Steyning and Chanctonbury walk
A brilliant 8.5 mile ramble in the South Downs, starting from the charming town of Steyning and taking in a long stretch of the South Downs Way with amazing views all the way to the coast. Click ‘View Website’ for more information.
Access notes
- The walk has several climbs and descents throughout, including one fairly steep and long climb from Steyning up to the South Downs ridge.
- Underfoot you will be walking on chalk, meaning it can be very muddy, sticky and slippery when wet, particularly on the lower-level woodland path for the return leg.
- You will need to negotiate several gates, kissing gates, a narrow footbridge and 8 stiles (all of which have open fence surrounds or in-built dog gates making them suitable for most dogs to pass through).
- You will cross one chalk grassland meadow on the initial climb which may be holding a handful of Dexter cattle used for conservation grazing. One section of the South Downs Way may also have grazing sheep. The optional arm to Washington village crosses fields that may be holding sheep (and one of these fields was also holding two cows when we walked). Aside from these sections, the route is free of livestock.
- If you exclude the optional visit to Washington village, the walk can be shortened to 7.5 miles.
