Garden Cottage, Amberley

About this property

Classic Sussex country cottage in the heart of Amberley with the South Downs on the doorstep

If you are looking for a quintessentially English country cottage then Garden Cottage will be near the top of your list. It dates back several hundred years, yet has been adapted to modern living while retaining all that charm. As you enter the cottage the character is immediately apparent. There are exposed beams, and pale coloured walls to give that cosy cottage feeling. The sitting room is a comfortable room for relaxation, with a woodburning stove for the cooler evenings, and a large TV. The adjacent dining room is separated by a single step up and some of the cottages old timbers forming a dividing screen. The stairs to the two bedrooms and bathroom lead up from the dining room.

On the other side of the cottage is a delightful kitchen, with oil fired Aga to cook on. There is also a small table top oven with two electric hot plates. Beyond the kitchen is a light filled conservatory which leads on to the garden, a beautifully restful and private space with surrounding lawns and flower borders. This is a delightful place to relax at any time of the day.

Upstairs the cottage has two double bedrooms and a bathroom. The principal bedroom has vaulted ceilings giving it a spacious feel and charm to complement the king sized four poster bed and traditional furnishings. The adjacent bathroom has a large corner shower, and a traditional style ball and claw footed freestanding bath. It's a feature room which also has a partially vaulted ceiling with some beautiful brickwork for the chimneys rising through it to the ridge of the roof. The bathroom is 'Jack and Jill' in style and can be accessed from both the principal bedroom and the landing.

At the head of the stairs the second bedroom has a slightly lower doorway, but again opens into a wonderful bright room with king sized bed, vaulted ceilings and dual aspect.

Amberley and beyond

Amberley is at the foot of the South Downs and is noted for its many thatched cottages. It is a village that has managed to retain its character and appeal over the centuries and it will delight. The River Arun with its tidal plain cuts through the South Downs at Amberley. The South Downs Way crosses the river beside the village where a walk either east or west will soon present you with stunning Downland views and total seclusion.

The tidal river plain north of the village forms the Amberley Wildbrooks — a Site of Special Scientific Interest known for its wildfowl and maintained by Sussex Wildlife Trust. The rspb reserve at Pulborough Brooks neighbours Amberley, and is a wetland haven for bird life, and an overwintering ground for many migrant species. It has many opportunities for studying the wild life from several strategically located hides.

Only a mile away is the Amberley Working Museum which was used as a set location for the James Bond Film ‘A View to a Kill‘. It is a 36 acre open air museum set into a chalk quarry and is dedicated to the industrial heritage of South East England. Depending on the timing of your visit there are many themed events so it is worth taking a look to see what is on.

Two miles to the east Parham House and Gardens is an imposing Elizabethan house facing the Downs. The rooms are graced with fresh flowers cut daily from the four acre walled garden. The main rooms are the Great Hall, Great Chamber and the Long Gallery which at the top of the house does leave a tremendous visual impression.

Five miles downstream from Amberley immediately south of the Downs you come to Arundel, a historic market town dominated by the symbolic castle and the rising spire of the cathedral. If you fancy making your visit a little different why not catch the train one stop down the line and come back on the river, but do allow plenty of time.

The town offers a plethora of craft and antique shops as well as restaurants and tearooms. A trip to Arundel would never be complete without visiting the castle. The seat of the Dukes of Norfolk and set in 40 acres of sweeping grounds and gardens, Arundel Castle has been seasonally open to visitors for nearly 200 years. It is one of the great treasure houses of England and to climb the 131 steps to the Keep to take in the views is worth the effort.

Places to Visit

Amberley Working Museum

Arundel Cathedral

Arundel Castle

Parham House

RSPB Pulborough Brooks

What's On

Sussex Game & Country Fair, Parham — June

Goodwood Festival of Speed — June

Petworth Festival — July

Arundel Festival — August

Goodwood Revival — September

Local shop — ¼ mile Amberley

Nearest supermarket — 4 miles Storrington

Nearest restaurant — 1 mile Amberley

Local pub — 100 yards Amberley

Mainline rail service — 1 mile Amberley for services to Gatwick Airport, London Victoria and Portsmouth

Gatwick Airport — 32 miles