Sunday 1st May 2011 - Downs Link - Horsham to Shoreham

On New Years Day, I made the resolution to get fit enough to walk the Downs Link from Horsham to Shoreham - 22 miles by Easter.

Well all was going to plan with various walk over the months up to 11 miles, but decided that Easter weekend would not be good  as a) it was so hot 29.5 Deg and there is very little shade on some parts of the route, and b) going on holiday on Monday did not want the risk of any injuries.

So after returning from holiday on Friday decided that I was going to do the walk on Sunday 1st May, just 1 week late.

Rucksack packed with sandwiches, plenty of water, Jelly Babies, and route guide.  Phone is set to e-mail location every 30 minutes to Martin. I set off from home at 9.15 am"

The first 3 miles was boring as the Downs Link has to deviate from the old railway line and uses road to Christ's Hospital.

It was a lovely sunny day, hazy, but with a NE breeze which kept the temperature very pleasant.

Next Station is Southwater, but on the way it was nice to see some Early Purple Wild Orchids.

Southwater was busy with lots of cyclists and dog walkers between the Station and Country Park.

Then onwards towards Copsale and it quietened down and sometimes did not see anyone - peace and solitude, just the birds singing.

Next Station on route is West Grinstead, now 8.5 miles walked and time for first food break.  Quite eerie sitting on the old station platform with one of the old carriages, which is now a visitor information centre.

Now on new ground has have never walked beyond West Grinstead.  Between West Grinstead & Partridge Green was the 10 mile point.

At Partridge Green it was road walking again for a short way as houses have now been built where the Station used to be.  Next Station is Henfield, this part of the walk was very quiet and went an hour with out seeing anyone, but again at Henfield it was quite busy with cyclists.

Just after leaving Henfield Station a short walk on the road again round houses that had been built on the old
line and an appropriate reminder of why there are so many walks & cycle paths on old railway lines !!

Now onward to Bramber and during this section another short food stop - this was the quietest part of the route and seemed to go on for ever,  and then an uninteresting not well signposted section through houses coming out on a narrow lane at the entrance to Bramber Castle.  At the entrance to Bramber Castle I had logged exactly 17.5 miles since my start this morning.

On crossing the Steyning Bypass road,  I was now on the flood plain of the River Adur as it cuts through the South Downs, and have now logged 18 miles in exactly 6 hours including food stops.

This sign was a very welcome sight.

Could now feel the chill of the wind across the valley and it was very hazy, sent a text to Dorian as he & Holly were sailing at Shoreham,  to say I was on the walk and could I have a lift home.

In the area of the old cement works there was still evidence of the railway.

There was now a junction in the path - the official Downs Link followed closer to the road,  or there was a footpath that followed the river bank and both met again at the Old Toll Bridge.  Decided to follow the river path more interesting scenery, softer ground, and quite a few swans on the river.

The end is in sight..............................

Dorian and Holly had parked the car at the Old Toll Bridge and walked along the river to meet me.

It had been a lovely days walking and 21.8 miles in 7 hours 10 minutes.  I am quite pleased with the achievement.

All I have to do now is walk the section from St Martha's Hill just outside Guildford back to Horsham (about 18 miles) and then I will have walked the complete Downs Link Trail.  I plan to do this in the next couple of weeks - weather permitting.

I now have the "bug" for trail walking and have found several more in Sussex that can be completed in 2 days - watch this space for my future walks & travels.