Probably loads of people know about this, but if you are in the South East we have just discovered the downs link.
https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/leisu.../walking-horse-riding-and-cycling/downs-link/
37 miles of traffic free cycling on a reasonably good (towpath quality mostly) surface. There's a route PDF which breaks it up into 6 sections so you can choose to do a particular bit.We did part of the 3rd section a few weeks ago, and I think me and the older daughter will probably do the whole route one weekend.
UPDATE!
My daughter and I did the whole route yesterday. This bit from the Website:-
is NONSENSE.
*IF* you start at St Martha's Hill as indicated, you will start on 2 miles of fairly tough extreme mountain biking terrain. Steep rocky gullies, deep patches of sand, narrow deep trenches worn into the hillside etc. If you have road bikes or gravel bikes you will be doing 2 miles of walking until you hit the road. Once you get to the road, someone didn't bother to put signs up. The *actual* start point of the railway line is accessed from Broadford on the A28. Follow the Wey downstream until you reach a world war two pillbox. That is where the old train line starts. Alternatively Bramley is a lovely place to start, just make sure you go the right way!
Most of the route is lovely although there is some very dodgy signage here and there. Stick with signs that say "Downs Link Bridleway" and when the trail is lost look a *long* way round to find the Down's link signs as they aren't always obvious. At South WOod you have to head for the car park, go back on yourself and Ignore the massive PRIVATE KEEP OUT sign on the linkway as it pertains to the property next door.
At Christs Hospital ignore the Downs LInk sign that wants to sent you off down the hill and follow the bridleway sign instead.
Finally - at 10 miles to go - make sure you stop at Stan's Bike Shack Cafe. They have amazing chocolate fudge brownie muffins. Not to be missed!
As you can tell, we went wrong a number of times and did 45 miles instead of 37, two of which were trying to follow the route from St Marthas Hill.
https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/leisu.../walking-horse-riding-and-cycling/downs-link/
37 miles of traffic free cycling on a reasonably good (towpath quality mostly) surface. There's a route PDF which breaks it up into 6 sections so you can choose to do a particular bit.We did part of the 3rd section a few weeks ago, and I think me and the older daughter will probably do the whole route one weekend.
UPDATE!
My daughter and I did the whole route yesterday. This bit from the Website:-
is NONSENSE.
*IF* you start at St Martha's Hill as indicated, you will start on 2 miles of fairly tough extreme mountain biking terrain. Steep rocky gullies, deep patches of sand, narrow deep trenches worn into the hillside etc. If you have road bikes or gravel bikes you will be doing 2 miles of walking until you hit the road. Once you get to the road, someone didn't bother to put signs up. The *actual* start point of the railway line is accessed from Broadford on the A28. Follow the Wey downstream until you reach a world war two pillbox. That is where the old train line starts. Alternatively Bramley is a lovely place to start, just make sure you go the right way!
Most of the route is lovely although there is some very dodgy signage here and there. Stick with signs that say "Downs Link Bridleway" and when the trail is lost look a *long* way round to find the Down's link signs as they aren't always obvious. At South WOod you have to head for the car park, go back on yourself and Ignore the massive PRIVATE KEEP OUT sign on the linkway as it pertains to the property next door.
At Christs Hospital ignore the Downs LInk sign that wants to sent you off down the hill and follow the bridleway sign instead.
Finally - at 10 miles to go - make sure you stop at Stan's Bike Shack Cafe. They have amazing chocolate fudge brownie muffins. Not to be missed!
As you can tell, we went wrong a number of times and did 45 miles instead of 37, two of which were trying to follow the route from St Marthas Hill.
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