Fooling and Frolicking near Fittleworth (West Sussex)

Stopham: Set in a hilly cul-de-sac, a church and cottages with beautiful views. The church of St Mary is small in footing but solid and high, and mostly dates from the 11th and 12th centuries with some Saxon elements. Rolling back the carpet reveals three centuries of memorial brasses to the local Bartellot family of Stopham Manor, which is 16th or 17th century and has a an E-shaped frontage.

Stopham Bridge: This scheduled ancient monument is regarded as the finest medieval bridge in Sussex. It dates from 1423. The setting is idyllic too, despite the A283 passing alongside on a modern bridge. Our second pub stop, The White Hart, is next-door.

Fittleworth: A collection of small groups of houses which together make up quite a big village. The best bit is the group of sandstone and carstone 18th century cottages that lead down to the River Arun and another fine stone bridge. Our lunch stop, The Swan Inn, is tile-hung and its sign spans the road. Fittleworth Common is heather and birch, augmented with ornamental acers and laurels.

Little Bognor: 'An idyllic hamlet of stone cottages in surroundings as remote and beautiful as the loneliest parts of the Dordogne' (Ian Nairn in The Buildings of England: Sussex). Little Bognor House is the imposing residence of singer-songwriter Bryan Ferry.

Brinkwells: 'It is too lovely for words' wrote composer Edward Elgar upon seeing the cottage where he wrote his chamber works and the elegiac Cello Concerto in 1919. Following a serious operation, his wife, Lady Alice, found the secluded property for him to recuperate. Elgar enthused about the 'endless paths' and woodland colours and birdsong to everyone he knew. On a postcard he wrote that he was 'fiddling, fishing and fooling at Brinkwells'.