Downs Link

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Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox hiking trail The Downs Link is a Script error: No such module "convert". 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 Template:Rws, Baynards, Template:Rws and Template:Rws. 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

File:Rudgwick double bridge, Cranleigh line, West Sussex.jpg
The Downs Link crosses the River Arun on the upper deck of the double bridge south of Rudgwick station
File:Plaque, with logo of Downs Link and year of path opening, and brick pillar at Baynards station, Surrey - April 2025 - 01.jpg
A plaque at Baynards station with the logo of the Downs Link and the year of opening, 1984

The Downs Link is a Script error: No such module "convert". 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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]Template:SfnTemplate:Efn

Unlike the National Trails, which are supported by the UK government through Natural England,[4] the Downs Link is a collaborative project between Surrey County Council (SCC), West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and Waverley Borough Council.[5][6] 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,[5][6] but was extended southwards to Shoreham-by-Sea in 1993.[7] It intersects other long-distance routes, including the Greensand Way, Wey South Path and Sussex Border Path.[2][8] 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.[9]

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.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn[10] 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.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The acidic, sandy soils in the Blackheath and Chinthurst Hill areas support birch, broom and pine, as well as gorse and heather.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn Between Bramley and Bramber, the Downs Link runs across Weald Clay and the landscape is dominated by open farmland and mature woodland.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn[11] The southernmost part of the route runs along the broad valley cut through the South Downs by the tidal River Adur.Template:Sfn[12] 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.[13]

Since so much of the Downs Link runs along closed railway lines, the path is mostly gently graded.Template:Sfn The steepest sections of the route, north of Chinthurst Hill and south of Template:Rws, were not part of the original track bed.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn There are short on-road sections at Template:Rws,Template:Sfn Partridge Green and Henfield,Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn and the path crosses the busy A281 at Rudgwick.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn 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.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn[14]

St Martha's Hill to Christ's Hospital

File:Christ’s Hospital station disused platforms 22 11 35 880000.jpeg
The Downs Link passing the disused Cranleigh Line platforms at Christ's Hospital station

From the northern trailhead on St Martha's Hill, Template:Cvt above ordnance datum, the Downs Link descends into the valley of the River Tillingbourne, before swinging west towards Chinthurst Hill.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn At Tannery Lane Bridge it is joined by the link from Guildford town centre, opened in 2006.Template:Sfn[15] 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.Template:Sfn[16] 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.Template:Sfn

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.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn[17] Although much of Baynards station survives, it is a private residence and is not accessible to public.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn From Baynards station, the Downs Link deviates from the course of the Cranleigh Line to climb over the hill above the inaccessible Baynards Tunnel.Template:Sfn No trace remains of Rudgwick station,Template:Sfn and the bridge over the A281 has also been dismantled.[18][19] The path crosses the River Arun on the top deck of the double bridge, completed in 1865.[3] Although Slinfold station was completely demolished after the closure of the railway,Template:Sfn the Cranleigh Line platforms at Christ's Hospital were restored in 2000.[20][21]

Points of interest between St Martha's Hill and Christ's Hospital <templatestyles src="Nobold/styles.css"/>(ordered from north to south)
Point of interest Description Coordinates
St Martha's Hill Northern trailhead on the North Downs Way[2] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Bramley & Wonersh station Platforms refurbished and replica level crossing gates installed in 2003–2005[16] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Cranleigh station Station and goods yard demolished, now the site of the Stocklund Square shopping centreTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Baynards station Station is a private residence.[22] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Rudgwick station Station demolished and replaced by a health centreTemplate:Sfn Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
River Arun bridge The upper bridge deck was installed in 1865 to ease the steep approach to Rudgwick station.[3]Template:Sfn Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Slinfold station Station demolished and replaced by a caravan park[23][24] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Christ's Hospital station Station open; abandoned Cranleigh Line platforms restored in 2000[20][21] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".

