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The earthworks on the east side of Cissbury Ring, West Sussex
Earthworks on the east side of Cissbury Ring, West Sussex | © National Trust Images/Laurence Perry
Sussex

Cissbury Ring history and nature trail

Walk along an ancient road and see where flint mining provided tools for our Neolithic ancestors. On the route look out for varied wildlife in this important chalk downland site and enjoy panoramic views from the second largest Iron Age hillfort in the south of England.

Total steps: 11

Total steps: 11

Start point

Storrington Rise car park, Findon Valley, grid ref: TQ129076

Step 1

Leave the car park at the south-east corner and take the left-hand path where the track splits. Walk straight up the hill and look for a gap in the trees.

Step 2

Go through the gap in the trees turning right past a bench. When you come out of the woods turn left and walk uphill by the edge of the field until you come to a kissing gate in the corner.

Step 3

Go through the kissing gate. Continue climbing on another grassy path just to the right of the trees up ahead, until you reach the fence at the foot of Cissbury Ring.

Step 4

Go through the kissing gate near the bench and turn right onto the lower of the two embankments.

Step 5

Walk round the fort towards the south taking in the views as you go.

Step 6

When you reach a gravel footpath crossing your track in front of a wooded area turn left and go through the gap in the inner embankment. This is the southern entrance to Cissbury.

The purple blue of a spiky round headed rampion flower on a chalk grassland hillside in Sussex.
Round-headed rampion, Sussex | © National Trust/Fiona Scully

Step 7

Take the grassy uphill path, which goes diagonally to the right across the hillfort. Continue walking uphill until you reach the triangulation point.

Step 8

Turn right at the triangulation point and walk down towards the eastern entrance to Cissbury Ring, which is the obvious gap in the earthworks.

Step 9

Climb the steps on your left and continue along the upper embankment until you get to a lone tree and a bench where you can sit and admire the views.

Step 10

Continue following the path around the north-east side of Cissbury Ring until you arrive at the steps at the south-west corner. These are just above the kissing gate you came through earlier to access the hillfort.

Artist's impression of flint mining at Cissbury Ring
Artist's impression of flint mining at Cissbury Ring, Sussex | © National Trust/J. P. S. Brinded

Step 11

Go down the steps, back through the kissing gate, and follow the route back down to the car park.

End point

Storrington Rise car park, Findon Valley, grid ref: TQ129076

Trail map

Cissbury Ring history and nature trail map
Cissbury Ring history and nature trail map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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Near Findon, West Sussex, BN14 0HT

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