Chichester Canal

Park & Garden, Chichester

The Chichester Canal is a restored section of the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal, which opened in 1822 as part of an inland waterway route along the south coast. The canal runs from the basin near Chichester city centre southward to Chichester Harbour at Birdham, a distance of roughly four miles. The canal fell into disuse in the late nineteenth century but has been partly restored by the Chichester Ship Canal Trust, which operates narrowboat trips during the summer. The towpath provides a flat, accessible walking and cycling route through farmland and wetland between the city and the harbour. Wildlife along the canal includes kingfishers, herons, and various waterfowl. The canal basin near Southgate is the starting point for boat trips and walks.