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Chanctonbury Ring and Cissbury Ring Walk from Finden

By Dave Roberts   

on January 16, 2020    4/5 (1)

Posted as a walk in – England, Europe, South Downs National Park

Chanctonbury Ring and Cissbury Ring Walk from Finden

Route Essentials

Route Summary

A circular walk in the South Downs exploring the hill forts of Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

13.31 km

Ascent

315 m

Time

3.5–4 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Findon Valley bus stop at May Tree Avenue on the A24 between Findon and Worthing

Difficulty

Moderate Walk

Hazards

Weather Forecast:

South Downs National Park Weather from Met Office

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Chanctonbury Ring and Cissbury Ring Walk from Finden Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Chanctonbury Ring and Cissbury Ring Walk from Finden

This walk includes a visit to two hill forts, Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring, providing much interest for the history buff. For everyone else, there are views aplenty as the route follows ancient ridgeways and like most walks in the national park, the South Downs Way.

From Finbury, the route climbs quickly up to our first hill fort of the day, Cissbury Ring which has a long and interesting history. Owned by the National Trust, Cissbury Ring is the largest hill fort in Sussex and the second largest in England at 26 hectares. It is thought to initially date from around 400 BC, and served as a defensive fort for 300 years. Cissbury Ring was occupied for many years after that, with archaeological evidence suggesting that it was a settlement during the roman period and coins from the 11th century have been found, but was abandoned as a settlement during the medieval period. It was used as one of the chain of beacons along the South Downs that served as an early warning of invasion and again its strategic position was used for anti-aircraft guns during WW2.

Approaching Chanctonbury Ring The site is a Scheduled Monument. It was used as a hill fort dating from the early Iron Age and was reused later on during the Roman period as a temple precinct. © Copyright Chris Thomas-Atkin and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Chanctonbury Ring The south western area of the hill fort. © Copyright Trevor Harris and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Trees on the edge of Chanctonbury Ring for TQ1312 The Great Storm of 1987 did a lot of damage to these trees and wrecked the cap-like shape of the clump. The Ring has recovered some of its former shape since then, however. This is a cross-grid shot. The camera was in the square to the south. © Copyright Ian Cunliffe and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Trig Point on Chanctonbury Hill The South Downs at this point provides extensive views across the Low Weald towards the distant North Downs and the Surrey Hills. The trig point marks a height of 238 metres above sea level. © Copyright Chris Thomas-Atkin and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

The route continues on ancient byways, towards the distinct tree capped landmark of Chanctonbury Ring, joining the South Downs Way for the final approach. Chanctonbury Ring is a prehistoric hill fort that’s thought to date from the late Bronze Age, or around the seventh century BC. While it’s purpose was uncertain, the name ‘fort’ not necessarily denoting a military outpost, it was probably a religious centre as no traces of habitation have been found there. It’s prominent location might have helped make it a sacred place, but would most certainly have made it an exposed and windswept place to live. Even the Romans built a couple of temples up here, before the site was abandoned in the 4th century, possibly due to the establishment of the nearby Cissbury Ring.

It wasn’t until the 18th century that the copse of trees were planted on the hill by a local landowner (Charles Goring) who believed he could beautify the site by planting the trees. His ancestors continued with the tree planting, which might make the landmark more prominent, but the tree roots are thought to have caused damage to the underlying archaeology. Gun emplacements and training exercises during WW2 caused further damage.

The walk returns to the start by following more byways and re-join the outward route just before Cissbury Ring, but skirts around its side to return to the start rather than over the hill fort.

More information and a leaflet with full route information on the Chanctonbury Ring from Finden Walk can be downloaded from the South Downs National Park website here. Note that there’s also a shorter walk just to Cissbury Ring on the link that’s around 6km long that will take around 1-2 hours to complete.

Featured Image Credit:   © Copyright Chris Thomas-Atkin and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

A circular walk in the South Downs exploring the hill forts of Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring

Route Start Location: Findon Valley bus stop at May Tree Avenue on the A24 between Findon and Worthing

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
13.31 km 315 m 3.5–4 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Moderate Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Route starts and ends at the Devil’s Dyke Pub and Restaurant. There’s also the Royal Oak at Poynings.

Hazards

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking :

Car Park ar start

Public Transport:

Regular bus services to Findon

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

South Downs National Park Weather from Met Office

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

More Posts by Dave Roberts

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