6 Beautiful Walks in West Sussex
Disclaimer: This post is kindly sponsored by Unique Hideaways. However, as always, all opinions are my own.
West Sussex is a county rich with history, wildlife and rolling countryside views — combined, these create excellent opportunities for walking. From the Iron Age hill forts of Devil’s Dyke and Cissbury Ring, to the wildlands at Knepp Estate, here are 6 of the best walks in West Sussex.
Cissbury Ring
Distance: 3.4 miles | Time: 1 hour | Start/Finish: Storrington Rise car park | Map: Click here
As the largest hill fort in Sussex, Cissbury Ring is a well-known landmark. Set up high on a chalk promontory, you can see for miles from its top. On a clear day, you can see across to the cliffs at the coast and even as far as the Isle of Wight.
Treasured for its history and beautiful scenery, it’s no surprise that Cissbury Ring is home to some of the best-loved walks in West Sussex. This hour-long circular walk makes for a lovely little hike around the fort, showcasing great views and semi-wild ponies grazing in the surrounding valleys. The walk begins with a bit of an incline but flattens out once at the top of the hill.
Knepp Red Route
Distance: 5.7 miles | Time: 2.5 hours | Start/Finish: Knepp Camping car park | Map: Click here
I simply had to include the Knepp Wildlands in this list — it truly is one of the best walking areas in West Sussex. Since 2001, the 3,500-acre Knepp estate has been devoted to an ambitious rewilding project. They use grazing animals to drive habitat creation, and rare species such as storks, peregrine falcons and purple emperor butterflies now live in these wildlands.
The Knepp Red Route takes in a mix of farmland, woodland, wildlife and history, making it a really interesting and diverse trail. On your way, you’ll pass the medieval Knepp Castle, wildlife-rich Knepp Mill Pond, and much more. Keep your eyes peeled for horses, pigs, cattle, rabbits and deer!
Beacon Hill and Harting Down
Distance: 5.9 miles | Time: 3 hours | Start/Finish: Elsted Village | Map: Click here
Beacon Hill (also known as Harting Beacon) is an old Iron Age fort, from where you can see beautiful views over the valley and down into the Harting villages. It’s a popular area for walking, with lots of trails surrounding the fort, but this 3-hour loop showcases the best bits.
Beginning and ending at Elsted Village, this gorgeous circular walk heads south out of town and up to Beacon Hill. The inclines can be a little steep, so take your time! After enjoying the views, continue west to Harting Down, on to Pen Hill and finally, north back to Elsted. I recommend stopping at The Three Horseshoes pub at the end of your walk for refreshments — it has lovely views of the South Downs and surrounding farmland.
Devil’s Dyke
Distance: 7.3 miles | Time: 3.5 hours | Start/Finish: Devil’s Dyke Road | Map: Click here
This article wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the famous Devil’s Dyke — a beautiful valley with a rich history. It’s thought that people first settled in this valley during the Stone Age, and as you explore, you’ll see the ruins of an Iron Age hill fort that once existed here. Not only this but the remains of a curious Victorian funfair can also be discovered. As you can see, Devil’s Dyke has been an important site for centuries.
Nowadays, the valley is a popular area for walking. There are many excellent walks in and around Devil’s Dyke, but this circular walk via Newtimber Hill, Fulking Hill and Poynings is one of my favourites. There are a couple of uphill stretches — the climb from Poynings is quite steep, in particular — but the views are worth it.
Arundel to Amberley Circular
Distance: 12.2 miles | Time: 5.5 hours | Start/Finish: Arundel Rail Station | Map: Click here
This scenic walk will take you from Arundel to Amberley and back, so you should allow most of the day to complete it. The route has a few climbs and descents, including a long climb over the South Downs ridge, but you can always do this route one way if you’d prefer a shorter walk.
As you leave Arundel, you’ll pass Arundel Castle, a medieval castle established during the reign of Edward the Confessor. It’s a rather impressive property, surrounded by the River Arun and the rolling South Downs. You’ll then follow the banks of the River Arun itself before heading into the hills. On arrival at Amberley, it’s worth detouring into the village to see the pretty thatched cottages.
Amberley to Steyning via The South Downs Way
Distance: 13 miles | Time: 5.5 hours | Start: Amberley | Finish: Steyning | Map: Click here
The South Downs Way is a truly epic walk spanning 100 miles across the counties of Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex. While the whole route takes about a week to walk, the section from Amberley to Steyning makes for a cracking day out.
This is a stunning stroll through the South Downs National Park, where you’ll visit several areas of natural beauty, including Rackham Hill, Chantry Hill and Chanctonbury Ring. Towards the end of your walk, you’ll also have excellent views over Steyning Bowl and the River Adur. All in all, this is a varied walk with plenty of hill climbs and epic views.
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About The Author
Lauren Pears is a freelance travel writer and blogger who writes about active adventure travel. She’s been blogging for almost 10 years, and has written for publications such as Lonely Planet, World Nomads, and Southeast Asia Backpacker.
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