my photos

the downs link stage one

run common - bramley - st martha's hill

The Downs Link bridleway was established in 1984 to link together the North Downs and the South Downs Way. The trail crosses the Low Weald and mostly follows two former railway lines. Much of the track is owned and jointly managed by West Sussex/Surrey County Councils and Waverley Borough Council.



We cycle alongside former navigable stretches of the Wey & Arun Canal, which closed in 1871, through Run Common. The Wey & Arun Canal Trust aim to restore London's lost route to the sea, back to navigation.



Under a railway bridge along leafy woodland paths where I spot a grey squirrel rummaging in the undergrowth.



Through replica crossing gates into the grounds of the old station. Click on Cranleigh Railway Info for nostalgic photos from the archives.



So the story goes, the enamel sign was returned to the station in the mid 1990s, after being used for many years as a shelf in a greenhouse in Worthing!



When the station building was finally demolished, the corner holding the postbox was left.



A replica waiting room has been built alongside a restored platform edge.



The last train pulled out of Bramley & Wonersh station on its way to Horsham, on the 12th of June 1965.



Blackheath village traces its roots back to 1833, before which there is no record of a rate paying inhabitant. There is a monastery nearby.



Pine with needles and roots underfoot, along with birch and oak, define the landscape in this area.



85% of Surrey heathland has been lost since 1752, and the careful removal of trees is helping to restore this. The acidic, sandy soil is perfect growing conditions for heather and gorse.



During World War Two, the Canadian army were based on the common, which excluded villagers and livestock from the heath.



No doubt this stage is the most enduring, only the superfit can cycle the steep hill up towards St Marthas. My bike was pushed for me on this stage, with me lagging behind with hands on waist!



A 59 kilometre (37 mile) route which is open to walkers, horse riders and cyclists. By reaching this plaque we have now completed each stage of the Downs Link.



Looking down on a beautiful Weald & Downland landscape where on a clear day eight counties can be seen. The woodland here comprises of oak, holly, hawthorn and hazel, and in Spring, bluebells.



Having come to the conclusion we may not visit this area again, we took the final steep incline up to St Martha's church, which sits on the top of the hill. Dating back to the twelfth century, this church became a ruin after the dissolution of the monasteries, and was restored during the nineteenth century.



On the way up we passed a couple of walkers, who had great pleasure in letting us know there is free tea and cakes on offer. No time to sit on this bench!
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We parked up the bikes and headed towards the gathering crowd, the friends of the church, who were holding their annual Easter Fun Day. We left a small donation towards the restoration fund, and with cup of tea and chocolate buttercream slab cake in hand, we sat for a short while before making tracks back to Bramley Station.

After having cycled this stage in drizzly rain and poor visibility, which makes for very difficult cycling and muddy conditions underfoot, it was an enormous relief to see our van parked up, waiting to bring us back home, and dry!

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my photos

the downs link stage 2 ...

rudgwick - baynards - cranleigh - run common

This stage takes us across the border of West Sussex into the county of Surrey, cycling through autumnal woodland.



The Double Bridge. The lower brick arch left a steep gradient up to Rudgwick Station. The Board of Trade decided the gradient of 1:80 was too steep and would not allow the railway to open until the gradient was changed to a far gentler 1:130. The embankments were raised, and the girder bridge was built on top of the arch.



A log path leading up an embankment, the woodland in this area being well managed.



This bench came in useful, the inclines on this stage are fairly steep and the ground was wet and soppy. Pretty tricky cycling conditions for a mere amateur like me!



A beautiful period property, its architecture typical of the area with decorative scallop-tile hanging, steeply pitched roof and pretty gabled windows.



St Nicolas Church in Cranleigh. During the last five years £50,000 per annum has been spent on essential repairs and maintenance. This money has all been collected from the fund raising efforts of generous members of the community.



Attractive tree bark amongst headstones, being at rest in the most tranquil of settings.

my photos

the downs link stages 4 and 3 ...

henfield - partridge green - west grinstead - southwater - christs hospital - slinfold - rudgwick

The beautiful, but very inquisitive horse in the foreground came over to the path to see us. The three of us spent a few minutes together before we continued cycling on our way. Not the horse I must add!



An excerpt from Ghosts of Railways Past -

'West Grinstead was always a pretty station made rather quaint by the banks on either side. It was lit by paraffin Tilley lamps. It had an interesting goods yard with a cattle loading bay and facilities for handling horse boxes. With the hunt kennels and national stud there was quite a lot of horse traffic.'



An old carriage stands in the former goods yard. Inside houses a small selection of railway memorabilia.



The original signal still stands, alongside an empty platform; a ghostly reminder of times past.

my photos

the downs link stage 5 ...

bramber - steyning - henfield

We are early to bed and early to rise, so it is no sacrifice for us to get up, out and about as day breaks, this way we get to see a lot of wildlife waking up too. Just as we set off on the stretch from Henfield a large fox ran out in front of our path, a real beauty. In the blink an eye it had disappeared into the undergrowth, so unfortunately I wasn't able to get a photo.



The Downs Link follows former railway lines, and just south of the station site in Henfield is a small housing estate aptly named 'Beechings', a reference to Dr Beeching who was the minister responsible for railway closures in 1966. The last passenger train left Steyning carrying a wreath on its buffers which read 'in loving memory of the faithful'.




The White Hart public house dates back to the 17th century, with low beams, candlelit spaces and an inglenook fireplace.



A picturesque red tile and brick building, T Miles and Son, blacksmiths.

Gold is for the mistress
silver for the maid
copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.

Good! said the Baron, sitting in his hall
but iron, cold iron
is master of them all - Rudyard Kipling

my photos

the downs link stage 6 ...

shoreham-by-sea - botolphs - bramber

Over the past couple of months on a Sunday, we have been out and about on our bikes. We have been cycling the different stages of the Downs Link which starts at the Coastal Link at Shoreham in West Sussex and finishes at St Martha's Hill, near Guildford in Surrey.



The old toll bridge which crosses across the River Adur at Shoreham has recently undergone a major refurbishment, after the ravegings of time and the weather, have finally over the years taken their toll. Built in 1781 to replace the ferry, this last remaining example of this type of bridge has thankfully been given a new lease of life, due to lots of hard work and fundraising by local people.



A very handsome heron, with rather a proud look on his face, guards the Coastal Link path.



To Upper Beeding, engraved on an old wood stump. Handy directions for the cyclist and any insect passing by!



Arriving in Bramber, a pretty village which often wins the accolade of best kept village in the South East.



The remains of Bramber Castle, which is now owned and managed by The National Trust.



Another scene from the village of Bramber, showing the Castle Inn Hotel and a very pretty flint front building, both adorned with very pretty hanging baskets.