The South Downs are rich in prehistoric settlements, of which Cissbury is the largest and most spectacular: an iron-age hill fort, with impressive double ramparts and ditch between, enclosing an area of some 65 acres. The views from the top are superb. Chanctonbury Ring, with its clump of beech trees crowning its hilltop site (a distinctive South Downs landmark), is another excellent vantage point. In between, clear chalk tracks and grassy downland offer splendid breezy walking with rewarding views all the way.
The walk starts from the quiet downland hamlet of Coombes. The old church, with its Norman nave and some 12th-century wall paintings, is open each day and well worth a look inside.
[1] From the start point, head up past the cottages to Church Farm. Bear left through squeeze stile into the field, and turn right to carry on up past the church and through a copse. As you exit the wood, turn right, then go through a bridle gate and keep ahead, following the bridleway beside a fence (on your left) towards Coombehead Wood.
As you climb, views appear behind of Lancing College and the Adur Estuary.
Further on, keep by the fence on the grassy track (where another track forks down to the right) towards a clump of trees. Ignore all tracks off to your left and right. Cross the road and carry straight on west towards Cissbury Ring, passing a restored dewpond.
(A) These are a feature of the South Downs, and have nothing to do with dew; they were built to provide water for animals.
[2] At the car park, the ongoing route turns right (if you travelled by public transport to Finton, you join the route here). However, you shouldn’t miss climbing to the top of this impressive National Trust-owned hill fort and walking round the ramparts.
On a clear day, the views along the coastal plain are extensive; in the distance to the south-east you can see the famous chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters.
Back at the car park, head north along an initially fairly level track. Ignore turnings to your left and right and then tracks forking left and right, and continue in the same direction. The track now climbs gradually towards the main ridge of the South Downs, along which runs the South Downs Way (SDW).
[3] Turn left along the South Downs Way up to Chanctonbury Ring.
(B) Chanctonbury Ring is another iron-age hill fort – much smaller than Cissbury – distinguished by its clump of trees. The circle of beeches was planted in 1760 by Charles Goring, a local landowner. In clear weather, the view from here in all directions is magnificent. Cissbury Ring lies due south, with Worthing beyond to its right. The Sussex downs stretch away to east and west, while to the north lies the vast area of woods and fields known as the Weald. The 780ft/238m trig point is a short distance to the west.
[4] From Chanctonbury Ring, retrace your steps to the previous junction and continue on the SDW as it gently descends in a south-east direction. When you reach the road at the head of Steyning Bowl (a huge dry valley or combe sometimes used for hang gliding or paragliding), cross and carry on alongside it in the same direction for about 1km.
If you started the walk from [2] and would like to shorten the route - at Steyning Bowl do not cross the road but continue on the main path which swings right away from the road; follow the clear path ahead and down to a valley bottom. As the path climbs again, it swings left to a junction of paths (TQ157081) where you turn right, rejoining the main walk between [1] and [2], heading steeply down into Canada Bottom and back to the car pa.
[5] Follow the SDW as it leaves the road, turning left to head down grassy Annington Hill. When the fence does a left turn, keep ahead along the obvious path. Further down the path runs through a piggery. At the bottom (near a house) follow the SDW round to the left and almost immediately turn right down a short but steep slope. Go through a gate and turn right again and follow the bridleway along the field edge. After entering woodland, turn right and climb to join the road by a pylon. At the road, turn right back to Coombes.