www.westsussex.gov.uk www.westsussex.gov.uk The steam trains and their tracks have long since gone, but... THE HUNDRED YEARS A WEALDEN HOW WE KEEP THE EYE Spy if you listen carefully, sometimes, RAILWAY WONDERLAND RUNNING . . . just sometimes, you can still Wildlife Points tick box Arrival time hear them puffing away. Visit the Downs Link and you will be part of a This railway line was built in the 1860s. It’s a joint effort between 4 An ancestor of yours, heading for a day landscape that is around 25 million years old! and Council Councils, Waverley Primrose (winter/spring) out at the seaside, may have taken Borough Council and dedicated WHAT IS THE DOWNS LINK? the train that passed this way. People A large dome rose out of the sea and volunteers. (spring) 3 blue tit BlueBell It is a long distance, off road route, for walkers, wanted day trips to the seaside, to get over millions of years has been washed cyclists and horse riders. It links the in away from the hustle and bustle blackthorn away. All that remains is a large basin For People Wild Garlic (spring) 2 Surrey and the South Downs in West Sussex. Easily of city life. The to Direct shape and you’re in it! The North Downs We carry out repairs to the path and keep it free accessible from local access points and public and London Brighton South Coast railway on one side and the South Downs on the from obstructions. We put up waymarkers to help transport, the route can be explored in shorter companies made this possible by building other are the rim of this basin! This is the you find your way and build benches so you can Bramble (all year round) 1 sections. bramble a railway on what is today known robin Wealden landscape. sit and ponder. In Surrey you can find the start of the as the Downs Link. Blackthorn (all year round) 2 Downs Link at St Martha’s Hill. Or, for a As you travel along the Downs Link you For Wildlife flatter route, join the Shalford Park cycle Departure time may notice the scenery changing, Since the railway line closed in the 1960s route from Guildford town centre, in So, what happened to this railway? different shapes, different trees and a the embankments and cuttings have Nightingale (spring/summer) 4 easy reach of the station. This will different feel. nightingale mostly grown into woodland. In the 1960s over 4000 miles of railway link up with the Downs Link at wild garlic bullfinch line were closed! And this line was one of Fox (all year round) 4 Broadford Road, Shalford. This change is because of something beneath you. If you had a bird’s-eye view of the Downs them. The closures were recommended by bluebell Under your feet is mud, but under the mud are rocks Link you would see a woodland that Lord Beeching in his infamous Beeching Report. Robin (all year round) 3 WHAT ARE THE DOWNS? of different kinds. was almost 37 miles long! An important habitat, a home for wildlife. They are a range of hills . . . In some places you will see sandstone, which was primrose Blue Tit (all year round) 3 The Downs Link is 37 miles (59km) WHY is it called once the sea bed. In other places you will see We use traditional and modern ways to help

chalk, the remains of prehistoric creatures. And manage this amazing wildlife habitat. long. It follows an old railway line, Bullfinch (all year round) 4 HORSEBACK or

so the route is mostly level. It was then there is the clay, which in some places is over

opened in 1984 by West Sussex the hundred years 300m thick! If you’d like to get involved and become a volunteer BIKE FOOT, on

County Council, Surrey County 100

Years Railway Years If you look out over the Wealden wonderland then please give us a call: Peacock Score Council and Waverley Borough railway? Butterfly Council. It also links two other maybe you will see the landscape change To help in West Sussex: 01243 777620

before your very eyes. Fox /30 long distance routes together - To help in Surrey: 03456 009009 the Discover and Come the and the