Christ's Hospital to Shoreham-by-Sea

File:Proceed semaphore signal at West Grinstead - geograph.org.uk - 2627581.jpg
The Downs Link at West Grinstead station

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.Template:Sfn After passing Southwater Country Park, opened in 1985 on the site of a former brickworks,Template:Sfn[25]Template:Efn it continues under the A24, before reaching West Grinstead station.[26] 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.Template:Sfn A Mark 1 railway carriage acts as an information point for walkers,Template:Sfn[27][28] and the old stationmaster's house is now a base for the WSCC Low Weald Countryside Rangers.[29] 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.[30][31]

There are no traces of the stations at Template:Rws and Template:Rws, and the Downs Link briefly leaves the railway alignment at both locations to avoid subsequent development.Template:Sfn The path crosses the River Adur at Betley Bridge and Stretham Bridge, to the north and south of Henfield respectively.[32][33] 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.[32]Template:SfnTemplate:Efn The original railway bridge at Beeding was dismantled after the Steyning Line closed,Template:Sfn and so the Downs Link crosses the River Adur for the third time via Bramber Bridge, which it shares with the South Downs Way.[34] The path then follows the east bank of the river for the remaining Template:Cvt 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.[7]Template:Sfn

Template:Sticky header

Points of interest between Christ's Hospital and Shoreham-by-Sea <templatestyles src="Nobold/styles.css"/>(ordered from north to south)
Point of interest Description Coordinates
Christ's Hospital School designed by Aston Webb and opened in 1902[35] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Itchingfield Junction The Steyning Line diverged from the Arun Valley Line at this junction.Template:Sfn Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Southwater station The Lintott Square development, completed in 2004, covers most of the station site, but short sections of the platforms remain.Template:Sfn Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Southwater Country Park The Template:Cvt country park opened in June 1985 on the site of a former brickworks.[25]Template:Sfn Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
West Grinstead station Platforms survive; a Mark 1 railway carriage stands in the former goods yard[36] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Partridge Green station Station demolished and replaced by an industrial estateTemplate:Sfn[32] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Betley Bridge The original railway bridge crosses the eastern branch of the River Adur[33] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Henfield station Station demolished and replaced by residential developmentTemplate:Sfn[32] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Stretham Bridge The original railway bridge crosses the River Adur[32][33] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Steyning station Station demolished and replaced by Steyning bypassTemplate:Sfn[37] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Bramber Castle A ruined motte-and-bailey castle occupied from 1075 to c. Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[38] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Bramber station Station demolished and replaced by a roundabout on the Steyning bypassTemplate:Sfn[39] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Bramber Bridge The South Downs Way also crosses the River Adur on this bridge, which was opened in 1974.[34] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Shoreham cement works Served by rail until 1981Template:Sfn Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Shoreham Tollbridge Erected in 1781; Grade II* listed[40] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Shoreham-by-Sea Southern trailhead[2] Script error: No such module "Coordinates".

History

File:Cranleigh Station, with Guildford - Horsham train - geograph.org.uk - 2272117.jpg
Cranleigh station in 1957

For much of its route, the Downs Link follows the course of two dismantled railways: the Cranleigh Line, which ran from Peasmarsh Junction near Guildford to Christ's Hospital station, and the Steyning Line, which ran from Christ's Hospital to Template:Rws. Both were listed for closure in the 1963 Beeching report,Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn and passenger services were withdrawn from 14 June 1965 (Cranleigh Line)[41] and 7 March 1966 (Steyning Line).[42][43] Freight services continued to operate on the southernmost section of the Steyning Line, between the cement works at Beeding and Shoreham-by-Sea, until 1981.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Following a failed proposal to run a private train service over the Cranleigh Line, the track was lifted in April 1966,[44] and dismantling work on the Steyning Line began that October.[45]Template:Sfn In December 1966, West Sussex County Council (WSCC) agreed to buy the track beds of the lines south of the border with Surrey, for £165,000 (equivalent to £Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "[". million in Template:Inflation/year), with the intention of converting parts of the routes into roads.[46] In April 1970, much of the route north of Baynards Tunnel was bought by Surrey County Council (SCC) and Hambledon Rural District Council.[47][48]

File:Baynards Tunnel, south portal - April 2025 - 02.jpg
The bricked-up southern portal of Baynards Tunnel

A year after the Cranleigh Line closed, Hambledon Rural District Council suggested that the track bed should be turned into a "walking freeway".[49] In 1973, it signed a seven-year lease on the part of the railway that had been purchased by SCC with the intention of creating a "greenway" between Gosden, north of Bramley, and the border with West Sussex.[50]Template:Efn The works included sealing the entrances to Baynards Tunnel with concrete blocks and filling the cutting on the northern approach with inert waste to create a ramped access to Cox Green Road.[51] A strip of land was purchased to enable the path to reach the county boundary, and drainage, fencing and landscaping works were also undertaken. The total cost of £15,000 (equivalent to £Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "[". in Template:Inflation/year) was funded from the sale of Baynards station.[52]

