Chichester Canal

Chichester Canal is a four-mile stretch of tranquil waterway running south from the cathedral city of Chichester to Chichester Harbour at Salterns Lock. Opened in 1822 as part of the ambitious Portsmouth and Arundel Canal, it was originally built to allow barges to move goods between London and Portsmouth without navigating the exposed English Channel. Commercial traffic dwindled by the late nineteenth century, and today the canal survives as a peaceful haven for walkers, cyclists, anglers and wildlife.

The towpath makes for an easy, level walk from Canal Basin in the city centre out through open countryside towards the harbour. Along the way you'll pass reed beds, moored narrowboats and the occasional swan family, with the spire of Chichester Cathedral visible behind you for much of the route. The canal and its banks are a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, home to kingfishers, herons, dragonflies and water voles.

At the Canal Basin, the Chichester Ship Canal Trust runs regular public boat trips aboard the electric narrowboat Richmond and the traditional trip boat Egremont, along with self-drive day boat and kayak hire in season. There's a small café and shop at the basin, and the walk pairs well with a visit to Chichester's Roman walls, cathedral and Georgian streets a short stroll north.