At the foot of the South Downs, the ancient city of Chichester in West Sussex boasts beautiful beaches nearby – West and East Wittering – and a huge natural harbour. In summer it’s awash with sailing boats, 10,000 at peak times. While in autumn and winter, vast flocks of migrating birds glide in from Scandinavia and Russia, including all kinds of wader and dark bellied Brent Geese who swap Siberia for the Solent.
At the heart of Chichester is the Cathedral, dating to 1108, set within the Bishop’s Palace Gardens. It’s a peaceful place with some phenomenal artworks, such as a stained-glass window by Marc Chagall (his last design), and a huge, colourful tapestry created by John Piper for the high altar.
From here, the town radiates out along South, North, East and
