Lancing Ring & Steepdown
Rising above the village of Sompting in West Sussex, Steep Down is a quiet gem of the South Downs—a broad, open ridge of chalk grassland with sweeping views across the Adur Valley, Lancing Ring, and the sea beyond. Though not formally designated as a nature reserve, this elevated landscape is part of the South Downs National Park and offers a rich, semi-wild experience shaped by centuries of grazing and exposure to the elements.
The downland here is classic and unspoiled: short, flower-rich turf interspersed with patches of scrub and ancient trackways. On a summer’s day, the air hums with insects and the flutter of butterflies like Chalkhill Blues and Marbled Whites. But it’s the birds that truly animate the slopes.
Skylarks are ever-present, their bubbling songs rising from the grassland. Meadow Pipits and Linnets flit low over the turf, while Corn Buntings—increasingly rare—still cling on here, their jangling songs echoing across the hills. Kestrels and Buzzards patrol the skies, and Red Kites often drift overhead on thermals. In spring and autumn, Swallows, Wheatears, and Chiffchaffs pass through, using the open ridge as a migratory corridor.
A recent eBird checklist recorded over 20 species in a single visit, including Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Goldfinches, and Dunnocks, as well as Barn Swallows and European Starlings. It’s a place where quiet observation is rewarded with glimpses of life shaped by wind, chalk, and sky.