Overview

AMBERLEY is situated at the foot of the South Downs, in West Sussex, and is known as one of the nicest thatched roof villages you can visit, and it’s old castle has now been converted into a lovely Hotel, owned as part of the Brownsword hotel chain, who hold a number of delightful luxury hotels, of which we have been fortunate enough to visit and review for you. This was part of a 3 day trip we took through Sussex, and following this review, we are pleased to show you others places that you may wish to see at some stage as there are some very attractive villages and places to see in Sussex, just follow our reviews for AMBERLEY, FONTWELL PARK RACE TRACK, GOODWOOD RACE TRACK, CHAWTON, EAST MEON, LONGPARISH, WHERWELL, and CHILBOLTON. If like ourselves, you enjoy wonderful countryside views, then we suggest you start by entering the SAT NAV DIRECTIONS for RH20 1PZ which will take you to Lords Peace car park, situated in a lovely area of woodland, with little paths you could take to just admire the scenery. Getting there offers nice countryside views to start with. Then enter SAT NAV directions to AMBERLEY, BN18 9LT It’s about a seven mile drive, maybe 15 minutes, but worth the views. On arriving towards AMBERLEY passing speed camara, you will reach a Cross road sign, so TURN LEFT here for BLACK HORSE pub sign, and drive a few yards to reach (photo 1) it may be best to TURN LEFT at a small junction, with phone box on your right. then simply drive through the narrow lanes which hold many very attractive and delightful thatched cottages, as our photos show you. Drive straight ahead towards St Michaels church, but then TURN AROUND and come back a few yards to TURN FIRST LEFT at beautiful thatch cottages. Just follow this narrow lane around right hand bends, and up to junction, with the BLACK HORSE pub on the corner. As you drive along here, SET SAT NAV directions, on our trip it was for AMBERLEY CASTLE, if you wish to follow us around. Setting your sat NAV now, will help to guide you through AMBERLEY as well. If you are ready for a coffee break, may we suggest driving a further 1/2 mile or so to try the wonderful AMBERLEY CASTLE, a very old historical castle, well worth visiting. (Sadly on our day, the castle was closed, it was the day after Queen Elizabeth 11 funeral ). At the Pub, TURN RIGHT, and drive along now and out of AMBERLEY village. TURN RIGHT at main road junction, with blue sign for Low Bridge, and just later, on a left hand bend, BE READY TO TURN SHARP RIGHT on the brown sign for bed. It will be marked just as you turned right for Amberley castle. Drive along to reach the castles entrance (photos 14 and 15 and castle 16) QUICK HISTORY OF AMBERLEY CASTLE. The land around here was gifted to Bishop Wilfred in 683, and during the time of the Domesday book, it had just 17 villagers living here. By 1140, the old timber framed building on this land was knocked down, and a small stone hall was built, you can still see its Norman entrance in reception as the entrance to the Great Room. Over next 200 years, much work was added to the old hall, before it was knocked down around 1377, and a new larger hall was built. In the 1500,s King Henry V111 dissolved the churches properties, and the estate and castle fell into Crown ownership. During the Civil war, the castle fell into ruin after Oliver Cromwell destroyed the defences in 1643, with locals then stealing the stones. The estate was then sold to Mr John Butler, who then built another Manor House here, and transformed the castle to what we see today. Up to date history tells us that in 1926 the castle was bought by the Emmett family, who added much needed improvements, until the family line sold the castle in 1982, then held by various families until 1988, when Joy and Martin Cummings bought the estate, and eventually gained permission to convert it into a hotel, and the restaurant opened in February 1989. Finally, in October 2011, it was purchased by Andrew and Christina Brownsword, and became part of their luxury collection of beautiful hotel properties. We hope that you enjoyed your visit to AMBERLEY village and then the castle, and would suggest now that you follow us around to the next point of interest that we shall review for you at FONTWELL PARK race track, before touring the GOODWOOD estate, which is something we do hope you will take with us. TO FOLLOW OUR JOURNEY, set your SAT NAV TO BN18 0SY FONTWELL PARK race track, before we tour the GOODWOOD estate. or go direct to THE GOODWOOD HOTEL. VIA SINGLETON. SAT NAV PO18 0EY for lovely scenic views of the estate. Then SAT NAV. PO18 0QB. GOODWOOD HOTEL. for coffee or lunch break. We offer reviews for Fontwell Park, and then THE GOODWOOD HOTEL.

Transport & Parking

Parking can be difficult on its narrow lanes, but we suggest you just drive around the village and enjoy its charm. Then drive down to AMBERLEY CASTLE, where parking is easy enough.

Access

You could manage to get your chair around the village, it’s reasonably flat and level, but suggest you just slowly drive around the village. Follow us down then to AMBERLEY castle, where disabled access is quite easy enough for you.

Toilets

Staff

Photos