Amberley: Less than a mile from the South Downs Way
Houghton Bridge: Right on the path
These two villages, less than a mile from each other, are situated around four miles north of Arundel and are close to the halfway point along the South Downs Way between Winchester and Eastbourne. With some excellent dining and accommodation options, they are a great choice for a lunch or overnight stop.
As Amberley is close to the halfway point along the South Downs Way, it’s a great choice for a rest day if you are walking the whole of the Way. The historic city of Arundel is only five minutes away by train and well worth a visit.
Amberley is a picture postcard village, situated at the foot of the South Downs with narrow lanes lined with thatched cottages. It’s less than a mile away from Houghton Bridge and around four miles from historic Arundel. It’s a beautiful village, full of historical interest. Records of a settlement in Amberley date back to the 7th Century AD and the pretty 11th Century Church and Amberley Castle (now a luxury hotel) both add to the sense of history. For more information on the history of the village and surrounding area, head to the nearby Amberley Working Museum situated, rather confusingly, on Houghton Bridge.
The small village of Houghton Bridge enjoys an enviable location on the banks of the river Arun and is home to, rather confusingly, Amberley Working Museum and Amberley train station.
Getting Here & Home Again
By Train & Bus
The number 73 bus connects Amberley & Houghton Bridge to Storrington & Pulborough. There are direct trains from Amberley Station to London Victoria (1 hour 20 mins) and to Arundel (5 minutes) and the south coast beyond.
By Car
Amberley & Houghton Bridge are very close to the A29, connecting them to Dorking and the M25 to the north. The A27 also runs just a few miles south of the villages, which runs parallel with the coast, all the way from Eastbourne to Portsmouth. There is a free car park at Amberley station and very limited on-street parking in Amberley village.
Amenities
You’ll find a village store in Amberley which has lovely fresh produce and also doubles as a newsagents and post office. There’s a pub in each village and a couple closer by.