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Summary

Self Guided Walking on the West Sussex Coast & Hills

Two days of wonderfully contrasting walks around picturesque Chichester Harbour and the stunning West Sussex South Downs near Goodwood.

No of Nights: 2

Stay: Hotel / B&B

Grade: Easy-Moderate

Information

Two days of wonderfully contrasting walks around picturesque Chichester Harbour and the stunning West Sussex South Downs near Goodwood. Highlights include a ferry ride to picturesque Bosham with its ancient church and a walk through one of Europe's most ancient yew glades with trees over 2000 years old. Choose to stay either in an excellent hotel or highly-rated guesthouse in the heart of the city of Chichester with its ancient cathedral, fascinating passageways and fine restaurants. Chichester is easily accessed by train from central London.

Enjoy

  • varied, relaxed and carefully-crafted self-guided walks in some of England’s finest countryside surrounding the ancient city of Chichester
  • a tour of the city with our comprehensive guide
  • plenty of places to visit including Fishbourne Roman Villa, Slindon's village of medieval buildings and numerous museums and places of interest in Chichester
  • good country pubs for lunch on both days, a highlight of your days out!
  • detailed background commentaries highlighting features of special interest to provide an insight into the culture, history and habitats of the area
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Tour review scores and score breakdown

10 / 10

Based on 1 reviews

Guest reviews are written by our customers after their tour of West Sussex Coast & Hills.

Guest reviews

  • Thank you very much for the glorious weekend. It all went very well indeed. Great walks with wonderful views and wonderful weather, lovely hotel with excellent food. A great success all round and we are already looking forward to our next walking trip with you.
    - Steve & Ruth Short, Mitcham, Surrey

Itinerary

Day 1
We recommend our self-guided walking tour of this historic city for an enjoyable early evening introduction to Chichester. Return to your comfortable hotel or B&B before dining at one of our recommended restaurants.

Day 2
A complete contrast today, our route taking you high up on a remote landscape of the South Downs. Beautiful Kingley Vale shelters ancient yew trees, amongst the oldest living things in Britain. Follow silent forest tracks to one of the finest viewpoints on the South Downs with far-reaching vistas to distant Chichester Cathedral and even the distant Isle of Wight. Lunch today at a 17th-century inn, tucked away in a fold of the downs in a secluded flinty village. Your onward path meanders through beech woods to more stunning viewpoints and ancient bell barrows, springy rich downland turf a tapestry of flower and butterfly.  (8 miles/13 km, moderate walking)

Day 3
Today’s walk is easy, being totally devoid of gradients. Enjoy colourful coastal scenery, amongst the finest in the south and an ever-changing vista of boats, boatmen and wildlife. Delight in the smell of seaweed, the taste of salt, the sounds of gulls shrieking overhead. After lunch take the ferry to Bosham, one of the most picturesque villages in Sussex, beloved by boatman, artists and historians. It's steeped in history with its ancient church where, amazingly, the remains of King Harold were laid to rest here after the Battle of Hastings in 1066.  (8 miles/13 km, moderate walking)

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Hotels

The Ship Hotel is the only hotel located within the ancient Roman walls of historic Chichester. A Grade 2 listed building, The Ship is recommended in The Michelin Guide, The Good Hotel Guide, The Sunday Times Travel Guide and Johansen’s. It is ideally situated, just a few minutes walk from Chichester’s spectacular cathedral and Pallant House Art Gallery. The rooms are stylish and comfortable.

If you prefer a luxury guest house, Musgrove House is highly recommended and proudly remains Number One on Trip Advisor! It's not within the city walls but the city centre is within walking distance and there is off-street parking outside.

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Grade of the walks

Routes are selected for their accessibility and suitability for anyone of average fitness, able to walk around 8 miles (12.8 km) on varied terrain for up to 5 hours with a break for lunch and optional breaks for reading commentaries along the way. Since you will be walking on downland on one day, ascents and descents are to be expected. On your second day, the walking around Chichester Harbour is very easy with no gradients at all.

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Tour price and costs

Price per person: from £225 for 2 nights, depending on choice of accommodation, room type and season, based on 2 people sharing a twin/double. Please enquire for single occupancy, car-free or more nights.

Price includes:

  • Personalised itinerary
  • High-quality en-suite accommodation
  • Full English breakfasts
  • Recommendations for lunch and dinner and, where applicable, coffee or tea breaks
  • Detailed route directions in easy-to-handle A5 format
  • Self guided tour of Chichester
  • Marked-up Ordnance Survey map and map case
  • Commentary notes on features of interest along the way
  • Details of places to visit
  • Nature guide to help identify common species
  • Travel information
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Flights

By rail: direct trains run twice-hourly from London Victoria to Chichester (1.30 hours); the hotel is approximately 15 minutes walk from the station.

By road: the total mileage from central London is 76 miles (approximately 2 hours). Limited car parking is available at the Ship Hotel and on-street parking at the B&B.

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