Worthing Downland Estate

Worthing Downland Estate is a protected area in West Sussex covering about 150 acres of natural landscapes with rolling hills and diverse grasslands. Located within the South Downs National Park, it offers multiple entry points connected by pathways that link to a broader network of countryside trails.

In the 1930s, local residents started a public campaign to protect the land from development, which led to the Worthing Borough Council acquiring it. This early protection effort marked a significant moment in efforts to preserve the region's countryside.

The estate contains historic pathways that show centuries of human activity, from ancient livestock routes to traditional trade paths. These routes remain visible today and demonstrate how people shaped the landscape over time.

The area is accessible on foot and by bicycle with multiple entry points spread across the site. The connected pathways make it easy to explore and connect to surrounding walking routes.

The estate houses neolithic flint mines and remains from the Iron Age, showing continuous human presence across different historical periods. These archaeological finds make the land a window into thousands of years of human settlement in the region.