Riding along lanes as they wind through valleys and wooded farmland, feeling salty breeze on your cheeks as you cycle towards dizzying white cliffs and along beach promenades – that is what adventures are made of. The Downs and Weald Way transports you from the grind of daily life, taking you on a great journey from London to the English Channel.

This Collection guides you along the 157-mile (253 km) Downs and Weald Way from Central London to Hastings in seven stages. Ranging in length from 11 miles (18 km) to 34 miles (56 km), each stage unveils beautiful landscapes as they take you through the counties of Surrey and Sussex.

Whether you ride as a family with the kids in tow or prefer whizzing along lanes at full-throttle, you will enjoy the Downs and Weald Way. With 6,988 feet (2,130 meters) of elevation gain spread across the stages, the hills are manageable for any level of rider.

You can fully relax into your adventure far away from any cars as over half of the route follows traffic-free paths. Peaceful nature awaits as you ride along the Worth Way, Forest Way, and the Cuckoo Trail. However, this does mean that it’s wise to leave your slick road tyres at home. The paths become muddy after rain, which, let’s face it, means they are nearly always muddy.

The Downs and Weald Way takes you through centuries of history and changing landscapes – from the lofty heights of Beachy Head, across chalk downlands and through the ancient Ashdown Forest where A.A. Milne coined the Winnie the Pooh stories. You ride in the footsteps of Neolithic ancestors, visiting Tudor manor houses, ruined Medieval castles and Victorian seaside resorts along the way.

You can use this Collection to plan your next week-long cycle tour or inspire weekend escapes. Each stage can be conveniently combined or shortened to tailor your adventure to your own pace as they end in a town or village, often with a train station.

Along the way, you visit some of Surrey and Sussex’ finest towns – enjoy the splendid Victorian streets of Royal Tunbridge Wells, marvel at black and white timber-framed manors in Mayfield and Five Ashes, or take the East Hill Cliff Railway up Hasting’s steep cliff face. If you get hungry, you will also find no-end of cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops to stop for a treat.

No matter where you are travelling from, you can easily reach the start of your adventure in London. The city has direct train connections across the UK. If you already live in the capital, even better – there’s an epic adventure to be had right on your doorstep!

For more information about the Downs and Weald Way, visit: sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/downs-and-weald