Interested in running the Downs Link trail? Here’s my guide to planning your Downs Link run—including information on how to get help from friends along the way.

In 2015, I walked the South Downs Way, my first long-distance trail. The following year, I hiked the Downs Link for the first time, inspired by Rambling Man’s blog post on the topic. Then, in 2020, my husband was training for an ultramarathon and I convinced him that the Downs Link was the perfect route for his training. So he ran the trail, and I crewed for him. This blog post tells you everything you need to know about running the Downs Link, and crewing for someone.

Grab the GPX file for the Downs Link here.

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Where does the Downs Link start and finish?

The Downs Link starts near Guildford, at the top of St Martha’s Hill. It finishes on the coast at Shoreham-by-Sea. Both Guildford and Shoreham are accessible by public transport—however, you’ll probably require assistance with your run and will want someone to drive you there and meet you at various points along the way to refuel and resupply your water. Running the Downs Link takes you along this 36-mile trail through rural areas in Surrey and West Sussex.

Downs Link route description

The Downs Link is a 36-mile (58km) bridleway that opened in 1984, connecting the North Downs Way and the South Downs Way and continuing beyond to the coast. In 1995, the 3 mile (5 km) coastal link from Botolphs (where the Downs Link meets the South Downs Way) was finished, extending the trail down to the coast at Shoreham-by-Sea, which has a rail station conveniently located just minutes from the trail head. A number of other long distance routes cross paths with the Downs Link, including the Wey South Path and the Sussex Border Path. It’s a unique path in that it mostly follows the old route of what is now known as the Hundred Years Railway, which is what makes most of the trail so flat and easy to run.

The northern part of the railway line that went from Guildford to Christ’s Hospital was built along the current Downs Link and opened in 1865, and the southern part that went from Itchingfield Junction (near Christ’s Hospital) to Shoreham-by-Sea opened in 1861. Trains took 50 minutes to traverse the route, with 6-8 trains a day stopping at Bramley & Wonersh, Cranleigh, Baynards, Rudgwick, Slinfold, Christ’s Hospital, and Horsham, among other stations.

Both lines were closed about a hundred years later during the infamous Beeching cuts. British Rail was apparently losing £140 million a year when Dr. Richard Beeching took over as chairman of the British Transport Commission. His solution was to drastically reduce the number of rail lines in Britain, which led to the closing of more than 4,500 miles (7,242 km) of track, 2,128 stations, and the loss of more than 67,000 jobs. The rail cuts began in 1962 and ended in the early 1970s.

At the time, a bus service replaced many of the old rail lines, but because they were slower and less convenient than the old train service, they were unpopular and were eventually discontinued, leaving people to drive to wherever they needed to get to instead of using public transportation. This, of course, led to an increase of traffic. It has been suggested that many of the closed rail lines would now be heavily used, which would reduce automobile traffic.

I love trains, and I think they’re a great solution to get people onto public transport and off the roads, so it saddens me every time I read about the Beeching cuts. The Downs Link is a lovely celebration of the closed railway, and a beautiful reminder of this area’s history. As I’ve mentioned, the fact that the trail mostly follows the old rail lines means that it’s wide and generally flat, making for an easy run. The biggest hill is at the northern terminus at St Martha’s Hill, which is where the trail was extended to meet up with the North Downs Way.

Which direction should you run the Downs Link?

You can run it in either direction, however you’ll probably want to start in the north at St Martha’s Hill and end in the south at Shoreham. I prefer walking the Downs Link from south to north, but I wouldn’t want to end a long run with a massive hill at the end (if that kind of thing doesn’t bother you, then run it from south to north—you’ll be rewarded with a fantastic view at the end of your run). You can read both of my journeys (north to south and south to north) in my book (link at the end of this page).

Because of the challenge that is St Martha’s Hill, I suggested that my husband run the trail from north to south, ending up by the sea in Shoreham. And that’s how we did the trail.

How hard is the Downs Link?

Assuming you’re reasonably fit, running the Downs Link is a great challenge for an ultra runner. Because the majority of the route goes along an old rail line, the trail is fairly wide and mostly flat. Its northern terminus is St Martha’s Hill which, as the name implies, is a hilltop. It’s nothing out of the ordinary compared to other hills in Surrey.

