Amberley, a West Sussex village near Arundel, is easily accessible by train and offers a wealth of attractions including the South Downs National Park, historic castles, and a newly reopened pub focusing on local food. The village boasts a Norman church, a medieval castle, and an 80-hectare nature reserve, all reachable via the scenic Arun Valley line from Bognor, Horsham, and London Victoria.
The Black Horse pub has recently reopened under the ownership of the Gladwin brothers, Oliver and Richard, who are returning to their Sussex roots. This is their first country pub and first accommodation venture, having previously founded five Local & Wild restaurants in London. The pub emphasises local, foraged, and sustainable food, with dishes such as grilled green asparagus with lemon and purple onion flowers, and squid from Worthing.
Amberley Museum, located opposite the railway station, spans over 14 hectares of former chalk pits and features disused lime kilns, a narrow-gauge railway, and demonstrations of traditional crafts like broom-making and printing. Visitors can explore exhibits on communications history and the Tools & Trades History Society's intricate displays. A nature trail leads to a hilltop bench with views of Amberley Castle.
The village also offers the Amberley Wildbrooks nature reserve, a wetland area starting two minutes from the pub. Birdwatchers can spot species such as white-tailed eagles, warblers, and woodpeckers. The Sportsman, the community pub, provides binoculars on its terrace for eagle-spotting.
The Black Horse provides comfortable bedrooms with real milk, coffee, Amberley pottery, and homemade biscuits. The pub is reportedly haunted by a spectral 'woman in lavender', adding to its charm. With regular trains from London taking about 1 hour 20 minutes, Amberley is an ideal destination for a countryside escape.