In West Sussex, WSCC began to sell off and infill sections of the railway lines. In 1968, it authorised the filling of cuttings with domestic waste at Southwater and north of Steyning.[53] Rudgwick and Slinfold stations were demolished and their sites were used for a health centre and caravan park respectively.Template:Sfn[54][55] Similarly, the station sites at Partridge Green and Henfield were sold for development.[32] Construction of the Steyning bypass, which runs along part of the former railway line, began in summer 1978[56] and was completed in July 1981.[57]

File:Downs Link at the north end of the Wappingthorne Estate, West Sussex - April 2025 - 02.jpg
Looking southwards along the Downs Link at the northern end of the Wappingthorne estate: The path turns to the right to avoid a section of former track bed in private ownership.

Plans for a unified long-distance pathway along the courses of the old railways began to emerge in the early 1970s. A report for Hambledon Rural District Council, published in 1971, recommended the development of a route from Bramley to Shoreham-by-Sea, and assessed the cost of infrastructure works to be around £500 per mile (equivalent to £Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "[". in Template:Inflation/year) with an estimated annual maintenance cost of £100 per mile.[58][59] Work to create the new path began at the end of that decade. In 1978, new bridleways were designated north of Steyning, bypassing a section of the railway that had been bought by the Wappingthorne estate.[32][60][61]Template:Efn At Cranleigh, a diversion from the railway route was required to bypass the Stocklund Square development, but the Bonham Trust initially refused permission to create a new bridleway through Snoxhall Fields, which it owned.[17]

The Downs Link, connecting the North Downs Way at St Martha's Hill to the South Downs Way at St Botolph's near Steyning, was formally opened on 9 July 1984 with ceremonies at Baynards station and at the southern terminus of the new route. The path was a joint project between SCC, WSCC and Waverley Borough Council.[5][6] The Downs Link received a commendation in the 1985 National Conservation Award Scheme jointly organised by The Times newspaper and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.[62] That December, Waverley Borough Council and the Bonham Trust concluded a Path Creation Order Agreement, allowing the route through Cranleigh to be finalised.[48] The underpass tunnel beneath the A272, at the south end of the former West Grinstead station, was built in 1987, when the original humpback road bridge was replaced by the current structure.[30][31] The Downs Link extension from the South Downs Way at St Botolph's to Shoreham-by-Sea, also known as the Coastal Link, opened on 4 October 1993.[7]

File:Downs Link Bridge across the River Wey - geograph.org.uk - 2067657.jpg
The Downs Link bridge over the River Wey

In the early 21st century, two separate projects allowed the path to be extended over additional sections of the former Cranleigh Line. Firstly, the demolished railway bridge over the River Wey was rebuilt in July 2006, allowing easier access to the Downs Link from Guildford town centre.[15] Secondly, the Template:Cvt section of the track bed east of Slinfold became part of the route in September 2020. The project, which was funded as a collaboration between Christ's Hospital school and WSCC, included the restoration of the Cranleigh Line platforms at Christ's Hospital station.[20][21] It was made possible through the creation of a new right-of-way between Baystone Bridge and the station in December 2004.[63]Template:Efn

Incidents

File:A281 crossing on the Downs Link - approach from the south - April 2025 - 02.jpg
The approach to the A281 road crossing from the south in 2025

In July 2020, a fatal accident occurred near Rudgwick, in which a cyclist was killed at the intersection between the Downs Link and the A281.[64]Template:Efn At the inquest into the death the following year, the coroner criticised the signage on the approach to the junction from the Downs Link as "inadequate".[65] A campaign by local residents and the family of the victim called for the replacement of the crossing with a bridge. However, a study by WSCC estimated that the cost would be around £2 million and instead proposed the installation of a pegasus crossing, with traffic lights, which would be significantly cheaper.[66][67] A horse was hit by a car at the same crossing in May 2023.[68]

See also

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

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  2. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Template:Unbulleted list citebundle
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  15. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ a b c d e f g Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Template:NHLE
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Template:NHLE
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Template:NHLE
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
  63. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  65. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  67. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  68. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Bibliography

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External links

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Template:Surrey Hills AONB Template:Transport in Surrey

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