Navigation is super easy—just follow the Downs Link signs. The route, however, has been updated in a couple of sections (near Christ’s Hospital and again near Bramber) so when in doubt, follow the signs and not your GPS instructions.

The trail is also fairly straight, which may seem monotonous to some people. The trail is also open and exposed in places, so if you’re running in stormy or windy conditions, it might be extra challenging.

How to crew a Downs Link run

I split the route up into four stages which are almost equal in length. They all have fairly convenient places to stop, where you can park and meet up with your runner. This plan assumes that you’ll be running the trail from north to south.

Start off at St Martha’s Hill, where the Downs Link meets up with the North Downs Way. The closest car park is the Guildford Lane car park, postcode GU5 9BQ. From there, it’s just at 5-10 minute warmup hike to the top of the hill, where you can start running down the Downs Link.

If for some reason the car park is closed or full, there’s another one at Halfpenny Lane, postcode GU4 8PZ. It’s a slightly longer walk up to the top of the hill, maybe 15 minutes or so.

Stage 1: St Martha’s Hill to Cranleigh 8.8 miles (14.2 km)

Snoxhall Fields (next to the Cranleigh Leisure Centre) is a great place to meet up. You’ll probably have to park in Cranleigh (England’s largest village—it could be busy on weekends) and wait in the park. There are benches to sit on, as well as a small shelter, but if the weather is truly miserable (as it was on the day we did this run), you will want to bring waterproofs.

The drive to Cranleigh is about 25 minutes, and it will take your runner about one hour and 45 minutes (depending on pace, of course), so you’ll have plenty of time to find parking and get situated. If you arrive early, you might want to wait in a cafe (the nearby Cromwells Coffee House is excellent) and head to the park once your runner’s estimated arrival time approaches.

Nearest car park: Snoxhall Fields car park GU6 8BL. It’s very small, and it’s intended for exclusive use of people who are using Snoxhall Fields, but it was pouring rain on the day we did this run, and no one else was there. Parking is free on Sundays.

There’s another car park very close by at the Cranleigh Leisure Centre. Address: Village Way, Cranleigh GU6 8AF. Parking is free on Sundays.

Stage 2: Cranleigh to Christ’s Hospital  9.2 miles (14.8 km)

Christ’s Hospital is actually a large school with a little village. The Downs Link has been recently updated in this area—rather than turning down the street, it now continues straight on a path and through the village. Much, much better! It’s a pretty little trail, and it actually makes it much easier for you to meet your runner here. You can park at the train station (paid parking, seven days a week) or on the street near the village green.

Note that if you’re using old gpx files for the Downs Link, they may not be updated with the 2020 changes. If so, just follow the Downs Link signs, rather than your GPS instructions.

The drive to Christ’s Hospital is about 25 minutes, and it will take your runner about one hour and 40 minutes (depending on pace, of course), so you’ll have plenty of time to find parking and get situated. If you get there early, the lovely Westons Farm shop right is around the corner (the Downs Link used to run right past it). You’ll be able to buy delicious snacks (or a picnic lunch!) for yourself while you wait. Address: Weston’s Hill, Horsham RH13 0BD

Postcode for Christs Hospital: Station Rd, Christs Hospital, Horsham RH13 0NE

Stage 3: Christ’s Hospital to Henfield 9.7 miles (15.7 km)

Henfield is a lovely little village, and there’s a little pub right next to where the Downs Link crosses through the village. There’s also a tiny car park right where the trail passes through Henfield, which is the ideal place for you to meet your runner.

The drive to Henfield is about 25 minutes and it will take your runner about two hours (depending on pace, of course), so you’ll have plenty of time to find parking and get situated. The Old Railway pub—formerly the Cat and Canary—is a convenient place to wait for your runner to come through. It’s right next to the Downs Link.

Address: Upper Station Rd, Henfield BN5 9PJ

Stage 4: Henfield to Shoreham-by-Sea 8.2 miles (13.2 km)

Near Bramber, where the Downs Link meets up with the South Downs Way, there’s another bit of confusion where the trail has been updated along a better route. Again, if your gpx files don’t match up with the Downs Link signs, follow the signs for the updated route.

