Amberley and the Wild Brooks
West Sussex
The Wild Brooks are a flat expanse of seasonally flooded fen and meadow in the Arun Valley below Amberley, and the contrast they create with the chalk escarpment above the village makes this 7.6 km circuit one of the most landscape-varied walks in West Sussex. From the village, the South Downs Way climbs to the escarpment edge with views across the Arun Valley, before the route descends onto the Brooks and crosses the reserve on raised causeway paths.
The Brooks carry a smell unlike anywhere else in the county: reed, watermint, and the faint sulphurous trace of peat, rich and green in summer. Wading birds and wildfowl are present in large numbers, particularly in winter, so dogs should be under close control on the raised paths through the reserve where snipe and lapwing flush easily. The chalk descent from Amberley is firm and the scarp-edge views are excellent. Valley paths can be partially flooded between November and April — check conditions before visiting in winter.
At a Glance
Walk Must-Haves
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this is a great walk to do with a dog. The Sportsman pub in Amberley welcomes dogs, and the 7.6 km circuit takes in both the chalk escarpment above the village and the fenland of the Wild Brooks below, giving plenty of varied terrain to explore together.
Dogs should be kept under close control on the raised causeway paths through the Wild Brooks reserve, where wading birds like snipe and lapwing are present in large numbers and flush easily. The chalk escarpment section above the village offers firmer, more open ground where there may be more flexibility, but the wildlife-rich nature of the reserve means a lead is the sensible default for much of this walk.
The valley paths through the Wild Brooks can be partially flooded between November and April, so it's worth checking conditions before a winter visit. Wading birds and wildfowl are particularly numerous in winter, which makes the reserve especially rewarding to walk through , but also means keeping your dog close is especially important during those months. Parking is roadside in Amberley village (BN18 9ND), and The Sportsman pub is a good dog-friendly stop after the walk.