...to ask for your help in locating a village in Surrey/Sussex I once drove through?

[Merryoldgoat]

This is a bit bonkers but I’ve seen the amazing things Mumsnetters can do so here you go...

About 5 years ago DH and I went to a wedding in Arundel and on the drive from Wimbledon area to Sussex, we passed through about 3 GORGEOUS villages. They had lovely village greens, rustic pubs, chocolate box cottages etc.

My DH and I are getting a night free of children soon and I would love to book a night in a nice inn in one of these villages.

Is there anyway you can help me work out which villages these might have been?

I wasn’t a driver then so I paid no attention to the route so can’t accurately retrace the journey looking on a map.

5 YEARS I’ve been thinking about these villages!!

Petersfield probably too far West and, whilst pleasant, wouldn't really set pulses racing in the quaintness stakes imo.

Slindon lovely too

You wouldn’t have driven through it but alfriston (East Sussex) ticks all those boxes nicely.

And no, not Cowfold ...maybe warnham?

Ooh, and my all time favourite East Dean Boopear

I was also going to say Midhurst and can recommend the Spread Eagle.

I was going to guess Amberley. We walked through there once on the way to Arundel and it's gorgeous.

Might have been Lurgashall, which is very pretty with village green, lovely pub and back in the day haircut100 filmed a video there! Mind you, might have needed a detour to get there.

Midhurst, Petersfielsd and Petworth are towns not villages! Do you have any recollection at all of the route you took- if it was motorway, or went though any major towns or cities?

The villages around Petersfield are very pretty. Steep, Sheet etc it would be possible if you took that route if your sat nav is as crap as mine.

Agree with recommendation for Spread Eagle in Midhurst! Also agree that Alfriston is lovely but definitely not one of the villages on that route.

And it's not Cowfold!

Oh gosh! I don’t know if I’ve ever had a 2-page thread!!

I googled Cowfold - I’ve been there as a friend lives nearby and there’s a nearby vineyard I’ve visited but that’s not the place.

I will deffo look through all the posts and check them out - sounds like there are lots of places for a weekend break - maybe I should try them all!!

I drive to my mums in Chichester all the time. Presumably your husband drove down the A3, and then took the A283 to Petworth?

Agree with previous posters, loads of lovely villages all round there, on the road to Arundel.

Denbies vineyard in Dorking?

The A283 does ring a bell... they were A roads rather than motorways I think.

It’s entirely possible we didn’t go the ‘traditional’ route as I was navigating via my shitty phone app

Lurgashall definitely looks the part. Thank you all - I’ve got a long list of places for short breaks!

@Clubcuts - no - it was Bolney - really lovely there - gorgeous Sauv Blanc and sparkling white

Another bet for Chiddingfold. It’s a main route South, too.

Avoid around November when they’re building the bonfire on that green.

I have heard very, very good things about the Crown Inn, by the way

@Tanith - Chiddingford is currently in the lead... I’m desperate for a break - my baby is teething and very clingy and grizzly.

Ockley?

I thought of Ockley, too. Has everything the OP mentioned.

Ockley looks gorgeous! My DH would be especially excited at the prospect of catching a game of cricket on the green.

Lindfield?

It was definitely Crawley.

Staplefield, Slaugham? They are tiny villages, with green and pubs but not really on the way to Arundel.

Slinfold, Wisborough Green, Adversane. Along Stane Street?

Cuckfield or Lindfield perhaps. Funny route though.

I was going to say Amberley or Slindon?

She would have got lost if she went through Slinfold to Arundel!! :-D