waterways from London all the way to the South Coast.
At the next road bridge over the route you hit the Downs Link which, as its name suggests, links the North Downs Way with the South Downs Way. Turning left takes you North East to St Martha’s Hill, but continue on the Downs Link path to the pretty Wonersh and Bramley Station, renovated in recent years by the local council and Bramley Historical Society. This is a peaceful spot to stop and you will find tourist information here, as well as shops and accommodation at the Jolly Farmer on Photo credit: Calum Shaw the High Street in Bramley village. The Guildford to Cranleigh stretch of countryside. The route starts at the end of Regional Route 79 is a beautiful off road Quarry Street on the A281 just outside The A mile and a half further on, where the route running down an old railway line, near Weyside public house. A short length of Downs Link to Cranleigh passes over a rivers, canals and some beautiful shared use pavement takes you past the small road and the surface becomes River Wey and into Shalford Park. You rougher, there is also a well surfaced pass meadows and playing fields offshoot to Shamley Green, which will form The Route before entering woodland, passing part of National Route 22 from London to the Wey again and ascending a short Guildford, Farnham and eventually the Isle of hill to a small junction. Wight. To take this route, turn right down a Family Friendly Ride steep access path and pass under the National Route: 22 Turn right and continue, over the bridge. Regional Route: 79 Guildford to Gatwick railway line, to Shalford. Following the signs to Distance: 9 miles Staying on the Downs Link, the path from Godalming will take you to a small here is unbroken all the way to Cranleigh. Terrain: almost all traffic free, green opposite The Parrot Inn where You will enjoy long avenues of trees, views very gentle hills you need to dismount and walk along across the countryside and some good Public transport: railway the pavement and over the canal sturdy old Victorian bridges along the way. stations at Guildford and bridge. On the other side of the canal Shalford you reach another shared use path The first Cranleigh exit takes you to the which intersects with the railway path Nearest bike hire: cricket pitch near the Cranleigh Hotel with after a few hundred metres. Turn left, its nice bike- and child-friendly garden. Pedalabikeaway, Alice Holt, passing under the road and you will Continuing on to Knowle Lane, you can turn near Farnham – 01989 find the start of the railway path. left into the centre of Cranleigh, or cross and 770357 continue for a short distance to the Maps: a set of eight maps The last 6.5 miles of the 9 mile route Cranleigh Leisure Centre. covering routes around Surrey is on the old railway line, so the route is direct, and the hills are very gentle. is available from Surrey For those who want to continue south from The path is very well surfaced from Cranleigh, the track becomes a little more County Council - 08456 here to Bramley so you can glide bumpy with hybrid or mountain bikes 009009 or download, and the through the countryside along the recommended over road bikes, particularly Downs Link leaflet is available tree lined route quite effortlessly. in winter. After 2.5 miles, you can stop for a from West Sussex County Towards Bramley you will cross the drink and maybe a meal at the Thurlow Council - 01243 777100 Wey again on a newly constructed Arms before admiring the beautifully bridge, then cross the A281 (with a OS maps: Explorer 137/134, reconstructed Baynards Station, now new central refuge for safety), and privately owned. Just a little further and you Landranger 186/187 pass sections of the Wey and Arun reach the Sussex border, where you have to Tourist information: Canal Junction project. This old climb over the hill to avoid the bats in Guildford - 01483 444333 canal used to link London with the Baynards Tunnel, and the Sussex border Places to search for on Arun River via the River Wey, and on path, or you can continue another 25 miles, Sustrans website mapping: to the sea at Littlehampton. The Wey all the way to the seaside at Shoreham. and Arun Canal Trust are slowly Guildford, Cranleigh restoring a 23 mile section with the (With thanks to Calum Shaw, Volunteer aim of eventually restoring these Ranger.) 2 www.sustrans.org.uk