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WHERE TO STAYMIDHURST
The Spread Eagle Hotel and
Health Spa expensive
For top-class pampering, try this spa. It
is comfortable and modern, yet still
maintains its Tudor roots.
South Street, GU29 9NH; 01730 816
911; http://www.hshotels.co.ukAROUND CHICHESTER
Woodstock House Hotel inexpensive
There are 13 ensuite rooms in this
converted farmhouse. Good choice for
Goodwood and the Downs.
Charlton Road, Charlton, PO18 0HU (12
km/7.5 miles on A286); 01243 811 666;
http://www.woodstockhousehotel.co.uk
Millstream Hotel moderate
In a lovely spot, with a garden and a
excellent restaurant serving innovative
modern dishes, this small hotel offers
apartments as well as B&B rooms.
Bosham, PO18 8HL; 01243 573 234;
http://www.millstream-hotel.co.ukAbove left In the heart of the market town of
Midhurst, West Sussex Above right Modern
art in the woods, Goodwood Sculpture ParkBACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN
q Midhurst
West Sussex; GU29 9DS
This attractive half-timbered market
town, with more than 100 listed
buildings, has a broad main street,
plenty of pubs and top-class hotels.
The distinctive yellow paintwork on
some houses shows that they belong
to the Cowdray Estate. This includes
the romantic Cowdray Ruins (open
mid-Mar–Nov: Wed–Sun), once a Tudor
mansion built in 1520 and partially
destroyed by fire in 1793. The
Cowdray Estate (www.cowdray.co.uk )
organizes fly fishing and clay pigeon
shooting and has holiday cottages.
Check for fixtures of Cowdray Park
Polo Club (May–Sep).
ª Head out of town on the A286
towards Chichester. After the village
of Singleton turn left to the Weald and
Downland Museum (signed).Where to Stay: inexpensive, under £80; moderate, £80–£150; expensive, over £150VISITING CHICHESTERParking
There are five city-centre 2-hour car
parks and several longer-term car parks
just a few minutes’ walk from the centre.
Tourist Information
Town: 29a South Street, PO19 1AH;
01243 775 888; http://www.visitchichester.
org; Harbour: 01243 513 275;
http://www.conservancy.co.uk
BOAT TRIPS
Chichester Harbour Water Tours
01243 670 504; http://www.chichesterharbour
watertours.co.uk
Chichester Ship Canal
01243 771 363;
http://www.chichestercanal.org.ukw Weald and Downland
Open Air Museum
Singleton, West Sussex; PO18 OEU
Allow at least three hours to explore
the ancient buildings of this excellent
museum (www.wealddown.co.uk; mid-
Feb–Dec: open daily; Jan–mid-Feb: open
Wed, Sat, Sun). Displays of traditional
agricultural methods and crafts – with
steam tractors and shire horses – bring
the rural past to life. Next door, the
award-wining West Dean Estate
Gardens (www.westdean.org.uk; open
daily) include a fine kitchen garden
and extensive Victorian glasshouses,
and the vast grounds of Goodwood
offer much of interest (see above).
ª Continue past the museum
towards Goodwood. At a tight left-
hand bend, a cul-de-sac on the right
leads to The Trundle, with great views.
Go past Goodwood race course and
House, turning left on the A286 to
Chichester. Park in the town centre.Glorious Goodwood
This huge estate encompasses a
motor racing circuit, aerodrome and
“Glorious Goodwood”, a flat-racing
course. The grounds also include a
golf course, the Richmond Arms,
the elegant Goodwood Park Hotel
and an organic Farm Shop. Art lovers
are not forgotten either, with a
great collection of paintings at the
18th-century Goodwood House
and the Sculpture Park, a superb
woodland space with top-rank
pieces. (www.goodwood.co.uk).Below The boat house at Bosham, one of the inlets of Chichester Harbour