Cissbury Ring
Worthing, West Sussex
Cissbury Ring sits on a prominent hilltop on the South Downs above Worthing, inside the ramparts of one of the largest Iron Age hill forts in England. From the top the views run in every direction - the chalk cliffs beyond Brighton to the east, and the Solent to the south on a clear day.
The walk is short at 4.7 km, but you earn the views with a 20-minute uphill from the Storrington Rise car park on chalk and flint paths that can get slippery in wet weather. There is a sheltered wooded bridleway on the descent.
Your dog needs to be on a lead near the National Trust’s New Forest ponies, which graze the site for much of the year as conservation grazers. Belted Galloway cattle arrive in mid-summer. Between late February and August, keep to the main paths - skylarks and stonechats nest in the chalk grassland here.
No facilities on site. No cafe, no tap, no toilets. Bring water, particularly in summer when there is no shade on the hilltop. The Village House in Findon welcomes dogs and is a short walk from the car park.
Frequently asked questions
Can my dog be off lead at Cissbury Ring?
Not fully. The National Trust requires dogs to be on lead around the ponies and cattle that graze the site. During the ground-nesting bird season (approximately late February to August), dogs should also be kept on leads on the chalk grassland where skylarks nest. In practice, dogs can be off lead under close control on path sections clear of livestock, but significant sections require leads.
What animals will we encounter?
New Forest ponies graze here as part of the National Trust’s conservation management and are present for much of the year. In mid-summer, Belted Galloway cattle graze in the pasture woodland sections. Skylarks, stonechats and other chalk downland birds are present throughout the year.
Is there any water or shade for dogs?
No facilities on the hilltop - no cafe, no tap, no toilets. The wooded bridleway on the descent provides some shade. Bring water for your dog, especially in warm weather.
How far is it from the car park to the ring?
From Storrington Rise car park (BN14 0HT) it is a 20-minute uphill walk to reach the ring. The full circular is approximately 4.7 km. There are kissing gates and stiles on the route.
Plan this walk with live weather and dog-safe route info