This month’s ride takes you from the centre of Worthing up on to the Downs, with a route that passes through the sites of ancient hill forts at Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring.

The route then continues on through the pretty village of Steyning before coming back up on to the Downs, taking you up to Devil’s Dyke and finishing with a run back down to Brighton Station.

1 Start by taking a train to Worthing. A single ticket will cost you £4.50 and the trains leave every half hour or so. Once you are there you can enjoy a coffee and cake in the small cafe opposite the station, then head east towards the A24 – Broadwater Road, and take this road north.

After a mile you reach a fairly major roundabout. Carry straight on and the road will begin to rise. Just before you reach the top of the hill, look for a bridlepath leading off on your right.

2 Follow the bridlepath up across the golf course, all the way up to Cissbury Ring. It is a long climb, but gentle, and the views get better every time you look back over your shoulder.

3 At Cissbury Ring, head straight across, and look for a way down the other side. There are a few paths down, and they all converge at a gate. Go through the gate and continue north up a narrow road.

This road turns into a bridle path and will take you all the way up to the South Downs Way. You will only encounter one junction – keep to the right.

4 When you reach the South Downs Way, turn left and ride about a mile or so up to Chanctonbury Ring. Stop again to admire the beautiful views north across the Weald, as well as south to the sea.

5 Come back down the hill the same way you came up, and continue along the South Downs Way, past the path that brought you up from Cissbury Ring, and then along for another half-mile or so until you see a sign on your left pointing to Steyning.

6 Turn left, and follow the path across the end of a field, then round to the right as it skirts along the top edge of a wood. Ignore all the paths, dropping down to your left. Enjoy the technical singletrack as it takes you along the shoulder of the Downs to a gate at the top of Steyning Round Hill.

7 Go through the gate and down the steep descent into Steyning. Ride into town, and look for the road towards Shoreham and Upper Beeding.

Follow this road until you reach a large roundabout. Take the third exit to Shoreham, continue for a mile, past the turning off left to Small Dole, and look for a bridleway that climbs straight up the side of the hill on your lefthand side.

8 Take this path and follow it all the way to Devil’s Dyke. It’s about three- quarters-of-an-hour of hilly riding, but it does get easier towards the end, and there is a pub once you get there.

9 At Devil’s Dyke, turn right and follow the road straight back down towards the sea. After half-a-mile you join Devil’s Dyke Road – follow this for a couple of miles, turn right at the T-junction, cross over the A27, and head south down Dyke Road and back into Brighton.

When you reach the Seven Dials roundabout, take the second exit, and you will end up back at Brighton Station.

  • Surface: Tarmac to sticky chalk.
  • Distance/Time: About 15 miles – four hours at an easy pace.
  • Thirsty Work:: There is a nice cafe at Worthing station, plenty of pubs and a genteel tea room in Steyning, then Devil’s Dyke Pub on top of the Downs.
  • Difficulty: Medium – not hard if you pace yourself.
  • So You Don't Get Lost: OS ref 121 and 122.