Shoreham-by-Sea is a bustling town, but thankfully the southern terminus of the Downs link is in a slightly quieter neighborhood. There is a very convenient pub where you can wait for your runner to come in. You can either park at the Amsterdam Inn, or on a quiet street near the pub. When your runner is approaching, just cross the street and you’re at the end of the Downs Link.

The drive to Shoreham is once again about 25 minutes and it will take your runner about an hour and a half (depending on pace, of course), so you’ll have plenty of time to find parking and get situated.

Amsterdam Inn: 467-471 Upper Shoreham Rd, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5WQ

Before the run

Get your Running the Downs Link printable here (no opt-in needed)—this is what I printed and took with me to crew for this run.

Also remember that as the crew member, you’ll probably be sitting or standing around a lot. If the weather is wet, bring waterproofs. Also be sure to bring lots of extra layers. I planned to wear a base layer, light fleece, and waterproofs, and it was only by chance that I grabbed my down jacket as I was heading out the door. I wore all four layers all day long: base, fleece, down, and waterproof.

Here’s what you need to know:

• How to get to the meeting points along the trail. Have addresses, post codes, and maps if needed
• Approximately what time the runner will arrive at each checkpoint
• Know the runner’s route—have the .gpx file or at least look it over so you know where they’ll be
• Review the kit list with the runner
• Look at the weather and know what the runner will need based on this (if it’s hot, more hydration; if it’s raining, waterproofs; if it’s cold, more layers)
• The runner’s goals—are they just looking to finish the route? Do they want to finish by a certain time? Are they looking to set an FKT?
• How much time the runner wants to spend at each checkpoint, so you can hurry them up if needed

Kit list

Things to have in the car to make available to the runner if needed:

• Extra batteries for head lamp
• First aid kit
• Antacid
• Painkillers
• Extra clothing: hat, mittens/gloves, socks, change of shirt, extra layers, blanket
• Food—bars, gels, and snacks
• Water and electrolyte drinks/powder
• Towel to dry off sweat at checkpoints + for the ride home
• Change of clothes for the ride home—or at least an extra top
• Warm jacket for the ride home—and for extended stops at aid stations if it’s chilly
• Silver emergency blanket

What to do

Be sure to arrive early. The first time I crewed a 40K (solo run, not a race) for my husband, we estimated when he’d arrive at each point, and both times he showed up about a half hour earlier than planned. Thankfully, I was in the area, though I had to scramble to get to the meeting point.

If you have the space, you can lay everything out on a blanket so the runner can see what’s there and grab what they need. If you’re just operating out of the trunk of your car, lay everything out as best you can.

Here are all the basic tasks you need to do:

• Separate sweet and salty foods so the runner can grab what they need
• Have a checklist of questions—and ask them (see below)
• Refill all bottles
• Replenish food supplies
• Reapply sunscreen + chafing balm
• Hand over head lamp and batteries for the later stages of the run (if the runner isn’t carrying them from the start)
• If it’s getting dark: remove sunglasses, add headlamp and extra clothing
• Know their pace: ideal pace, reasonable pace, minimum pace (this is more for a race than for a solo run)
• Keep track of their pace—did they come in sooner or later than expected? Why?
• What’s the big picture of how the run is going? Troubleshoot if needed

Questions to ask the runner

1. How are your knees/back/etc. (typical pain points will be different for each runner)?
2. How is your hydration? Did you run out of water, or do you have some left over?
3. Are you hot? Cold?
4. Do you need ice?
5. What foods do you need?
6. Do you have any hotspots or blisters? Chafing? Sunburn?
7. Do you need a change of socks?
8. Is anything wet that needs to be changed? (bring an extra shirt, socks, and other clothes)

Related reading

This is the first guide to walking the Downs Link, a 37-mile trail that links the North Downs Way to the South Downs Way, continuing beyond to the coast where it ends at Shoreham-by-Sea. The Downs Link is an excellent trail for a long weekend walk, or for walkers seeking to do a first long-distance trail.

More than just a walking travelogue or memoirs of a walking holiday, this book contains Holly’s reflections on walking the Downs Link, including lessons learned and practical information to help you plan your Downs Link hiking adventure. It includes a suggested packing list, gear recommendations, and other useful tips.

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