This year I will… travel sustainably

In 2019, a Booking.com survey revealed almost three quarters (72%) of travellers believe that people need to act now and make sustainable travel choices to save the planet for future generations. From biomass boilers and minimal food miles, to log piles, nest boxes and beehives, the Goodwood Estate has sustainability at its heart.  All Goodwood produce can be traced every step of the way, from field to fork, and they are committed to the care of their livestock and to the sustainability of the countryside, demonstrated by their woodland project which aims to plant 78,000 trees in one of the largest tree planting schemes in the south of England. Rooms from £110 per night. 

Lower your footprint and ditch the car once you're here and make the most of the many cycle paths which cross the district.  Salterns Way takes you from the centre of Chichester at the Canal Basin to the dunes of East Head at West Wittering. Divert from this across the peninsula to Route 88, where you can take in RSPB Pagham Harbour's abundance of wildlife, and then follow the new extension on to RSPB Medmerry where the birdlife will entertain you for hours, as well provide fabulous views out to sea. Rooms at The Millstream Hotel in Bosham, a short foot-ferry trip across the harbour, start from £99.

Head to Selsey, via bicycle or public transport, and indulge in some Selsey Crab or Lobster, fresh from the boat – you can't beat that for low food miles.  Selsey's other underwater residents in the new Marine Conservation Zones can be discovered by snorkelling or diving – they boast a huge variety of species including anemones, sea squirts and sponges. To make your trip even more eco-conscious, join a local beach clean. The Coast Yard in Selsey has rooms from £55.

This year I will… live like a local

Once you have a base for your adventures, seek out authentic experiences to help you get the local view. Residents are the best source of information for this and are usually only too pleased to be asked for their tips for the best coffee, biggest waves, freshest seafood, intriguing heritage experiences and wonderful walks.  Join Chichester Tour Guides to discover the City's stories and see nooks and crannies that aren't so easily found. See a different side to the polished productions at Chichester Festival Theatre with a behind the scenes tour or join a pre/post-show talk. Meet the local volunteers whose keep Chichester Canal's scheduled boat trips, special events and café running Support the community and shop independent – town centres like those at East Wittering, Midhurst and Petworth allow you to shop almost solely at independent stores, with barely a high street name in sight.

This year I will… up my steps

With the South Downs National Park on the doorstep, the walking possibilities in the Chichester District are endless.  With Chichester itself or one of our beautiful towns or villages as a base, you'll just need a good pair of shoes, a map and some good local recommendations for refreshment stops and you're good to go.  

September sees the return of the Chichester Walking Weekend(4-6thSeptember), in association with the Ramblers, which offers guided walks across our beautiful district to showcase our wonderful part of the world. From heathlands and forests, to river views and wildlife, or our historic city itself, this is a great opportunity to discover places you just wouldn't find on your own.

This year I will… see more of the UK on a micro-gap

2020 is set to be the year of microbreak – packing the best of a gap year into just a few days, and without the carbon footprint of air travel. Get out and explore, get hands on and grab yourself a new skill or hobby, or just tick a few things off your bucket list – it's all here for the taking in the Chichester District.

 Just some of the experiences on offer include walking with alpacas, falconry, SUP on the Chichester canal,an RSPB guided walk, a guided tour of the infamous Goodwood House with afternoon tea, seashore life discovery, learn to snorkel or scuba dive, visit a local vineyard or brewery, taste seafood fresh from the boat. Try forest bathing, watch a championship polo match or stand on the shore at Selsey and spot seals and dolphins. 

Enrich your mind with some creative new skills at West Dean College or Arts & Conservation, where more than 800 short courses are on offer every year, and range from basketmaking to gardening, photography to textiles.  One day short courses start from £128.00. At neighbouring Weald & Downland Living Museum, which celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, there's a range of Traditional Rural Trades & Crafts and Historic Building Conservation courses on offer, making use of the historic exhibit buildings and collections of smaller artefacts, the landscape and regionality, giving course participants access to a unique learning environment. The 150+ courses on offer range from £12-£275.

This year I will… go on an adventure

With miles of unspoilt coastline, you'll be spoilt for choice of water sports on the Manhood Peninsula. Bracklesham Bay, the Witterings and Selsey offer plentiful opportunities to kayak, body board, surf, paddle board, windsurf, snorkel or even scuba dive.  Local schools offer tuition to ensure your experience is safe and fun-filled.  For land-based exploits, Cowdray Estate in Midhurst, home of British Polo, has country pursuits in spades; try your hand at golf, clay pigeon shooting, fly fishing or join a ranger on a guided wildlife tour. Nine holes of Pay & Play golf is £20, all other experiences are priced individually and range from £100-£130

ENDS

Notes to editor: Chichester District is nestled at the foot of the rolling hills of the South Downs National Park, and lies within easy reach of miles of unspoilt coastline, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, quaint market towns, a quintessentially English City and the famous Goodwood Estate - all just an hour-and-a-half from London. 

For further information or press trip opportunities contact Helen Broom or Louise Adlam on 01243 950412 or helen.broom@visitchichester.org/ louise.adlam@visitchichester.org