Downs Link from Guildford to Shoreham-on-Sea

[Stephen Richards]

Browsing the sustrans on-line maps, this route looks almost too good to
be true - on disused railway track so no steep hills, and completely
traffic free. Has anyone done it? Is the surface suitable for hybrid
bikes, or is it mountain bike territory only?

 

[David Martin]

Stephen Richards wrote:
> Browsing the sustrans on-line maps, this route looks almost too good to
> be true - on disused railway track so no steep hills, and completely
> traffic free. Has anyone done it? Is the surface suitable for hybrid
> bikes, or is it mountain bike territory only?

It goes through Shoreham, so be prepared for tornados, man-eating
brambles, potholes that swallow busses, and shrimps on bicycles..

Oops, wrong list..

...d

 

[Tim Hall]

On Mon, 05 Jun 2006 19:47:43 +0100, Stephen Richards
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Browsing the sustrans on-line maps, this route looks almost too good to
>be true - on disused railway track so no steep hills, and completely
>traffic free. Has anyone done it? Is the surface suitable for hybrid
>bikes, or is it mountain bike territory only?

I'd say a hybrid can cope with it, no problem. I've ridden tandems
(various) and a Pedersen along bits of it. There is a bit of a hill
at the Guildford end, but from memory that's mostly downwards as you
peel off St Martha's Hill. There's another slight hill around
Rudgewick where it diverts through the woods around a closed tunnel.


Beware horses and give way to them, after making your presence softly
known.


Tim

 

[MartinM]

Stephen Richards wrote:
> Browsing the sustrans on-line maps, this route looks almost too good to
> be true - on disused railway track so no steep hills, and completely
> traffic free. Has anyone done it? Is the surface suitable for hybrid
> bikes, or is it mountain bike territory only?

Haven't done the S end since it was Sustrans-ised but yes almost flat;
beware however between Shoreham and Bramber much of it has been built
over; I think the diversions are either along the river; well actually
alongside ;-) or the (lumpy) road thru Botolphs. The bit through
Horsham was a bit mucky last year (but I was on 20mm tyres)

 

[Al C-F]

David Martin wrote:
> Stephen Richards wrote:
>
>>Browsing the sustrans on-line maps, this route looks almost too good to
>>be true - on disused railway track so no steep hills, and completely
>>traffic free. Has anyone done it? Is the surface suitable for hybrid
>>bikes, or is it mountain bike territory only?
>
>
> It goes through Shoreham, so be prepared for tornados, man-eating
> brambles, potholes that swallow busses, and shrimps on bicycles..
>
> Oops, wrong list..
>

Said list seemed mightily quiet, last time I poked my nose in there.
Though the resident to whom you refer was still making eyeore look cheerful.

 

[Colin McKenzie]

Al C-F wrote:
> David Martin wrote:
>> It goes through Shoreham, so be prepared for tornados, man-eating
>> brambles, potholes that swallow busses, and shrimps on bicycles..
>>
>> Oops, wrong list..
>
> Said list seemed mightily quiet, last time I poked my nose in there.
> Though the resident to whom you refer was still making eyeore look
> cheerful.

It seems to be defunct now. Rather a pity, I feel, but I suppose
people feel they can say all they want on this newsgroup, without
being swamped by too much irrelevant stuff.

Colin McKenzie

--
On average in Britain, you're more likely to get a head injury walking
a mile than cycling it.
So why aren't we all exhorted to wear walking helmets?

 

[stephen.richards]

Stephen Richards wrote:
> Browsing the sustrans on-line maps, this route looks almost too good to
> be true - on disused railway track so no steep hills, and completely
> traffic free. Has anyone done it? Is the surface suitable for hybrid
> bikes, or is it mountain bike territory only?


Thanks to Tim and Martin for advice - I shall definitely give it a go.

Stephen

 

[Noel]

On Mon, 05 Jun 2006 19:47:43 +0100, Stephen Richards wrote:

> Browsing the sustrans on-line maps, this route looks almost too good to
> be true - on disused railway track so no steep hills, and completely
> traffic free. Has anyone done it? Is the surface suitable for hybrid
> bikes, or is it mountain bike territory only?

