Selsey Heritage trail

The Selsey Heritage Trail winds through a coastal town that's seen rather a lot of history - Roman settlements, medieval churches, and a lighthouse or two. It's a self-guided walk that takes you past the actual sites where things happened, rather than just reading about them in a museum. You're following the footsteps of real people: traders, monks, fishermen.

The trail works best for anyone who likes connecting the dots between landscape and history. Kids might find it a bit abstract unless you're the sort of family that enjoys a narrative-led walk and doesn't need a visitor centre with interactive screens. History buffs, though, will get proper value from seeing where St Wilfrid's church stood and understanding why Selsey mattered as a port.

It's a walk you can do at your own pace - no entry fees, no fixed hours, just you and the town. Allow a couple of hours if you're reading everything and taking photos. An hour if you're brisk about it.

Based just a few miles from Chichester, Selsey pairs well with a park holiday on the coast. West Sands Holidays is barely a mile away, making it an easy morning outing before heading back for lunch. If you're staying at Butlins Bognor Regis (5.6 miles south), it's a pleasant drive for a quieter alternative to the main resort attractions. The trail gives you actual context for the area rather than just the beach.