A Six Stage Route Guide - - CRANLEIGH RAILWAY

1 A Six Stage Route GuideDOWNS LINKNORTH DOWNS WAYSOUTH DOWNS WAYP rice 59 kilometre (37 mile) level waymarked Route , open towalkers, horse riders and cyclistsmanaged byWest Sussex and Surrey County Councils andWaverley Borough CouncilSURREYCOUNTY COUNCILHow to use this guideDOWNS LINKNORTH DOWNS WAYSOUTH DOWNS WAYThis Route Guide has been produced to providewalks or rides of between six and elevenkilometres (four to seven miles) accessible by publictransport or car. The trail can be completed instages or as a weekend walk or a full day s on how to get to each start point isnoted and Ordnance Survey ( ) map referencesare quoted.

2 Take maps with you. Points ofinterest and refreshment stops are mentioned. Allowtime to enjoy the countryside and visit the naturereserves, villages and country towns along the by Public TransportThe telephone numbers for the rail and various buscompanies are listed. Services, routes and operatorscan change. Be sure to plan outward and returnjourneys before you set possible please use public car parks. Takecare not to block drives, or access to farms or B&B accommodation is listed in this Guide ,but please check availability before you set the local Tourist Information Centre forfurther nearest the downs link include: Raylands Park, Jackrells Lane,Southwater.

3 01403 The White House, Newham Lane,Steyning. 01903 813737To camp on land not listed as an officialcamping site requires the permission of is grateful to all establishments who have given their support to the production ofthe downs link Route Sussex and Surrey County Councils and Waverley Borough Council accept no responsibility for the accuracy of information about facilities, goods or services advertised in this you would like a copy of this publication in another format (audio, Braille, large print, another language) please contact the Communications Officer, Environment and Development,West Sussex County Council,The Grange,Tower Street, Chichester,West Sussex PO19 1 RHTelephone 01243 777544 or email and published by West Sussex County Council, Environment and Development, Graphics by Concord Press Ltd, Mark Hammond, Director for Environment and Development October 2003 PUBLIC TRANSPORTT raveline (for all0870 6082608public transportenquiries)

4 All Rail EnquiriesTelephone 7484950 Bus CompaniesTelephone & Hove01273 886200 Arriva Buses01483 505693 Stagecoach/Coastline 0845 1210170 MAP INFORMATIONC hurchPHPublic HousePublic TelephoneWCPublic ToiletsParkingRailway StationFP 01403 732561 BIKE HIREON THEDOWNSLINKNR. SOUTHWATER COUNTRY PARKUNIT 24, STATION ROAD, SOUTHWATER,HORSHAM, WEST SUSSEX RH13 downs link footpath and bridleway links the North Downs Way at St Martha s Hill,Surrey with the South Downs Waynear Steyning, West Sussex and onvia the Coastal link to of the 59 kilometre (37 mile)trail follows former RAILWAY downs link Offers short or long walks andrides combining Weald andDownland scenery.

5 Makes a good introduction tolong distance walking over aweekend or to a full day s ride. Is easily accessed, and the routeis waymarked. Provides an invaluable greencorridor a nature reserve forpeople and wildlife LINKNORTH DOWNS WAYSOUTH DOWNS WAYMaps and DistancesOrdnance Survey MapsThese maps are recommended and the following cover The downs link Series 1:50 000 2 cm to 1 km (approx. 11 4inches to 1 mile)Sheet Numbers:186, 187, 198 Explorer Series 1:25 000 4 cm to 1 km (21 2inches to 1 mile)Sheet Numbers:122, 134, 145 Conversion1 kilometre = mile 1 mile = kilometreDOWNS LINKNORTH DOWNS WAYSOUTH DOWNS WAYFor further information about the downs link , the countryside, or how to become a Volunteer Rangerplease contact: Surrey County Council, County Hall, Penryhyn Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN Tel: 08456 009 009 (general number) Waverley Borough Council, The Burys, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1 HRTel.

6 01483 523394 Environment and Development, West Sussex County Council, The Grange, Tower Street, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1 RHTel: 01243 777610 WSCC Low Weald Countryside Rangers, Station House, Cowfold Road, West Grinstead, RH13 8LU Tel: 01403 864001St. Martha sChinthurst HillBramleyRun CommonCranleighBaynardsRudgwickSlinfoldC hrist s HospitalSouthwaterCopsaleWest GrinsteadPartridge GreenHenfieldBramberBotolphsShorehamSt. Martha sChinthurst HillBramleyRun CommonCranleighBaynardsRudgwickSlinfoldC hrist s HospitalSouthwaterCopsaleWest GrinsteadPartridge

7 The Wealden LandscapeThe Weald landscape took shape between 30 and 20 million years ago when the greatWealden dome rose above the sea. Gradually the centre of the dome was eroded tocreate a basin, with the North and South Downs facing each other across the Weald.

8 Severaldifferent layers of rock areexposed in the Weald and asthe trail crosses different soiltypes so the scenery northern start point,St. Martha s Hill, shows theacid sandy soils of thegreensand ridge. Thewoodland here is typicallydominated by oak with holly, hawthorn, hazel and bluebells in few miles to the south the sand and clay of the Wealden basin supports ash and oak andhawthorn hedges. Crossing the River Tillingbourne near Chilworth the soil is very marshy inplaces but well wooded with alder, willow and poplars. On leaving Chilworth the land risesgently with the downs link skirting the acid sandy soil of the Blackheath area, where heather and gorse compete with birch, oak and the county border to Slinfold the trail crosses the Low Weald clays, interleaved inplaces with beds of hard sandstone known as Horsham Slab , much used for roofing in daysgone by.

9 The heavy clay soil supports woodland favoured by birds such as green, greatspotted and lesser spotted woodpeckers, with many species of warbler using the Henfield village and the small country town of Steyning, the Route enters the RiverAdur flood plain. These communities sit on low bluffs of upper greensand. The river cutsthrough the South Downs at Botolphs. Arable fields and grasslands are surrounded by rifes or drainage trail now joins the Coastal link toShoreham-by-Sea. Until the 14th centurythe surrounding meadowlands formed theestuary of the River Adur. Today theseprovide habitat for a wide variety of floraand fauna.

10 The waters rise and fall with thetides, from metres mid lunar cycle to asmuch as metres with spring tides,providing rich feeding grounds for birds,mammals and LINKNORTH DOWNS WAYSOUTH DOWNS WAYThe Downs LinkThe downs link bridleway was established in 1984 to link the North Downs Way andSouth Downs Way National Trails. As a bridleway it is available to walkers, horse ridersand cyclists. Cyclists must give way to walkers and horse 1995 the 5 kilometreCoastal link from Botolphsnear Steyning to Shoreham-by-Sea was completed, linkingthe 59 kilometre trail to theseaside trail crosses the LowWeald and mostly follows twoformer RAILWAY lines.