Cissbury Ring

About

The most historic hill on the South Downs

Cissbury Ring, just north of the coastal town of Worthing, is one of the jewels in the crown of the new South Downs National Park. It's the largest hill fort in Sussex and has a history dating back over 5,000 years.

Set high up on a chalk promontory, its ditch and ramparts enclose about sixty-five acres. From the top on a clear day you can see forever, with views across to the chalk cliffs beyond Brighton and as far as the Isle of Wight.

Centuries of continuous grazing have produced a wonderful habitat for butterflies and flowers. Rare plants such as the round headed rampion, known as the ‘Pride of Sussex’, thrive here. If you want to walk, fly a kite or just enjoy some spectacular views Cissbury has it all.

During spring and autumn you can see a wide variety of migratory birds as Cissbury is one of the first coastal landing points after their long flight across the channel.

This site is managed by National Trust.