Amberley, North Stoke, South Stoke and Houghton

Until the 1960s when river embankments were raised, the flat valley floor of the River Arun flooded regularly in winter. The 19th-century excavation of new channels for the Arun Navigation isolated South Stoke, prompting the construction of White Bridge to restore access to meadows. South Stoke features a miniature church with a whimsical 'frilly cap' spire. During the English Civil War, local residents were staunchly Royalist, and in Houghton, the future King Charles II stayed at the George and Dragon in 1651 while fleeing after the Battle of Worcester.

Preserved as unimproved rough pasture, Amberley Wildbrooks provide a haven for wildfowl, Sussex cattle, and wetland plants such as ragged robin and yellow flag.

Amberley Castle is a fortified 12th-century manor once used as a summer residence by the Bishops of Chichester. Amberley itself is a showpiece village of stone and thatch. Until the 1960s, it was a major centre for lime production from local chalk pits, which have now been converted into the Amberley Museum showcasing rural industries, traditional trades, and historic narrow-gauge industrial railways.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.