60 Chichester – Midhurst

The 60 combines the glory and heritage of Sussex’s only City, with its magnificent cathedral and retail therapy, with sleepy, beautiful villages nestled at the foot of the South Downs and the vibrant market town of Midhurst.

Leaving fascinating Chichester behind, the bus trundles through the pretty Lavant Valley, passing West Dean Gardens, which is one of the greatest restored gardens open to the public. West Dean is a small hamlet tucked away near Cuckmere Valley and is home to the oldest continually inhabited home in Britain – known locally as ‘The Old Parsonage’.

The bus then continues on its leafy, green sojourn, through the delightful village of Singleton, near the source of the River Lavant, then traversing Cocking which lies underneath the South Downs Way in the shadow of Cocking Down and Linch Down - two of the highest points on the Sussex Downs. Cocking is where the modern A286 crosses the ancient South Downs Way. It’s then onto Midhurst where the journey reaches its denouement in a town resplendent with its fascinating range of independent shops and in the heart of the South Downs National Park.

A visit to the iconic Chichester Cathedral is a fabulous start to the day before getting on board the bus. The first place to hop off is in West Dean and a visit to the West Dean Gardens where a range of historic features can be explored on a leisurely walk round the grounds, devouring the creative and social heritage, as well as viewing the surreal trees and checking out the restored wall garden. The restaurant and coffee shop overlooks the stunning Lavant Valley and River Lavant alongside and is well worth a visit before getting on board the bus to Cocking. Here, a peruse of St Catherine’s Church is highly recommended – and a small fragment of what is believed to have been a large display of wall paintings dating back to 1220. Research suggests there may have been a Saxon church here in the seventh century and most of the current church was constructed in 1080. The Cocking History Column is close by and is a bronze sculpture commemorating the key scenes in the history of the village.

In the centre of Cocking, immediately below the South Downs Way is a local community pub, the Blue Bell serving fantastic fresh local produce and with a garden with wonderful views of the Downs. Much of the the village of Cocking remains in the ownership of the Cowdray Estate - noticeable from the yellow paintwork on the many estate cottages in the village. A walk round this incredible country estates is unforgettable with its expansive, country grounds and tudor buildings.

Back on the bus and Midhurst awaits where there’s plenty to see with its mix of medieval, Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Take a stroll along West Street, Red Lion Street, Church Hill, Knockhundred Row and North Street and there’s an eclectic mix of high quality independent retailers. Midhurst is also the gateway to the South Downs National Park with its array of outdoor activities, including golf at Cowdray Park, Clay pigeon shooting, fly fishing, cycling, riding, polo and tennis.