Downs Link
The Downs Link is a path and bridleway in South East England. It connects the North Downs Way at St Martha's Hill in Surrey with the South Downs Way near Steyning in West Sussex, from where it continues as the Coastal Link to Shoreham-by-Sea. The majority of the route follows the track beds of two former railway lines, the Cranleigh Line and the Steyning Line, both of which closed in the mid-1960s.
The path was opened from St Martha's Hill to the South Downs Way on 9 July 1984, with ceremonies at the former Baynards station, in Surrey, and at St Botolph's, in West Sussex. The extension to Shoreham-by-Sea opened on 4 October 1993. The path is managed as a collaboration between Surrey County Council, West Sussex County Council and Waverley Borough Council. The Downs Link forms part of National Route 223 of the National Cycle Network, and intersects several other long-distance paths, including the Greensand Way, Wey South Path and Sussex Border Path.
Since much of the Downs Link runs along closed railway lines, the path is mostly gently graded. Evidence of the route's past includes the double bridge over the River Arun at Rudgwick, and station platforms at, Baynards, and. The off-road surface varies between compacted earth, gravel and asphalt, and there are short on-road sections at Christ's Hospital, Partridge Green and Henfield. A fatal collision occurred between a cyclist and a motor vehicle in 2020 at Rudgwick, where local campaigners have called for a bridge to carry the Downs Link over the A281 road.
Route
Overview
The Downs Link is a path and bridleway in South East England. It runs from the North Downs Way at St Martha's Hill in Surrey to Shoreham-by-Sea on the English Channel in West Sussex. It is accessible for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Much of the route runs along the track beds of two former railway lines, which were closed in the mid-1960s. The official emblem of the Downs Link, which appears on direction signs and publicity material, is a stylised version of the Rudgwick double bridge, completed in 1865.Unlike the National Trails, which are supported by the UK government through Natural England, the Downs Link is a collaborative project between Surrey County Council, West Sussex County Council and Waverley Borough Council. The path was originally opened in 1984 as a link between the North Downs Way at St Martha's Hill and the South Downs Way at St Botolph's near Steyning, but was extended southwards to Shoreham-by-Sea in 1993. It intersects other long-distance routes, including the Greensand Way, Wey South Path and Sussex Border Path. It also forms part of National Route 223 of the National Cycle Network, which runs from the River Thames at Chertsey to the English Channel.
The northern trailhead, St Martha's Hill, is on the Greensand Ridge, a prominent sandstone escarpment that runs parallel to and south of the North Downs. The well-drained, sandy soils support oak woodland, with an abundance of hazel, holly and hawthorn. South of the River Tillingbourne, the land is marshier and plant species such as alder, poplar and willow can be found. The acidic, sandy soils in the Blackheath and Chinthurst Hill areas support birch, broom and pine, as well as gorse and heather. Between Bramley and Bramber, the Downs Link runs across Weald Clay and the landscape is dominated by open farmland and mature woodland. The southernmost part of the route runs along the broad valley cut through the South Downs by the tidal River Adur. Part of the Adur Estuary is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and provides a habitat for bird species such as lapwing, ringed plover, dunlin and redshank.
Since so much of the Downs Link runs along closed railway lines, the path is mostly gently graded. The steepest sections of the route, north of Chinthurst Hill and south of, were not part of the original track bed. There are short on-road sections at, Partridge Green and Henfield, and the path crosses the busy A281 at Rudgwick. The off-road surface varies between compacted earth, gravel and asphalt, and several guidebooks report that the unpaved sections can be muddy after wet weather.
St Martha's Hill to Christ's Hospital
From the northern trailhead on St Martha's Hill, above ordnance datum, the Downs Link descends into the valley of the River Tillingbourne, before swinging west towards Chinthurst Hill. At Tannery Lane Bridge it is joined by the link from Guildford town centre, opened in 2006. From there, it runs along the alignment of the former Cranleigh Line, passing through the former Bramley & Wonersh station, where the platforms were restored between 2003 and 2005. Between Tannery Lane and the hamlet of Rowly, the disused Wey and Arun Canal is visible in several places, and the path runs parallel to the Cranleigh Waters, a tributary stream of the River Wey.At Cranleigh, a shopping centre development forces the Downs Link to the south of the original railway alignment, but the route returns to the original track bed at the south end of Snoxhall Fields. Although much of Baynards station survives, it is a private residence and is not accessible to public. From Baynards station, the Downs Link deviates from the course of the Cranleigh Line to climb over the hill above the inaccessible Baynards Tunnel. No trace remains of Rudgwick station, and the bridge over the A281 has also been dismantled. The path crosses the River Arun on the top deck of the double bridge, completed in 1865. Although Slinfold station was completely demolished after the closure of the railway, the Cranleigh Line platforms at Christ's Hospital were restored in 2000.
