Chichester Harbour is the large tidal inlet immediately south of the city — 28 square miles of creeks, mudflats, salt marsh and sheltered water designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is one of the most important wintering grounds in the country for brent geese and waders, and at low tide the mudflats fill with feeding birds.
Boat trips run from Itchenor in the summer; the surrounding villages of Bosham and West Itchenor are pretty and have good pubs. The harbour foot ferry from Itchenor to Bosham makes a fine afternoon outing.