Downs Link - Horsham to Rudgwick - 6 Miles

Its long time since I have walked this section of the Downs Link.  It was a dry cloudy and mild morning (too mild for January) at 10 ℃.  I left home at 09.45 and walked up to Broadbridge Heath, crossing the A24 before turning down Old Wickhurst Lane.














Pass the old Mill Pond, and across the River Arun where they have recently renovated the bridge, and destroyed the old "Pill Box" to pick up the Downs Link at Baystone Bridge.  I have since found out (via Memories of Horsham) that this was not a Pill Box , but anti tank defences, and they have just cleared off all the ivy etc. when renovating the bridge.

 

It was then a straight walk all the way to Rudgwick, going past the air strip, through Slinfold, under the numerous bridges.

 The last bridge is the best of all.  It is a

double bridge as when the Guildford to Christ's Hospital line was built in in 1865 it was decided that the gradient of 1:80 was too steep in to Rudgwick Station so the second bridge was build on top.  This bridge has undergone a lot of renovation since I last walked this section of The Downs Link.

An this is what the bridge looked like in 2011, so a lot of work has been done.

Martin then came and picked me up where the path crosses the A281 at Rudgwick, and was back home by 12 noon.