This time we drove to Henfield (where we stopped last time) with the intention of riding south from Henfield towards the coast – or at least as far as Upper Beeding.

Started pouring down with rain and then I got a blasted puncture on my bike after about 3km.
I had no spare tube or repair kit so we all had to turn around and return to the car – conveniently parked in car park near the Cat and Canary pub at Henfield. This time we stopped for lunch.

Usual pub fayre of baguettes for my wife and son, ploughmans for me and chicken dippers for my daughter (everyone likes chicken dippers). Actually all nice and fresh so no complaints.

Two new tubes and a repair kit from Halfords on the way home – £15.

Will try again tomorrow.

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Took the South Downs route from Southwater (near Horsham) to Henfield – a round trip journey of almost 23 Kilometers.
This is just part of the route -in total it runs from Guildford right down to the south coast at Shorheam By Sea – a one way distance of 58 Kilometers.

This route is mostly decommissioned railway lines so its quite nice and flat with interesting features such as the old station at West Grinstead that has an old train carriage converted into an information centre. The children love messing with the old rail signal levers that sill operate a defunct signal mast.

Countryside is mostly beautiful farmland, particularly near Henfield where the river runs alongside the route for a short while.

Great to find two watering holes along the way – The Partridge at Partridge Green and the Cat and Canary at Henfield. Both serve food – although I have not tried it yet – children and mucky bikes are welcome as both have beer gardens.

West Sussex County Council have a great route map available for download from here

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