South Downs Way. As you travel along the Downs Link you will pass GUIDE ROUTE through the beautiful ancient wooded countryside of Surrey and West Sussex. Then further south you start to smell the sea air and the wooded Silver-washed landscape gives way to the flat Because it lasted for Fritillery butterfly plains of the coast, where you will be greeted by the sights and Use your eyes, ears and nose to find them. Then tick sounds of wading birds. 100 years! the circles and see what your score is. Branch off, discover the sites . . . Running out of steam? Exploring further. . . Delving deeper. . . EYE Spy Getting there . . . Plan your day - discover what the villages have to Who looks after the Downs Link? VISITOR ATTRACTIONS CAFÉ PUBS West Sussex Travel Information West Sussex 01243 777620 offer by looking online. www.westsussex.gov.uk BRAMBER CASTLE www.english-heritage.org.uk THE SEAHORSE, Shalford County Council: www.westsussex.gov.uk Clues Points tick box Bramber tel: 01483 514351 Downs Link Twitter @CountrysideWSCC www.theseahorseguildford.co.uk VILLAGE WEBSITE Email:[email protected] 3 Traveline: (for all travel information) Tunnel www.traveline.info ARTS tel: 01483 278000 THE PARROT, Shalford BRAMBER www.westsussex.info/bramber.shtml tel: 01483 561400 Surrey County 03456 009009 (between Baynards and ) www.cranleighartscentre.org tel: 0871 2002233 CENTRE Cranleigh www.parrotinn.co.uk Council: www.surreycc.gov.uk BRAMLEY www.bramleyparish.co.uk Signal 4 www.surreycc.gov.uk/countryside Be prepared! 01273 492595 THE JOLLY FARMER, Bramley Downs Link FARMERS’ MARKETS - Henfield: tel: 01483 893355 (at West Grinstead)) National Rail Shoreham: 01273 263152, : 01403 215386 www.jollyfarmer.co.uk CHILWORTH www.chilworth2gether.org.uk Platforms 3 www.nationalrail.co.uk • Wear appropriate Explore local foods tel: 08457 484950 clothing THE CRANLEY HOTEL, Cranleigh COPSALE (various places along the route) GUILDFORD BOAT HOUSE, tel: 01483 272827 www.copsalehall.com great places to eat: www.ukfoodfinder.com • There are a few short www.visitsussex.org Running-in-board 4 www.guildfordboats.co.uk www.thecranleyhotel.co.uk sections where the Guildford CRANLEIGH www.cranleighvillage.net www.westsussex.gov.uk/taste Sussex Information THE MILK CHURN, Rudgwick (between Guildford and West Grinstead) www.visitsussex.org Downs Link follows tel: 01483 444750 tel: 01403 339 150 seasonality foods: www.eattheseasons.co.uk main roads, Please take GUILDFORD MUSEUM AND GUILDFORD www.guildford.org.uk Bridge 3 www.bookhams.com/the-milk-churn-coffee-shop www.farma.org.uk extra care especially at CASTLE GROUNDS www.guildford.gov.uk (various places along the route) Surrey Information junctions THE FOX INN. Rudgwick HENFIELD www.henfieldhub.com Top Sites for More Information Guildford tel: 01403 822386 Railway Track 5 www.visitsurrey.com • Cyclists: be self sufficient Surrey Hills Area of 01372 220647 www.toxinn.co.uk and carry a repair kit HENFIELD MUSEUM tel: 01273 492507 ITCHINGFIELD www.itchingfieldparishcouncil.org.uk Outstanding Natural www.surreyhills.org (various places along the route) THE KINGS HEAD, Rudgwick Henfield www.henfield.gov.uk/HPC/museum Beauty: Gradient Sign 5 tel: 01403 822200 PARTRIDGE GREEN www.westsussex.info/partridge- www.kingsheadrudgwick.co.uk green.shtml (West Grinstead) The information in this leaflet is accurate at the time MARLIPINS MUSEUM tel: 01273 462994/01323 441279 South Downs National 0300 303 1053 THE RED LYON, RUDGWICK www.rudgwick-pc.org.uk Level Mark 4 of writing. Please be aware that it may change. Shoreham www.sussexpast.co.uk/marlipins tel: 01403 790339 Park Authority www.southdowns.gov.uk www.theredlyon.co.uk (West Grinstead) The Downs Link has a solid surface and there are SHOREHAM-BY-SEA www.shorehambysea.com North Downs Way and tel: 01483 211843 BAX CASTLE, Two Mile Ash Railway Carriage 4 some slopes. It can be bumpy and after rain it will : www.nationaltrail.co.uk be muddy in places. AND VISITOR CENTRE www.surreywildlifetrust.org tel: 01403 730369 SLINFOLD www.slinfold-pc.gov.uk (West Grinstead) www.baxcastle.co.uk near Guildford A Guide to Surrey and Railway Buffer 5 For more information, including a free THE LINTOT, Southwater SOUTHWATER www.southwater-pc.gov.uk West Sussex Villages: www.thelocalchannel.co.uk downloadable 6 stage route guide with maps, SHALFORD MILL tel: 01483 561389 tel: 01403 738425 (the Shoreham area) visit www.westsussex.gov.uk www.northsussexcamra.org.uk Shalford www.nationaltrust.org.uk www.steyningsouthdowns.co.uk Surrey Wildlife Trust: THE ORCHARD, West Grinstead 01483 795440 www.surreywildlifetrust.org Score tel: 01403 865693 www.westsussex.info/west- SHOREHAM AIRPORT tel: 01273 467373 www.theorchardrestaurant.moonfruit.com WEST GRINSTEAD Sussex Wildlife Trust: grinstead.shtml /40 Shoreham-by-Sea www.flybrighton.com THE PARTRIDGE, Partridge Green 01273 492630 www.sussexwt.org.uk tel: 01403 710391 STEYNING MUSEUM tel: 01903 813333 www.darkstarbrewing.co.uk Tourist Information Centres Sustrans - for information about National Cycle Networks: Steyning www.steyningmuseum.org.uk STAN’S BIKE SHACK. Partridge Green 0845 1130065 www.sustrans.org.uk tel: 01403 710514 GUILDFORD tel: 01483 444333 Cyclists’ Touring Club: www.guildford.gov.uk ST MARY’S HOUSE tel: 01903 816205 www.stansbikeshack.com 01483 238337 www.ctc.org.uk AND GARDENS www.stmarysbramber.co.uk CAT AND CANARY, Henfield tel: 01403 211661 tel: 01273 492509 HORSHAM British Horse Society: www.bhs.org.uk www.horsham.gov.uk Bramber www.whatpub.com 0844 8481666 THE CASTLE INN HOTEL, Bramber If a copy of this leaflet is needed in another format, please contact us on SOUTHWATER COUNTRY tel: 01403 215256 WORTHING tel: 01903 221066 Ramblers Association:: www.ramblers.org.uk tel: 01903 812102 www.adur.gov.uk 01243 777100 and we will try to meet your needs. PARK, Southwater www.horsham.gov.uk www.castleinnhotel.co.uk 020 7339 8500 Designed and published by WSCC, Residents and Environmental Services. THE AMSTERDAM, Shoreham-By-Sea www.westsussex.gov.uk VISIT SOUTH EAST www.visitsoutheastengland.com tel: 01273 455055 WS31196 10.15 www.whatpub.com A25

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Running-in-Board Gradient Sign

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West Grinstead Station circa 1960 Level Mark

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Farmers’ Market

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