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Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring from Steyning

South Downs Walk

Nat Park - South Downs

County/Area - West Sussex

Author - Hugh Maguire

Length - 10.5 miles / 17.1 km    Ascent - 1520 feet / 461 metres

Time - 6 hours 20 minutes    Grade - moderate

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring from Steyning
Click image to visit gallery of 6 images.

This West Sussex walk in the South Downs National Park explores some interesting country north of Steyning and includes the Iron Age Forts of Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring. The village of Steyning is approached using the A283 and is a beautiful Sussex village nestling under the South Downs. To park your car at the start of this walk you need to find a cul-de-sac at grid ref TQ170106. After parking, turn left out of the cul-de-sac, follow the road for a bit before taking the steep path south west straight up Steyning Round Hill. About halfway up is a gate and you keep on the path until you reach a bench where you turn left.

At the junction of paths (grid ref. TQ163100), where there is a sort of memorial, go west to No Man's Land and another junction of paths (Grid ref. TQ151097). From here go south down a beautiful valley until you reach a large track where you head west to the car park at the foot of Cissbury Ring (Grid ref TQ140085). From here it is an easy climb onto the ring, a circuit of which will offer a variety of views of the surrounding area.

Descend back to the car park and turn north. Follow a fairly wide track until you reach the South Downs Way (Grid ref TQ145114). From here an out and back walk to Chanctonbury Ring can be completed by turning left. Chanctonbury Ring is a small Iron Age hillfort that was use in various periods of history and is still a notable Sussex landmark. Located on a prominence on the northern edge of the South Downs, it overlooks a large portion of the Weald below with the old ridgeway across the downs passing just to the south.

After visiting Chanctonbury Ring, return east along the South Downs Way until you come to the junction of paths by the memorial (grid ref. TQ163100). Turn north here and make your way back via the bench and the car park to your car.

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Other walks nearby

Walk 1782 Steyning Round Hill and No Man's Landmoderate7.5 miles
Walk 1888 Cissbury Ring, Chanctonbury Ring & Coombesmoderate12.5 miles
Walk 2109 Upper Beeding to Washington by the South Downs Wayeasy/mod7.0 miles
Walk 3078 Cissbury Ring & Chanctonbury Ring from Washingtoneasy/mod8.3 miles
Walk 3310 Washington to Littleton Farm by the South Downs Waymoderate13.0 miles

Start Point Details

Ordnance Survey Grid Ref TQ170106

Latitude 50.883055 Longitude -0.33816019

Postcode BN44 3LF

what3words start elder.studs.pinches

Walk description may contain detailed information on the start point for this walk.

Further Information

South Downs Walking

The South Downs is Britain's newest National Park and stretches from Winchester to Beachy Head. Steeped in history there are ancient hill-forts, barrows, a Roman road and deserted medieval villages. The area has a rich diversity of natural habitats including flower-studded chalk grassland, ancient woodland, flood meadow, lowland heath and the particularly rare chalk heathland. This varied environment provides an excellent basis for those who enjoy outdoor pursuits, such as walking, cycling and horse riding.

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