Level: 4
Distance
17 miles
Ride Type
XC
Ascent
1,770 ft
Wiston and the Rings
From £48.00 inc. VAT
Discovering prehistoric hill forts on two wheels with sea views and amazing South Downs bridleways to link it all together. This is what makes this cross-country MTB ride a sure fire winner for all levels.
Whether as a custom private experience or as part of a Marmalade open group ride, this guided ride combines the best of West Sussex’s countryside with expert support and assistance from an experienced local guide.
If you need to hire a bike, check availability first using the Bike Hire selector below.
Choose between:
Welcome to our backyard which is brimming with South Downs rides for beginners. This area of the National Park, is home to many of the Marmalade team. The dense network of bridleways that spread out from the river Adur at Shoreham and high above Worthing and Steyning make this area a superb location for cross-country (XC) mountain biking.
This is the ride we used to call our ‘Tour de Rings’.
Our open group rides are based from the Wiston Estate’s marvellous Chalk restaurant, though for private bookings, we can offer a range of alternative starting points, including the villages of Findon or Lancing.
We climb up onto the South Downs for a ride that includes the prehistoric hill forts of Cissbury Ring, Chanctonbury Ring and Lancing Ring. This loop that we take you on that includes circumnavigation of these ancient settlements, is perfect for any level of mountain biker looking to explore and take in this stunning area with its sea views.
Perfect for the new mountain miker
If you have recently taken up off-road cycling or have taken part in our other South Downs rides, then Wiston and the Rings would be the ideal ‘next ride’ for you on your mountain biking journey.
What to expect!
You will need to an active person with regular cycling fitness in your legs to be able to enjoy our sociable South Downs rides for beginners. However, as mentioned above if you have recently joined us on our introductory rides, then this loop will be the perfect next step for you. In true South Downs style the riding is good old-fashion cross-country, with long but rewarding climbs and open epic views. The riding is a mixture of stunning double and single track bridleways to the super fun and flat out South Downs Way. The terrain is not overly technical, however, a couple of the descents do require confident bike handling techniques. Wiston and the Rings provides an exciting mixture to inject plenty of fun and a sense of challenge for all levels, especially novice mountain bikers.
If you are still not sure whether this ride is for you, then please do not hesitate to contact us by clicking here.
The area and the trails
This part of the South Downs offers an amazing network of bridleway trails that link seamlessly together to explore this stunning and ancient part of the South East. The majority of this classic ride handles the variety of weather very well but in places is exposed and therefore we would recommend packing an additional layer and your shades, when the sun is out and gleaming off the English Channel and the chalk.
Riding with Marmalade
We pride ourselves on creating the perfect vibe that makes everyone feel comfortable and confident to maximise your enjoyment during our guided South Downs rides. Combine this super fun and relaxed atmosphere with our expert knowledge and professionalism we will guarantee you the best day out on your bike to discover the trails of the South Downs National Park.
- Duration: We have all day, if we need it!
- Distance: 17 miles (approx.)
- Elevation gain: 1,770 ft (approx.)
- Technical Grade: Novice, but a cracking ride for all levels!
(any questions, please contact us) - Group ride meet time: 9.30 am | 10.00 am on bikes
- Group ride meet point: Chalk restaurant, Wiston Winery, West Sussex
- Private experience meet point: We can arrange a starting point to suit you. Options include the Wiston Estate’s Chalk restaurant, or the villages of Lancing or Findon.
- Group size: 3-8 (max.)
What’s included
- Fully guided by a professional MTB leader
- This ride is aimed at almost all levels who like cross-country style mountain biking
- You are a minimum of an advanced novice off-road rider
- Or you are a regular cyclist looking for a challenging, rewarding and sociable guided mountain bike ride
- You are an active person who has the personal fitness to ride for at least 2-4 hours at a social and comfortable pace
- You will be confident in basic bike handling skills and proficient with operating your bicycle in the correct manner
- The trails will include features such as roots and small loose rocks, along with small rollable slopes. All of which are rollable or can be ridden around
- All the trails will have options to ride around features that you do not feel comfortable riding
- You have your own suitable mountain bike (Hybrid and budget bicycles are not suitable for this ride)
- Click here if you would like to hire a bike
- The ride does contain a limited number of undulating and in places challenging climbs
- You are aged 18 and over unless accompanied by an adult also participating on this ride
- If this sounds a little beyond your current skill and fitness level, please contact us for other options
Equipment, kit and clothing
- Suitable mountain bike in good working order*
- Helmet*
- Gloves and glasses
- Backpack
- Spare inner tube
- Puncture repair kit and bicycle pump
- Clothing & shoes appropriate for cycling and weather conditions on the day
- Padded cycling shorts for comfort
- Personal choice of drink and ride snacks
* without these you will not be able to take part in the guided ride Our guides carry an extensive kit to assist with trail-side repairs
What’s not included
- Bike hire
- Personal clothing & equipment
- Overnight accommodation
- Pre, during or post activity refreshments
- Transfers to & from location
- Personal travel/activity Insurance
Booking this ride as a custom experience
Base price of £180 is for one to four people. Add more riders for a group of five to eight using the ‘Extras’ drop down menu.
If you want a completely bespoke guided ride, then choose the ‘Custom Half or Full Day’ option from the ‘Experiences’ drop down menu.
Still not sure what experience is for you or have a question? Then please send Sean an email here.
Need to hire a bike? Then after you have booked your guided ride, scroll down or click here to reserve your bike with our friends at Riverside South Downs.
(All prices include VAT)
Bike hire selection
- From the system below choose the date to match our open group or your custom ride
- We recommend the 4 hour duration as a minimum
- Select normal mountain bike or electric mountain bike
- Choose the size of bike, based on your height
- Go to checkout and complete the bike hire reservation
- Book your place on the open group ride from the ‘Group ride dates‘ drop down menu above
Please Note:
The bike hire system below can sometimes have a delay before it has fully loaded. If it fails to show, then visit Riverside South Downs direct to reserve your bike. Then return to this page to confirm your place on our guided ride.
(** Marmalade MTB is not responsible for the provision of these bikes. By using the system below you are booking direct with Riverside South Downs)
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Sara Billingham –
Brilliant ride expertly guided by Clive. Ride has a great mix of trails and some great views. I’ve ridden with Clive before and he’s a fantastic guide – always supportive, very knowledgeable and great at leading a group. Thank you for a fab day!
David Collin –
Fantastic scenery, in a beautiful part of Sussex.
Loved this ride with a really Casual vibe and lots of local knowledge from guide Clive.
This ride had it all with climbs, fast rolling descents and some technical single track.
A must do ride for any XC fan. Can’t wait to do this again.
Louise Pickles –
I recently joined Clive on an epic day out at the South Downs “Tour de Rings”. Despite the rain and the cold Clive made exploring the beauty and the many ups and downs of the area a real treat! It was evident that Clive knows the area really well and takes pleasure in showing off the natural beauty. He has an effortless way of providing directions while preparing you for the next bit of the trip and keeping up historical references to the areas of interest. It certainly piqued my interest in the 3 day South Downs Way trip! The day provided cross country mountain biking with a few spicy downhill trails – well worth the subsequent uphill climb. I had a brilliant day out and would recommend this to anyone.