Graffham

Graffham sits on the northern escarpment of the South Downs National Park, folded into the lee of one of the highest points on the ridge between Midhurst and Petworth in West Sussex. It is a small place — the civil parish, which also takes in part of the hamlet of Selham and South Ambersham, covers under 12 square kilometres and is home to a little over 500 people — but it is often held up as one of the county's most photogenic and unspoilt villages, with flint and brick cottages strung along quiet lanes and a 13th-century parish church, St Giles, at its heart.

What Graffham lacks in size it makes up for in setting. The South Downs Way passes close by, the chalk grassland and old plantation woodland of Graffham Common and Graffham Down rise immediately to the south, and the whole village feels like a starting point for the surrounding downland rather than a destination in itself. That makes it a good base for walkers, cyclists and anyone wanting a quiet corner of Sussex within easy reach of Petworth's antique shops and Midhurst's ruined Tudor mansion.

Top things to do near Graffham

Graffham's own attractions are modest, but it is ringed by some genuinely worthwhile places within a short drive or walk.

• Graffham Common and Graffham Down — a Sussex Wildlife Trust nature reserve of heath and woodland restored from old pine plantation, with waymarked paths, a pond good for dragonflies, and sightings of nightjars, woodlarks and a growing range of butterflies through the summer.
• South Downs Way — the 100-mile National Trail runs along the ridge above the village, giving direct access to some of the best open downland walking and cycling in the South East.
• Petworth House and Park — a National Trust property a few miles north, with a landscape park laid out by Capability Brown, an important collection of paintings and sculpture, and 700 acres of parkland grazed by a historic deer herd.
• Cowdray Ruins, Midhurst — the atmospheric remains of a Tudor courtyard house on the edge of Midhurst, a few miles west of Graffham, set beside the River Rother and the Cowdray Estate.
• Midhurst town — a handsome market town with timbered buildings, independent shops and cafes, a short drive from the village.
• Selham — a neighbouring hamlet within the parish, known for one of the smallest churches in England and a well-regarded village pub.

Getting to Graffham

Graffham lies just off the A285 Chichester to Petworth road, around 4 miles south-west of Petworth and a similar distance from Midhurst, making it easy to reach by car from the A3 or A27. The nearest railway stations are Pulborough and Chichester, both roughly a 20-minute drive away, with regular services to London Victoria and along the south coast; onward travel to the village itself is easiest by car or taxi as bus services are limited. Its position on the flank of the South Downs also makes it a natural stopping point for anyone walking or cycling the South Downs Way.

Best time to visit Graffham

Late spring through early autumn is the most rewarding time, when the downland above the village is at its greenest and the heath and woodland at Graffham Common are busiest with butterflies, dragonflies and birdlife. Summer weekends can bring more walkers and cyclists onto the South Downs Way itself, while the village stays quiet. Autumn brings good colour through the surrounding woodland and parkland at Petworth, and winter offers crisp, quiet downland walking for those who don't mind shorter days and the possibility of mud on the chalk paths.

Where to stay near Graffham

Accommodation in Graffham itself is limited to a handful of village pubs offering rooms and nearby camping and caravanning pitches, so many visitors base themselves in or around Petworth or Midhurst, both of which have a wider choice of hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts within a short drive. Camping and caravan sites in the immediate area put you within walking distance of the South Downs Way and the Graffham Common reserve.

Food and drink near Graffham

The village itself has two pubs: the Grade II-listed Foresters Arms, a 1609 country pub with open fires, a garden and guest rooms, and the White Horse, known for its conservatory and garden views out over the Downs. Graffham also has a village shop and cafe serving the local community and visitors passing through on the South Downs Way. For a wider choice of restaurants and cafes, Petworth and Midhurst are both close by.