.

David Arscott can't stand the place, saying "not only is there nothing worth going to see in the 10 miles of bungaloid sprawl between Lancing and Rustington, but little worth seeing either". He refuses to countenance the possibility that Oscar Wilde could possible ever have stayed in Worthing, let alone produce a work of genius there, calling the concept "an absurdity".

He doesn't like Bognor seafront too much either, find the area "generally dismal".

But his particular contempt is saved for the marina at Brighton where the concrete tunnels and boatless views conjure up a "vision of hell". He rightly notes that the Marina is essentially an exercise in property development, in contrast to Chichester Yacht Basin and Birdham Pool near the end of the journey, which he finds less irksome - despite the high prices of the yachts at the moorings.

But don't worry - this isn't a 41 mile moan. David Arscott finds plenty of things he does like and describes them in an easy and well-informed style. A Tour Along the Sussex Coast is a worthy entry in the Snake River Press catalogue and a thoroughly enjoyable quick read.

Book reviewed by Mark Hoult, West Sussex.info

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