Rolling views, chalky trails, and history-rich countryside walks
The South Downs National Park offers some of the UK’s best walking — big skies, sea views, wildlife, and ancient landscapes rolled into one. And the best bit? Many of the best routes are circular, so there’s no need to retrace your steps or arrange transport.
Here are eight circular walks that show off the South Downs at their best — ranging from short scenic strolls to full-day challenges.
1.
Seven Sisters & Friston Forest Loop
- Distance: ~10 km
- Time: 3–4 hours
- Start Point: Exceat or Seven Sisters Country Park
- Why go: Combines dramatic white cliffs with peaceful woodland. You’ll climb a few steep undulations but be rewarded with some of the finest coastal views in England.
2.
Ditchling Beacon & Stanmer Woods
- Distance: ~8.5 km
- Time: 2.5–3 hours
- Start Point: Ditchling Beacon car park
- Why go: High ridgeline walking meets shady woodland paths. Great views over Brighton and the Weald, and a good balance of open space and shelter.
3.
Alfriston & the Cuckmere Valley
- Distance: ~9 km
- Time: 3 hours
- Start Point: Alfriston village
- Why go: A gentle riverside walk with history at every turn. Visit the Clergy House (first NT property) and enjoy tea shops after looping back via Litlington and Lullington Heath.
4.
Harting Down Circular
- Distance: ~11 km
- Time: 3–4 hours
- Start Point: Harting Down NT car park
- Why go: One of the quieter western Downland walks, with superb panoramas and a mix of open hilltop and farmland. Wildflowers in spring and early summer are a highlight.
5.
Devil’s Dyke & Fulking Escarpment
- Distance: ~10 km
- Time: 3–4 hours
- Start Point: Devil’s Dyke car park
- Why go: One of the South Downs’ classic vistas. This circular route dips into the valley, loops past the hamlet of Fulking, and climbs back for sweeping views west to Chanctonbury Ring.
6.
Cissbury Ring & Findon Loop
- Distance: ~8 km
- Time: 2.5 hours
- Start Point: Findon or Nepcote Green
- Why go: Explore one of Britain’s largest Iron Age hillforts and enjoy a gentle loop through downland and wooded coombes. Great for archaeology lovers and birdwatchers alike.
7.
Amberley & South Stoke Circular
- Distance: ~10.5 km
- Time: 3.5 hours
- Start Point: Amberley train station
- Why go: A tranquil walk through riverside meadows, open Downs, and charming villages. Includes sections of the South Downs Way and passes historic Amberley Castle.
8.
Chanctonbury Ring via Washington
- Distance: ~9.5 km
- Time: 3 hours
- Start Point: Washington South Downs Way car park
- Why go: Woodland, ridge walking, and a summit ringed by beech trees. This mysterious site has folklore links and commanding views across Sussex and to the sea on clear days.
🧭 Tips for South Downs Circular Walks
✅ Maps: OS Explorer OL8 and OL10 cover most routes.
✅ Trains: Walks from Amberley, Lewes, and Southease offer easy rail access.
✅ Footing: Chalk paths can be slippery when wet — wear shoes with grip.
✅ Seasonal highlights: Bluebells in April, orchids in June, golden grasses in late summer.
✅ Leave no trace: Many routes cross farmland — close gates and keep dogs on leads around livestock.
Whether you’re looking for cliff-top drama or quiet Downland solitude, these circular hikes let you explore the best of the South Downs — no car shuffle required.
Photo credit: Steve Payne
