Fernhurst & Northchapel

Fernhurst and Northchapel sit in the western part of Chichester district, set on the edge of the Western Weald. Fernhurst is bisected by the A286 and is centred on a village green with a short high street of shops, a primary school and pubs. Immediately to the north, Blackdown rises to about 280 metres and forms the highest ground in Sussex; the summit and its paths are used by walkers from the village. Fields and mixed woodland surround the settlements, with farm access tracks and public footpaths linking them to the surrounding countryside.

Northchapel lies a few kilometres northwest of Fernhurst and is arranged around lanes, commonland and scattered farmsteads. The village is threaded by a network of bridleways and footpaths that connect heath, copses and small country lanes, used for walking and riding. Small parish facilities and community halls provide local events and services; day-to-day needs in both villages are met by village shops, farms and businesses that serve the immediate area within Chichester district.