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I don't post very often but wanted to share my experience last year of riding the Downs Link (Guildford to Shoreham-by-Sea).
It's taken me a week to pull together the pictures and I haven't had chance to go through the text for typos yet but thought people might enjoy the story.
[url= http://www.wildaboutphotos.co.uk/?page_id=958 ]http://www.wildaboutphotos.co.uk/?page_id=958[/url]
Let me know what you think and I'll try and document the return journey over the next week 😮
Nice work, enjoyed that, thanks for sharing it
Great write up. Next time you do it, stop at [url= https://stansbikeshack.coffee ]Stan's Bike Shack[/url] for great coffee and snacks. Not sure how you missed it, as it's right on the trail, where you turn off the shirt section of road, in Partridge Green
Also the Milk Churn Cafe near Rudgewick there is a path to it from the downs link.
I have been up the tower on Chinthurst Hill many years ago, the boards were missing from the windows for a few weeks. There is a lot of rotten flooring in there, great views but the trees weren't as high back then
What is the surface of this trail like? do-able on a road bike when it is dry?
Anyone done a round trip in a day?
You could probably just about scrape by on a road bike if you can get some sturdy tyres in it; I've done it on 32mm file-treads in the dry and it's fine. (Caveat: I normally join the route at Shalford Road near Millmead so I miss out the St Martha's Hill bit.)
You can cover ground pretty quickly apart from slowing for other trail users (who tend mainly to be dog walkers near towns like Cranleigh) so there and back in a day wouldn't be hard if you're comfortable with the same distance on the road. (Not done it myself, but I have turned west along the Downs for a similar distance afterwards.)
I would second what Bex says, robust tyres and you could do it on a road bike. Also there and back in a day is totally do-able.
I reckon I missed some of the more interesting cafe's like Stan's because of the time I was riding. The cafe's were probably closed when I rolled through.
stop at Stan's Bike Shack for great coffee and snacks.
Don't be in a hurry when you get there 🙂
Very laid back and a bit spendy (but nice).
A hybrid/gravel bike is perfect for this ride - there are a couple of sections near a few disused railway bridges where it can be fun to mess around on the slopes to break the monotony of the long flat paths.
A great ride for those looking to add push their boundaries slightly on quiet car-free trails. I particularly enjoy riding 'through' the old disused railway stations.
For the IPA fans - a must-stop is the Dark Star brewery at Partridge Green (some great cycling merchandise available there) - plus theres a lovely Ale shop/bar in Shoreham.
https://www.darkstarbrewing.co.uk/
http://www.oldstarshoreham.co.uk/
OP - if you try the route again then its well worth checking out Lancing College (if you didn't already) - only 5mins ride from the path at Shoreham and lots of good chances to grab some gothic inspired photo's.
Nice write up.
I did it some years back on a Pashley, nice comfy tyres, very pleasant, bumped into some friends in Shoreham, stayed for dinner and came back the next day.
Don't be in a hurry when you get there
That was exactly my thought when I saw Stan's mentioned. I'd still stop there for a coffee though 🙂
If you need cake and coffee towards the northern end, Maison du Velo at Cranleigh is worth a visit.
https://twitter.com/beztweets/status/731033162533490688
Nice shout Bez, i'll give them a go some time.
Also a decent bike shop in Cranleigh if spares/repairs are required - and several in Shoreham if anyone finds they need one.
It's a great ride to do with children. Relatively flat, good surface, plenty of interest on route, targets to aim for and for the most part safe. We really enjoyed it last Spring.
How well does the surface drain? Is it ok to ride in winter?
I'm thinking gravel bike with 40c Nano tyres....
Thanks for taking the effort to write it up.
How well does the surface drain? Is it ok to ride in winter?
Almost word for word what I was about to post.
How well does the surface drain? Is it ok to ride in winter?
I grew up in Southwater, about half way down the Downs Link, generally the surface is hardpacked so drains pretty well, however there are sections where it runs through gullies that get pretty water logged, and it goes across fields at points so gets very boggy, but there are usually routes around these patches. Generally if there hasn't been a downpour for a few days it's reasonable in winter.
Lots of nice pubs if you know where to look. Bax Castle is great for an afternoon pint, and does good food, but the opening hours aren't the best (closes at 6pm on a Sunday, all year) Quite a few more just a short ride from the DL.
Keep an eye out for the double bridge just outside of Rudgwick which is very interesting from an engineering perspective so good point to get off the trail and have a look.
Loving the café and pub recommendations, wish I had asked for food stops on here before doing the ride now ;-).
Once my son is old enough we may have to revisit the route.
Well what a coincidence... Our paths crossed a couple of times on this ride - I was the one commuting back from Slough on the bogie green Kinesis. Can't forget your distinctive Volagi. Lovely pics reminding me of a distant summer.
Ah hoops, nice to meet again. I still maintain you are a bit crazy commuting that far. Was a lovely afternoon for it though.
More please. Return journey?
I love the downslink with kids.. We park the car at a car park ‘a few stops’ away from Southwater Country park, and ride there for ice cream, then come back...
As the boy (and wife) get stronger, we’ll park further away!
It’s super dull as a trail, but great as a ride.
In fact, DrP might think about organising a little DownsLink ride when this bloody rain stops!!
DrP
senor j,
I'm working on it. Going to take a few days as the images need editing and I don't get much time after putting the little one to bed 🙂
We've done it two times now with the kids ... park up, ride a section and back to the car, then the next weekend start at the previous furthest point. Great for building confidence and can increase the length of each section noticeably as they get used to it. Final section done in reverse so we can finish with fish and chips by the sea.
Now they're a bit bigger we've scouted out the Shipwright's Way as a possible next adventure 🙂
I live in Guildford and have never got round to my Brighton awayday - depart earlyish in the am to do the DL as far as St Botolphs, then up to Devil's Dyke, and then drop into Brighton to have a 'wash' in the sea, park the bike in the car which the wife and kids will have brought down and then have the day out in Brighton.
Time estimate? 4-5 hours? leave by 8, there for chips on the pier at lunch?