East Wittering

Hotels in East Wittering itself are limited, reflecting the village's character as a low-key surf and beach destination rather than a resort town. What accommodation exists tends to be small-scale: guesthouses, B&Bs and pub rooms scattered around the village and the wider Manhood Peninsula, many run by locals who know the beach and harbour well. This makes East Wittering a good base for travellers who prefer a quieter, more personal stay over a big hotel experience, with the appeal of stepping straight out onto the sand or into a surf lesson each morning.

For a broader choice of hotels, from budget chains to more characterful options, Chichester is the nearest sensible base, roughly 20 minutes inland by car. The cathedral city offers a good range of places to stay within easy reach of both the coast and Chichester's own attractions, including the cathedral, Pallant House Gallery and the Roman heritage sites nearby, making it easy to split a stay between city sightseeing and beach days at East Wittering. Wherever you stay, booking ahead for the summer months is worthwhile, as the Witterings are a popular weekend escape for visitors from London and the Home Counties.

Between the surf, the harbour and the historic city of Chichester just up the road, there is plenty to fill a few days in and around East Wittering.

• Learn to surf at East Wittering Beach — the beach's gentle, hazard-free swell has made it one of the South Coast's most popular spots to pick up a board for the first time, with several surf schools and shops along the shore road offering lessons and hire.
• Explore Chichester Harbour — this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of winding creeks and saltmarsh is best explored on foot along the harbour footpaths, or by boat; eco-friendly solar boat trips run from nearby West Itchenor.
• Walk East Head — a short drive away at West Wittering, this National Trust-owned sand dune spit is one of the last stretches of undeveloped natural coastline left in West Sussex, with sweeping views across the harbour mouth.
• Visit Earnley Butterflies, Birds and Beasts — a family-friendly attraction a few miles from the village with a butterfly house, aviaries, an animal and reptile rescue centre, and gardens to wander.
• Fossil hunt at Bracklesham Bay — the neighbouring beach is well known among collectors for the fossilised shells, shark teeth and sea life that regularly wash out of its Eocene-era clay.
• Day-trip into Chichester — the cathedral city is a short drive inland and home to Chichester Cathedral, a Roman-era history stretching back to the founding of the city, and the acclaimed Pallant House Gallery of modern and contemporary art.
• See the Chichester Roman Palace remains — Fishbourne Roman Palace, just outside Chichester, is the largest Roman residence found in Britain, with excavated mosaic floors and gardens open to visitors.

The village's food scene has grown up around its surf culture, with laid-back cafes serving up all-day breakfasts and coffee alongside the wetsuits. Drift Inn Surf Cafe on the shore road is a local favourite for pancakes and a relaxed, board-shorts-and-flip-flops atmosphere, while Knead Bakery is the spot for a proper coffee and a freshly baked croissant. A little further along the coast towards Bracklesham, Billy's on the Beach makes the most of its shoreline setting with views out towards the Isle of Wight. For a wider choice of pubs and restaurants, Chichester offers everything from traditional Sussex pubs to more formal dining, all within easy reach of the coast.

East Wittering and the surrounding Manhood Peninsula offer a handful of campsites well suited to a coastal camping break, though as with anywhere in England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is illegal, so a proper site or a farm stay with camping pitches is the way to go. The flat, low-lying terrain around the village means sites tend to be open and breezy rather than sheltered, so a sturdy tent or a pitch with some hedging is worth seeking out, especially outside the calmest summer weeks. Being so close to the sea, conditions can change quickly, and a stiff Channel wind is a fairly regular feature of a stay here.

Late spring through to early autumn is the best window for camping at East Wittering, when the weather is settled enough for evenings on the beach and the surf is at its most inviting. Nearby farm campsites put visitors within easy reach of both the beach and the quieter footpaths of Chichester Harbour, making it possible to split days between watersports and gentler walks among the creeks and saltmarsh. For those who would rather skip the tent-pitching altogether, glamping options in the area, including bell tents, shepherd's huts and static options on local farms, offer a comfortable alternative that still keeps you close to the sand, without sacrificing the coastal setting that makes this stretch of Sussex so popular with campers.

Whichever way you choose to camp, the appeal is the same: falling asleep to the sound of the sea, and waking up a short walk from one of the South Coast's best beginner surf beaches.