Downs Link

The Downs Link is a long distance trail that links the North Downs Way and the South Downs Way. The repurposed railway line is used by cyclists, walkers and horse riders. It also acts as a brilliant corridor for nature, with woods, rivers, streams and ponds along the route.

The route starts at Guildford and finishes near Shoreham-by-Sea on the south coast of the UK. However, we decided to start the ride close to Shalford as the start of the Downs Link near St Martha's church is actually quite steep. The route is mostly down hill taking you from the Downs all the way to the coast with the total ride length about 37 miles (60 km).

It is mostly a continuous off road cycle with some limited road sections. In dry weather the surface is pretty good hard packed gravel but it can get a bit muddy in the winter. There are one to two steep sections along the way but mostly it is quite flat. The ideal bike for the ride is a gravel bike but we used a combination of hard tail MTBs and hybrid bikes with at least 33mm tires.

SUSTRANS provides an excellent stage by stage guide to the route including plenty of usual details of what to look out for en route (see link below).

Ride highlights

• Lunch at a pub along the way.

• Cake and coffee at Stan's bike shack near Partridge Green. Other options include The Milk Churn at Rudgwick which is just off the route.

• Fish and chips on the beach (watch out for the seagulls!)

• Having the option of a return train ride back to Surrey.

Useful links

• https://www.visitsurrey.com/dbimgs/Downs%20Link%206%20Stage%20Route%20Guide(1).pdf

• https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/downs-link

• https://www.cyclinguk.org/route/downs-link-traffic-free-route-guildford-seaside

• https://www.cyclingfromguildford.co.uk/route3.html