Cissbury Ring

An Iron Age hill-fort built around 2,500 BC, Cissbury Ring was an important site for Neolithic flint mining.

Cissbury Ring (602ft) (car park sign posted off the A24 at the northern end of Findon Valley) is a notable landmark and now belongs to the National Trust. Neolithic flint mines were on Cissbury between 3500 BC and 2500 BC and are the earliest in Britain. They can be seen as an undulating area of pits and mounds in the west part of the hill fort and also outside the south entrance. Most of the visible remains belong to the Iron Age hill fort, built c 250 BC. The hill fort defences consist of a massive rampart and ditch with a small counterscarp bank on the outer lip of the ditch. In Roman times farmers settled within Cissbury’s derelict ramparts and in Saxon times there was a Cissbury Mint, but the site of this has not yet been discovered.

This, the second largest hill-fort in the country, offers spectacular views in every direction. In the summer wild flowers attract a variety of Downland butterflies, in particular the rare Chalkland Blue. Panoramic views of Worthing, the sea and the South Downs compliment the rich wildlife at this landmark.