The Rifle Range. Steyning Downland Scheme

The Rifle Range sits on the chalk downs above Steyning, a reminder of Britain's military past that most walkers miss entirely. It's not dramatic - just a series of grassed-over earthworks and firing positions cut into the hillside - but that's exactly why it matters. Built during the Napoleonic Wars, this is where local militia came to practice their marksmanship on what was then open downland.

What you're actually walking through is a landscape shaped by conflict. The banks and ditches aren't random; they're deliberately engineered firing positions, and once you know that, the whole thing clicks into focus. The views across the Weald are proper lovely, and the walk itself is straightforward enough for families, though younger kids might struggle to see the historical significance without a bit of context.

It's free to access - part of the Steyning Downland Scheme's open access pathways - and you can do this in under an hour as a standalone visit or build it into a longer circular walk. Spring and early summer are best when the chalk grassland flowers are out. Don't come expecting grand structures or interpretation boards. This is landscape archaeology in its purest form: you need to read the ground itself.

If you're staying at Honeybridge Park near Horsham, it's worth a detour for a couple of hours. Pair it with the broader downland walks in the area and you'll see how the Weald's military heritage is quite literally written into the hills.