Top 15 Natural Monuments around Lancing

The natural monuments in the Lancing area are rich in biodiversity. At Devil's Dyke and Cissbury Ring Circular Trail, you can find many species of butterflies and wildflowers. Widewater Lagoon is a prime spot for birdwatching, with species like the Little Egret, Oystercatcher, and swans. Lancing Ring is home to butterflies, adders, common lizards, and a wide array of wildflowers, including early purple orchids and the county flower, round-headed rampion. Its dew pond also supports dragonflies and newts.

Yes, several natural monuments around Lancing have significant historical importance. Devil's Dyke was an Iron Age hillfort. Chanctonbury Ring hillfort is a late Bronze or early Iron Age site. Cissbury Ring Circular Trail goes around Cissbury Ring Iron Age Fort, the second largest hill fort in England. Lancing Ring is also the likely site of an Iron Age shrine and a Romano-Celtic temple, with Anglo-Saxon burial grounds nearby.

For families, Devil's Dyke offers open spaces for hiking and relaxing. The Cissbury Ring Circular Trail is also noted as family-friendly, providing historical interest and views. Widewater Lagoon offers an easy, tranquil walk along the seafront for observing coastal wildlife. Lancing Ring provides diverse habitats and panoramic views, suitable for family walks and nature observation.

The Lancing area offers various outdoor activities. You can find numerous cycling routes, including easy options like the 'Beach Huts – Downs Link along the River Adur loop' or more challenging ones like 'View from the Devil's Dyke'. For hiking, there are trails such as the 'View of Shoreham Airport – Shoreham Toll Bridge loop' or the longer 'Langmead Memorial – Chanctonbury Ring hillfort loop'. Mountain biking enthusiasts can explore routes like the 'Chanctonbury, Cissbury and Lancing Rings loop'. You can find more details on these activities in the cycling guide, hiking guide, and MTB trails guide for Lancing.

Several natural monuments offer stunning panoramic views. Chanctonbury Ring hillfort provides sublime views over the South Downs countryside. From Cissbury Ring Circular Trail, you can see south towards Worthing and the sea. Langmead Memorial and Truleigh Hill, both high points on the South Downs Way, offer excellent panoramic views over the Weald, Shoreham, the Adur Estuary, Brighton, and the English Channel. Lancing Ring also boasts panoramic views across the Sussex countryside towards the English Channel.

The summer months are generally the best time to visit for wildflowers. Devil's Dyke is home to wildflowers, and Lancing Ring's diverse habitats ensure a vibrant display of flora throughout the year, with summer boasting the greatest concentration of flowers, including early purple orchids and round-headed rampion.

Lancing Ring is publicly accessible. You can reach it via car, with car parks available off Mill Road and Halewick Lane. For more detailed information on Lancing Ring, you can visit the Adur & Worthing Councils website: adur-worthing.gov.uk.

Yes, Widewater Lagoon, located along the Lancing seafront, is a unique brackish lagoon and a prime spot for birdwatching. Its changing seasons bring a rich diversity of birdlife, including Little Egrets, Oystercatchers, and swans.

The Lancing area is known for its chalkland valleys and formations. Devil's Dyke is a prominent v-shaped chalkland dry valley. Lancing Ring features a chalk pit containing Tarrant chalk, which has yielded important fossil discoveries, offering insights into the local geology.

Visitors frequently praise the stunning views, especially from locations like Devil's Dyke, Chanctonbury Ring hillfort, and Truleigh Hill. The tranquility and opportunity to observe diverse wildlife, particularly butterflies at Cissbury Ring and birds at Widewater Lagoon, are also highly valued. Many appreciate the historical significance of the hillforts and the chance to engage with nature.

Yes, Cissbury Ring Iron Age Fort is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), recognized for its ecological importance, particularly its variety of butterflies.