It's just 50 miles from the Thames at Chertsey to the Channel at Shoreham, and this route does it in style.

Its main draw is the 37-mile Downs Link, an unpaved rail trail across West Sussex. Britain has few continuous railway paths of this length. Recent improvements have seen the former on-road interlude at Christ’s Hospital replaced with a good-quality traffic-free trail.

It can be gravelly or sometimes muddy in wet weather, and therefore best suited to hybrids, gravel bikes, sturdy tourers and even MTBs. In good weather, it’s an enjoyable ride for older children and adult newcomers as well as experienced cyclists.

North of Guildford, route 223 uses minor roads to Woking, and functional if uninspiring roadside paths from there to the Thames at Chertsey.

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