Coastal Chichester

Visit Chichester's Coastal Charms

Forget the costas, the plages and the expensive Eurozone beaches this summer - instead stick with the in crowd by heading down to the stunning West Sussex coast.

At West Wittering, the beautiful and sandy privately owned Blue Flag beach is a regular haunt for supermodels and rockers. Kate Moss is a fan and Keith Richards has been known to strum a tune or two from his beach hut haven on the beach. The cool kids in town go down to ride the waves, food lovers enjoy the local seafood delicacies and nature lovers make the most of the areas of official Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

Families come together over cucumber sandwiches and ice creams, picnicing on the sandy beaches of Bracklesham Bay - and couples enjoy romantic strolls along the coastline, stopping off to indulge in some fresh local fish ‘n' chips or Selsey crab. The walks around East Head's wild and unspoilt grassy sand dunes (a Site of Special Scientific Interest) are truly spectacular. A must-do walk is around the tranquil Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve, home to all kinds of creatures including kestrels, barn owls and oystercatchers, weasels and voles, and butterflies and dragonflies in the summer.

For another way to take to the water, the spectacular Chichester Harbour (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) is busy with dinghies, sleek yachts and gleaming motorboats. There are also plenty of harbourside activities, including fly-fishing for sea bass.

For the more active, adrenaline seekers can hit the surf and choose from kite, wind and plain old surfing, as well as the latest wave catching craze, stand-up paddle surfing. Popular in the 1960's with the beach boys of Hawaii, paddle surfing has become popular again with the likes of Jennifer Anniston, Ben Affleck and world champion surfers such as Archie Kalepa and Laird Hamilton. Based at West Wittering, specialist watersports operator X-train offers group and private coaching - and the whole family can join in, as they offer classes for little ones as young as five.

Accommodation-wise there's a range of options, from the classic Millstream near Bosham Harbour www.millstream-hotel.co.uk to the Crab and Lobster, a chic restaurant with rooms overlooking the sea in Sidlesham www.thesussexpub.co.uk. While near the Witterings, the recently refurbished Crouchers Hotel and Restaurant www.croucherscountryhotel.com offers great access to the coast, and has an impressive menu and wine list. The Beach House B&B is located in West Wittering village and has a great laid-back feel to it www.beachhse.co.uk.

For more information www.visitchichester.org.uk.