Where to Ride - Mid Sussex Downs
Source: Paul Howard
Posted: 13 June 2008
You don't need to cycle on or up the Downs to appreciate their beauty. Paul Howard spends a pleasant morning discovering a circular route in Mid-Sussex between the villages of Ditchling in the east and Steyning in the west and with the Downs as the backdrop throughout.
This being a circular route you could, of course, start and finish wherever you choose. A good setting off point, however, is the small town of Hassocks, thanks to its location on the main railway line to Brighton, potentially removing the need to use the car for those travelling from further afield. Another reason for starting in Hassocks is that it has all the amenities required for you to be able to stock up on any food and drink you might want to take with you.
Once you have selected your provisions, and even though Hassocks is almost at the far eastern end of this ride, the first thing to do after leaving the station is to head further east along the high street. Continue this way through the neighbouring village of Keymer until you reach the charming village of Ditching. As well as being blessed with a delightful location Ditchling also boasts a fine artistic heritage as well as being home to the forces sweetheart, Dame Vera Lynn.
Above: The Downs are never far away on this ride
In the village turn right and then fork left towards Ditchling Beacon (as featured in the Tour de France during its 1994 sojourn in the UK). This route saves you from the ascent, however, and instead of toiling over the imposing northern scarp of the Downs directly in front of you, turn right at its base into Underhill Lane to begin a leisurely if occasionally hilly west-ward meander along the base of the ridge all the way to Steyning.
First, however, comes the hamlet of Clayton, famous locally for the twin windmills that dominate the skyline above. As they are on top of a hill, it should be little surprise to learn they are called Jack and Jill, though fortunately neither gives any indication of being about to fall down and break their crown. Indeed, Jill windmill has been recently renovated and is occasionally open to visitors.
Turn right as Clayton ends and then almost immediately left before the Jack and Jill pub into New Way Lane, even narrower and less used than Underhill Lane. The view to your left is now dominated by Wolstonbury Hill, one of the Downs' rare outliers from the main ridge and once home to an iron age settlement. This is followed shortly by accommodation of more recent date in the form of 'Danny', an Elizabethan manor house where Lloyd George planned the terms for the Versailles treaty at the end of World War 1.
Turn left at the end of the lane and pass through the large village of Hurstpierpoint. Left again at the end of the High Street takes you on a slightly larger road over the A23 to another junction. Turn right here, in the direction of Henfield, and then left again into another tiny lane that brings you back to the foot of the Downs, the main ridge having kinked to the south behind Wolstonbury Hill.
This is another tree-lined, single track country lane to be appreciated leisurely before arriving in the hamlet of Fulking, where you should turn right and brace yourself for the hilliest section of the ride as you once again hug the bottom of the ridge through Edburton and past Tottington Manor hotel - one of several delightful settings for refreshment on route. At the end of the lane, as the Downs fall away on your left where the river Adur breaks through on its route to the sea at Shoreham, turn left for a brief stint on a relatively main road that leads you over a shoulder of the Downs themselves before descending into Upper Beeding. Right at the bottom takes you through the village, over the still-tidal Adur, and on through Bramber, with its ruined castle, before you need to cross the A283 and head for the ancient and attractive village of Steyning. In mediaeval times, before the Adur estuary began to silt up and boats began to grow in size, Steyning was a busy port for cross channel trade.
Above: Rolling hills + quiet lanes = cycling heaven
You are now almost at the very western edge of the ride, the point at which you need to turn north before heading east again on the return journey to Hassocks. Go along Steyning high street, then, to the bypass, where you should turn left and them almost immediately right. This road, a favourite with local cyclists, takes you through the hamlet of Ashurst to Partridge Green, where you should turn right. You are now heading east once more, and have the chance to appreciate longer range views of the Downs you've just experienced in closer up.
Turn right at the T-junction and then left again, just before Henfield. Take the second left, after about three miles, into Twineham Lane, and then an immediate right will bring you into Sayers Common. Left again and the right at the roundabout takes you over the A23, after which you need to cross the slip road and follow the lane to the T-junction at the end. Turn right, then left into the intiriguingly-named Pomper Lane. Right at the end into Danworth Lane brings you back to the outskirts of Hurstpierpoint. Turn left to pass in front of the imposing buildings of Hurstpierpoint College and then turn right after the cricket pitch into College Lane. One more left turn at the end of the lane sees you on the final leg back into Hassocks - all you have to do now is go straight over the traffic lights and then fork left before the railway bridge.
Where to Ride: Mid Sussex Downs
A circular route in Mid-Sussex between the villages of Ditchling in the east and Steyning in the west and with the Downs as the backdrop throughout.
Location:
Hassocks
West Sussex
Distance: 28 Miles
Difficulty:
Cycle Tourist
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