I did this about a month ago but went from Shoreham to Bramber. 40
miles and it is all pretty flat and the paths are pretty good generally.
Very nice some of the old railway stations and we enjoyed a couple pints
en route at two pubs. Some bits on road but these are quite quiet.

We had read some reviews of the Bax Castle pub and looked forward to
meeting the fantastically rude, Fawltyesque landlord. Desperately
disappointed, we had a lovely chat with the very helpful old boy behind
the bar about local beers, weather etc. Perhaps he wasn't the
landlord?

Take the OS maps (186, 187, 198) as the guide supplied by Waverley
Council is very much an overview plus some of the signage could be
better.

Noel

 

[[email protected]]

Stephen Richards wrote:
> Browsing the sustrans on-line maps, this route looks almost too good to
> be true - on disused railway track so no steep hills, and completely
> traffic free. Has anyone done it? Is the surface suitable for hybrid
> bikes, or is it mountain bike territory only?

Ridden from Horsham to Shoreham on this route 2 years ago.

Great route, hybrid will be OK. I'm waiting for a chance to ride the
route again.

I prefer to leave the downslink where it crosses the South Downs Way
(SDW) and follow SDW to Devils Dyke. Then, turn right and use new off
road cycle path to Brighton. You'll need a mountain bike for SDW.

Route is a little vague in places so it's best to carry a decent map.

regards

Davy

 

[squeaker]

Stephen Richards wrote:
> Browsing the sustrans on-line maps, this route looks almost too good to
> be true - on disused railway track so no steep hills, and completely
> traffic free. Has anyone done it? Is the surface suitable for hybrid
> bikes, or is it mountain bike territory only?
There's at least 2 charity rides (Anthony Nolan and British Heart
Foundation?) down most of it each year. Mostly minor gradients, except
the one haul where you can't go through Baynards Tunnel. Personally I
wouldn't do it following significant rain in the previous week, as some
bits get very mucky - it's mostly unpaved tracks - and the last bit
going south to Shoreham from Bramber (actually the Coastal Link) is
covered in fine sand + puddles = grinding paste :{
But, as a summer adventure - go for it!

 

[MartinM]

[email protected] wrote:
> Stephen Richards wrote:
> > Browsing the sustrans on-line maps, this route looks almost too good to
> > be true - on disused railway track so no steep hills, and completely
> > traffic free. Has anyone done it? Is the surface suitable for hybrid
> > bikes, or is it mountain bike territory only?
>
> Ridden from Horsham to Shoreham on this route 2 years ago.
>
> Great route, hybrid will be OK. I'm waiting for a chance to ride the
> route again.
>
> I prefer to leave the downslink where it crosses the South Downs Way
> (SDW) and follow SDW to Devils Dyke. Then, turn right and use new off
> road cycle path to Brighton.

the old railway line I presume? used to finish at the golf course,
does it go all the way up to the old station site (by the road
junction) now?

 

[squeaker]

MartinM wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> > Stephen Richards wrote:
> > > Browsing the sustrans on-line maps, this route looks almost too good to
> > > be true - on disused railway track so no steep hills, and completely
> > > traffic free. Has anyone done it? Is the surface suitable for hybrid
> > > bikes, or is it mountain bike territory only?
> >
> > I prefer to leave the downslink where it crosses the South Downs Way
> > (SDW) and follow SDW to Devils Dyke. Then, turn right and use new off
> > road cycle path to Brighton.
>
> the old railway line I presume? used to finish at the golf course,
> does it go all the way up to the old station site (by the road
> junction) now?
Yes, but I suspect that David meant the off-road path that follows the
side of the paved road all the way down to the A27 crossing at the top
of Dyke Road. You can then enjoy a long downhill cycle lane of
miniscule width, frequently (always) blocked by parked cars as you
speed down Dyke Road itself into Brighton