Ringing the Changes

WORTHING TO BRAMBER VIA CISSBURY, CHANCTONBURY RING AND STEYNING

It is surprisingly easy to get to Worthing from Burgess Hill, which is lucky because leaving the house was a little bit last minute. The kids had an inset day and it was my boy's birthday.

As I write this, I am full of cake and curry and it was necessary to return home to prepare said cake and back to Brighton to celebrate in the evening. The children entertained themselves with a bit of retail therapy and I marched off into the hills.

Despite the wind and showers, I experienced some sunshine at the right moments, a scattering of wildlife encounters and dog strokes.

A trip to Worthing is easy with a direct train to Littlehampton, if you're lucky and the return from Bramber or Henfield can be achieved with a number 100 bus. If I'd shortened the walk a little at the Worthing end or had longer, I could have made it all the way back to Burgess Hill.

The route bags at least three trig points, if you're into that sort of thing, two hillforts and a castle and that's pretty good going in my book. I took and added a western explore before I reached Chanctonbury Ring. You can abandon this entirely by just heading north.

From Worthing Station exit onto South Farm Road and head north. You'll pass Worthing High School, Broadwater Cemetery and Broadwater Green. Continue northwest beyond the roundabout and Worthing College and take the track north that rises steadily through the golf course and becomes a more pleasant chalk path. The rain announced the exit from this busy road but as I reached the 17th hole I was treated to sunshine and the sound of skylarks.

As you exit the golf course, you'll reach an avenue of beech trees and the largest hillfort in Sussex. You can walk the banks or continue straight through. Some, gentle sleepy and curious ponies nestled amongst the gorse. Exiting on the east side, descend to the broad chalk track and reverse anticlockwise. You can leave the and join the path that takes you down through a small car park north. You'll pass the junction with the Monarch's Way and continue to the trees where a bridleway bears west. This diversion can be omitted altogether but I did see deer, a giant bull, a red kite and the great view to be had from west of Chanctonbury Ring.

You'll descend to the Wiston Estate cross a horse field and pass the Pest House. Joining the road again, go up hill and turn right at the top. In time you'll join the South Downs Way, pass an interpretation board and a bench and spy the trig to your left. It is worth heading for this as the views north are wide and uninterrupted. Continue to Chanctonbury Ring. 

Beyond Chanctonbury, the South Downs Way path is a little dull. Another trig lies to the right of the fence. Eventually you'll have the opportunity to turn left and head up towards the trees. The path will now descend quite steeply and slipperily towards Steyning. The Shoreham cement works is visible and Lancing College Chapel.

Steyning can be explored. I stopped for lunch at Victoria's Sponge before heading to Bramber Castle. Taking Tanyard Lane, you can head through the churchyard and out onto Vicarage Lane. Go on the path to the east of the playground and join Holland Road. Keep going east, over the Steyning bypass and onto Castle Way. A wiggle will take you over Kings Stone Avenue and down to the watery floodplain of the River Adur. South will find you on the outer bank of Bramber Castle. Head inwards and explore the Norman remains of a motte and bailey.

After, you can pass by the gate of St Nicholas Church and join The Street. East to the wonderful St Mary's bus stop, complete with toilet and wait for the 100 bus home.