Five Ways to Enjoy West Sussex the Slow Way

From the Roman foundations beneath your feet to the peregrine falcons soaring overhead, Chichester is rich in fascinating details. Some only reveal themselves when you slow down and look or listen closely. Even if you already know the city well, Chichester Tour Guides will help you see it with fresh eyes: their engaging walking tours bring the city’s history, architectural, artistic and horticultural heritage to life. To round off the experience, treat yourself to a seasonal salad or locally roasted coffee and artisan-made cake in the cathedral café, Cloisters.

What could be more peaceful than a gentle paddle around Chichester’s beautiful natural harbour? Fluid Adventures offers outings for everyone from beginners to more experienced kayakers. Alternatively, step aboard the Solar Heritage , a wonderfully quiet, stable and fume-free boat, for a solar-powered cruise. Along the way, you’ll learn about the local ecosystem – and, with luck, you may spot common seals and birds such as curlews, godwits and redshanks.

There’s no better place to learn about rural life in Sussex in centuries past than at the Weald & Downland Living Museum, a lovingly maintained collection of historic farmhouses, cottages and barns, one of which hosts the BBC’s The Repair Shop. Chatty volunteers are on hand to explain everything; they also run events. Around a mile to the east is a suitably ancient pub, The Fox Goes Free, which serves locally sourced fare.

The glorious, undulating rural scenery of the Sussex South Downs inspires and uplifts walkers, trail runners, mountain bikers and horse riders alike. Westerlands and Willowbrook offer horse riding excursions in the park, and Cadence runs several pop-up cafés for South Downs Way walkers and cyclists.

Located on a railway line and connected to Chichester by bus, Arundel is a quintessential Slow Travel destination. With elegant Georgian streets, a splendid Victorian castle  and a WWT Wetland Centre to explore, there’s plenty to detain you. To refuel in style, dine at The Parson’s Table, a high-flying contemporary restaurant. Alternatively, for something more casual, head for The Brewhouse Project a lively craft brewery, just out of town.