Cycling in Sussex

Take to two wheels and explore one of Sussex’s cycle routes. Along the way you’ll enjoy the varied landscapes which make up Sussex’s stunning scenery.

The Great Sussex Way is here to guide and inspire you to try out new routes or switch from four wheels to bicycle to discover some of our area’s gems – did you know you can cycle from Chichester to West Wittering beach?

South Downs Cycling

The epic South Downs Way which traverses the entire South Downs National Park from West to East is an epic challenge for serious cyclists, standing at 100 miles long and with a mixture of steep ascents and descents and off-road terrain. The National Park itself provides plentiful opportunities to explore by bike and see the variety of scenery while tackling a range of terrain. Electric bike rental from Southern eBike Rentals allows for bikes to be dropped off and collected at a prearranged location, or from their pop up hire centre at Concierge Camping. They also have plenty of suggested routes you can follow and you can read their top ten tips for mountain biking in the South Downs. More great cycle routes here.

Cycling near Chichester

Centurion Way is a flat, accessible cycle and walking path which begins in the centre of Chichester and ends in the village of West Dean, close to West Dean Gardens. In total the route is 9km and includes an easy-access trail of 1.5km.

Cycling near Amberley

Amberley is a chocolate-box Sussex village dotted with thatched and flint cottages and sits on the River Arun. There are a variety of bike tracks and routes to explore in the area, and excellent views to enjoy from Bignor Hill on this ride here.

Cycling at Black Down

Black Down is the highest point in the South Downs National Park, and the views from here are more than worth making the climb for. Please ensure you stick the bridleways or designated bike trails on your bike while exploring Black Down, avoiding the footpaths due to the fragile heathland habitats which can be destroyed by cycling on this terrain. Look for the bridleway or cycle path signposts or check out your route on an OS Map.

Cycling to the coast

Flatter terrain can be found around Chichester Harbour and on the Manhood Peninsula south of Chichester. There’s a good selection of routes here to be explored, from Salterns Way which connects Chichester to West Wittering beach, and Bill Way (Route 88) which leads from the city to RSPB Pagham Harbour, to a circular trail which leads cyclists around the harbour, exploring the water-side villages and even crossing the water on the small ferry which runs from Itchenor to Bosham. Southern eBike Rental's pop up hire ebike centre at Concierge Camping makes it an ideal location to cycle Salterns Way.