Chanctonbury, Cissbury and Lancing Rings loop — South Downs National Park

Head to the seaside town of Shoreham-by-Sea to embark on a journey featuring coastal views, a serene riverside path, ancient hill forts and a wide open stretch of the South Downs ridge.

The route takes in a section of the Downs Link, a former railway path following the course of the River Adur in Shoreham. It climbs Annington Hill, joining the South Downs Way to Chanctonbury Ring, an iron age hillfort. At Steyning Bowl, it briefly shares a bridleway path with the Monarch's Way, a long-distance hiking route.

The Tour passes through the charming village of Findon and edges past Cissbury Ring and Lancing Ring. It concludes with stunning views of the magnificent Gothic-style Lancing College.

Three-quarters of the route is off-road, but the terrain is mostly short grass or relatively compact gravel, therefore suitable for most bikes with wide tyres. There are some sections around Lancing Ring which can get muddy after heavy rain.

Halfway through your trip you'll find yourself in Findon, a pretty village with an inviting pub called The Gun Inn. It's located a few metres off the route in the high street. Alternatively, at the start and end, Shoreham has plenty of pubs, eateries and a small supermarket.

With your start and end point so close to the coast, consider a small detour to the seafront for a post-ride dip. You can follow the Downs Link all the way to the Adur estuary and take the footbridge over to Ferry Road on Shoreham beach.

Shoreham-by-Sea station offers frequent stopping services to London, Brighton, Portsmouth, and Southampton. There are also many residential roads within a two minute cycle from the station that offer unrestricted parking.