Arundel

Where the River Arun cuts through the South Downs the picturesque medieval town of Arundel has grown around the castle that was built to defend the valley against attacks from the coast, just 5 miles away. The town’s streets run from the castle walls down to the banks of the Arun and feature Victorian architecture along beautiful streets lined with classic Sussex flint houses and antique shops.

Standing on hill, high above the town, the Arundel Castle dominates the landscape and has a fairy tale quality about it. Like a lot of English castles what you see is mainly Victorian handiwork, but the original structure was Norman before being destroyed in the English Civil War. Inside the renovated quarters are impressive and worth a visit. Just along the road, Arundel Cathedral is a huge Gothic construction completed in 1873.

There are wetlands in Arundel that are home to many rare species, which you can learn about and hopefully spot at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. There are some lovely walks along the banks of the Arun. Nearby is the Roman villa at Bignor with one of the best mosaics found in Britain.