Three Churches Walk

This is a fascinating tour of three historic parish churches in the downland villages of Bramber, Upper Beeding and Botolphs. Starting from the car park in Bramber, you walk up the mount to the early Norman church of St Nicholas with its unique stone carvings, visit the Castle ruins, which offer superb views of the river and the South Downs.

The walk then descends to the river valley, an area alive with wetland birds, butterflies and dragonflies in the summer, reed beds with wild flowers and grasses abound. The path crosses the River Adur and climbs to St Peter’s church at Upper Beeding. This is the former church to Sele Priory, founded when the Benedictine monks moved from Bramber.

Returning to the river you follow it south and cross it at Bramber Bridge continuing south it leads to the Grade 1 listed church of St Botolph with its lancet windows and Jacobean pulpit. The return is via the Downslink path you passed before the church. When you return to the car park continue on for a hundred yards to see St Marys house, one of the most important historic houses in the area.