Stesho one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Nice little route, mainly flat along the Downs Link. As others have commented, but nessay around the Bramber roundabout, could do with some tidying up.
Walked on 11/2/23,.

I walked from Steyning to Shoreham.
What a lovely town Steyning is.
Agree with other reviewers, this is a super route, very easy to navigate, you can put the phone/GPS away, lift your head up and enjoy the scenery. I did this walk as part of a walk to Shoreham and took the Downs Link practically all the way, the scenery gets better the further South you go, this is the most Southerly. The bird song was fantastic, little traffic noise, few roads to cross. The only drawback was that my feet were (literally) aching for a softer surface to walk on. Lots of snack stops and benches.
The Downs Link is very suitable for wheels, but this route diverts out of Steyning, using footpaths with steps and stiles (its the same going North out of Steyning back onto the Link to Partridge Green).

Really lovely route mostly along the river Adur. Worth stopping off at St. Botolph's Church (beautiful Grade 1 listed church) in Steyning, they have a lovely cafe outside of it (great tea and cake). I went on this walk in early spring and it was really enjoyable! Worth noting, a lot of cyclists use this route.

A safer option to avoid a very dangerous A283 crossing near Bramber (photo 1) is to take the western riverside footpath (marked with a red arrow on photo 2), then pass under the A283 before turning left and rejoining the Downs Link (when travelling north).

Easy to follow using footpaths and we'll sign posted pathways. Follows the Downs Link for some of the walk. Only concern was, just outside of Steyning, you have to cross the Steyning Bypass (A283) and there were a broken tree just before the crossing that you have to duck below (unfortunately I didn't take a picture of this).

The old Shoreham to Horsham railway, was resurfaced the other year leaving a gravely path for bikes and walkers. It joins the South Down Way for a small bit, there is a water tap just off the path near the road as you cross the river, likewise there is normally a 'horse box' serving coffee in the layby. It leaves the old railway at Bramber (actually the old railway turns into a main road) but there are good pavements into Steyning.

This path mainly follows the Downslink along the Adur Valley. It is an old disused railway line converted into an extremely popular cycle path. Many more cyclists than walkers use the path, which to my mind detracts from its pleasure as a walking route. Saying that, it is well surfaced and easy to follow. You won't get lost. However the road noise is pretty constant as it follows the same line through the valley as the busy A283, then goes beneath the A27.
Walkers may prefer to use the footpaths along the levees on either bank of the river, which are quieter, with better views, although less direct as they follow the river's meander.
A perfectly useable Slow Way, accessible to all, apart from a section through a field of long grass on the edge of Steyning. This could probably be avoided by following the road from the roundabout at Bramber all the way into Steyning High Street, however, I haven't verified this.
The route loses a star because of the heavy bike traffic and the road noise.

I have walked the second half of this route several times before and fairly recently, and agree with all the comments in review 1. Therefore this review is of the first 2 miles from Steyning only which i walked today.

The route does through Steyning High Street where there is plenty of parking, inviting looking shops, tea rooms ans pubs. It then takes a welcome divertion from the road on a footpath across a field, however the exit from this is a bit overgrown and has steps so not suitable for wheels, but you could just stick to rhe road foe this bit. Photos and screen shot attached should show this. From here the route heads to the A283 where a little pit of the path is narrow and overgrown.

You then cross the A283 and follow the Downs Link which is a shared surface. Follow this south and cross the A283 and then the Downs Link (which the route follows) moves away from the side of the road and you can escape the noise of the road. Route can fet very busy with bikes so listen out for their bells and keep alert!.

This is a lovely walk mainly on level ground as you leave Steyning you go downhill and access the riverbank which you can then follow all the way to Shoreham by Sea. There is lots to see on the river from swans to moorhens and close to Shoreham you can see Cormorants on the bridge pilings. Also kayaks and paddle boarders coming inland or heading seawards as the river is tidal .The path along the riverbank is well defined and signposted clearly , it can get muddy after wet weather but you can also use the cycle path which is gravelled. There are some benches along the way as well. There is plenty to see on the fields bordering the river with cattle and sheep grazing . You walk along the border of Shoreham airport , Englands oldest working airport . The closer you get to Shoreham there are new waterfront developments . There are refreshments and toilets in both Steyning and Shoreham as well as Upper Beeding which is a couple of miles into the walk. You can also stop off in Bramber , prior to Beeding a pretty village with a ruined castle . Overall a very pleasant level walk going from countryside to the sea.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.