| Point of interest | Description | Coordinates |
| St Martha's Hill | Northern trailhead on the North Downs Way | |
| Bramley & Wonersh station | Platforms refurbished and replica level crossing gates installed in 2003–2005 | |
| Cranleigh station | Station and goods yard demolished, now the site of the Stocklund Square shopping centre | |
| Baynards station | Station is a private residence. | |
| Rudgwick station | Station demolished and replaced by a health centre | |
| River Arun bridge | The upper bridge deck was installed in 1865 to ease the steep approach to Rudgwick station. | |
| Slinfold station | Station demolished and replaced by a caravan park | |
| Christ's Hospital station | Station open; abandoned Cranleigh Line platforms restored in 2000 |
Christ's Hospital to Shoreham-by-Sea
Between Christ's Hospital and Shoreham-by-Sea, the Downs Link mostly follows the route of the former Steyning Line. The path runs through the site of Southwater station, where only short sections of the platforms survive. After passing Southwater Country Park, opened in 1985 on the site of a former brickworks, it continues under the A24, before reaching West Grinstead station. The platforms at this station are mostly intact, and a railway signal and a replica station sign have been installed by the local parish council. A Mark 1 railway carriage acts as an information point for walkers, and the old stationmaster's house is now a base for the WSCC Low Weald Countryside Rangers. At the south end of West Grinstead station, the path runs beneath the A272 in an underpass tunnel, built in 1987 as part of a road improvement scheme.There are no traces of the stations at and, and the Downs Link briefly leaves the railway alignment at both locations to avoid subsequent development. The path crosses the River Adur at Betley Bridge and Stretham Bridge, to the north and south of Henfield respectively. Between Stretham Bridge and Bramber Castle, it diverges from the route of the Steyning Line to avoid sections of the former track bed in private ownership. The original railway bridge at Beeding was dismantled after the Steyning Line closed, and so the Downs Link crosses the River Adur for the third time via Bramber Bridge, which it shares with the South Downs Way. The path then follows the east bank of the river for the remaining to Shoreham-by-Sea, passing to the west of Shoreham cement works, where it rejoins the former track bed. The Downs Link remains on the former railway alignment to its southern terminus, close to Shoreham-by-Sea station.
| Point of interest | Description | Coordinates |
| Christ's Hospital | School designed by Aston Webb and opened in 1902 | |
| Itchingfield Junction | The Steyning Line diverged from the Arun Valley Line at this junction. | |
| Southwater station | The Lintott Square development, completed in 2004, covers most of the station site, but short sections of the platforms remain. | |
| Southwater Country Park | The country park opened in June 1985 on the site of a former brickworks. | |
| West Grinstead station | Platforms survive; a Mark 1 railway carriage stands in the former goods yard | |
| Partridge Green station | Station demolished and replaced by an industrial estate | |
| Betley Bridge | The original railway bridge crosses the eastern branch of the River Adur | |
| Henfield station | Station demolished and replaced by residential development | |
| Stretham Bridge | The original railway bridge crosses the River Adur | |
| Steyning station | Station demolished and replaced by Steyning bypass | |
| Bramber Castle | A ruined motte-and-bailey castle occupied from 1075 to | |
| Bramber station | Station demolished and replaced by a roundabout on the Steyning bypass | |
| Bramber Bridge | The South Downs Way also crosses the River Adur on this bridge, which was opened in 1974. | |
| Shoreham cement works | Served by rail until 1981 | |
| Shoreham Tollbridge | Erected in 1781; Grade II* listed | |
| Shoreham-by-Sea | Southern trailhead |