Chichester

You can smell the salt air before you even reach the coast here. This corner of West Sussex feels properly seaside - not the manicured kind, but the real deal where working boats still pull up alongside pleasure craft.

The town itself has that lived-in quality that makes it genuinely welcoming rather than tourist-trap fake. Chichester Cathedral dominates the skyline from miles around, while the Roman walls still trace their ancient path through streets that mix Georgian elegance with modern practicality. Festival Theatre draws the cultured crowd, but the weekly market keeps things grounded.

Head south and you'll hit the Manhood Peninsula - bit of an unfortunate name for such lovely countryside. Selsey marks the end of the road, literally, where the Heritage trail tells stories of a place that's been battling the sea for centuries. The coastline here shifts constantly. Sir Patrick Moore's memorial sits near Selsey, celebrating the astronomer who made this windswept spot his home.

Viewpoints dot the area like stepping stones - Easton, Earnley, Ham and Breach all offer different angles on the same spectacular story of land meeting water. The Wave gallery provides culture with your coastal views, while Thorney Farm reminds you this was serious agricultural country long before the tourists arrived.

Selsey Golf Club tests your skills against sea breezes that can turn a gentle round into a proper challenge. Getting here means the A27 to Chichester, then country lanes south - about 20 minutes from the city centre to reach the coast. Having a holiday park base nearby makes perfect sense. You're close enough for quick cathedral visits or theatre evenings, yet far enough out to wake up to proper countryside quiet.