From the lay-by to the left of Nepcote Green walk down the bank towards a metal gate passing a house on the right. Go through the gate and turn left following the restricted byway as it leads steadily uphill with horse paddocks either side. Findon is famous for horse racing with Grand National winning trainer Josh Gifford being a former resident.

After around half a mile you come to at a T junction, turn left and walk downhill. When you reach a house with a double garage on the corner turn right onto the tarmac road and pass through the gates. Follow the long drive as it leads up towards Gallops farm.

When you reach Gallops farm continue along the bridleway as it leads straight through past the houses.

At the end of this bridleway is a cross roads. Instead of turning left or right, you should go straight ahead and follow the bridleway across the paddock. At the bottom of the paddock cross the tarmac road and pass through the metal gate as the bridleway continues diagonally across the next paddock.

When you reach the bottom pass through the gate and follow the bridleway straight ahead.

The bridleway now begins to climb steadily again. Soon you will come into a valley with fine views up to your right towards Chanctonbury Ring, an Iron Age hill fort rich in local myth and folklore.

Follow the bridleway as it rises steeply out of the valley and then turn right at the cross roads. As elevation is gained, if you look back to your right there are great views of Cissbury Ring (the largest hill fort in Sussex with a history dating back more than 5,000 years) and beyond that out to sea.

After a long, hard climb, the bridleway joins the South Downs Way at a T junction. Continue straight ahead (bearing right).

After approximately 400 yards you reach a cattle grid leading into an area of access land surrounding Chanctonbury Ring. Cross the cattle grid and follow the main path towards the Iron Age hill fort.

Once past the clump of beech trees on the summit of Chanctonbury Ring continue along the South Downs Way towards a set of metal gates and another cattle grid (walking away from the hill fort).

Once over the cattle grid follow the broad flint and chalk path as it leads downhill. After approximately 250 yards you come to a cross roads – turn right onto the restricted byway.

As you follow this byway there are fine views to the left out to the sea and across to Brighton and beyond.

After approximately one mile the trail forks, continue straight ahead (bearing left). After a further 400 yards the path forks again; continue straight ahead ignoring the right hand trail (this path can get very muddy after periods of wet weather).

After approximately 300 yards you will arrive at some tree trunks used as a barrier. Walk straight ahead through a patch of small bushes in front of the tree trunks. Take the bridleway to the right immediately after the bushes (opposite a large rusty metal gate).

If you’re feeling energetic you can make a detour here by walking straight ahead up to Cissbury Ring. The start point of the walk can be re-joined from Cissbury Ring by following the quiet road back down into Findon Village.

Follow the bridleway downhill (this path can also get very muddy in bad weather) through the paddocks towards a large house. When you get to the road turn right and follow it downhill until you arrive back at the starting point of the walk.

The essentials

DISTANCE/TIME: Six and a half miles. two and a half to three hours BY CAR: Findon village lies four miles north of Worthing. From the A24 There is free parking in the layby on the road to the left of the Green. Postcode: BN14 0NE. Grid Ref: TQ129086.

BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Worthing rail station is four miles south of Findon. There are regular busses between Worthing and Findon. Travel details at www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk, phone 0871 200 2233.

WHAT’S UNDERFOOT: The majority of the walk is on well-defined chalk byways and bridleways. Paths on the second half of the walk can become muddy.Some long climbs but not too steep.

THIRSTY WORK: There’s a selection of pubs in Findon village. The Gun Inn, the Village House and The Black Horse are all within easy reach of the start/end point of the walk.

SO YOU DON’T GET LOST: OS Explorer map 121, plus a compass for general direction.