Coastal Link / River Adur walk  

1

Park in the lay-by on the A283, just past the old cement works.  There is a gap in the fence with a sign post for the South Down Way.

2

Follow this path past Botolphs trough,

3

and a field on your right.

4

You will then reach a bridge over the River Adur, turn left here (do not cross it).  

4a

5

Follow the path towards the old Cement works (mind the old train tracks).

6

Continue on the path around the Cement works.

7

Near the end of the Cement works is a junction, go straight ahead here as the left hand fork leads to the main Road.

7a

However if you do wander down this path you can have a look at a weird carving in a tree trunk.

8

Carry on the path of the old Railway line from Shoreham to Steyning. There are some good views of Lancing college chapel from here.

9

Along this path you will come to a gate on your right, you can now have a choice to continue on the Coastal Link or go though the gate and head back to the lay-by along the river bank.

10

Carry on along the path of the old Railway.

11

The walk will lead you to the Shoreham Flyover, continue underneath the "spaghetti junction".

12

Carry on the Coastal Link to the old Toll Bridge.  Here you can still see the old train lines.

12

Walk past the Toll Bridge, you can see St Nicholas church on your left, along with Red Lion and The Amsterdam Restaurant.

13

Carry on along the main path, past the sculpture of a bird (the only one I've seen on the "sculpture trail").  

Although I did see an old boat near by!

13a

There's also some good views of Lancing college and the toll bridge from here and near by (north a bit).

14

Stay on the main path, where you will reach the end of the Coastal Link and a sign which says Exit.

14a

Although this is the end of the Coastal Link my walk continues along the old railway to where the line left the main south coast line.  If you do not want to do this walk, head back along the same path.

15

Walk past the exit and stay on the path.  The path (which is in good condition) seems to carry on, although you need to veer off to the right and follow the river path when you reach this junction.

15a

However you may wish to follow the old railway, but will need to retrace your steps to return to step 15.  The rest of steps 15 will follow this slight detour.  If you hit the buffers you know you are on this route and have missed the junction!

15b

The track leads you to the railway bridge, where the line veered off from the main coastal line.  Peer over the wall for a view of the Swiss Cottage.

15c

As mentioned before you will have to turn back at this impasse, and retrace your steps back to the path that leads to the river back.

16

Follow the river bank path, which offers some good views of Lancing college across the River Adur.

17

The path goes past the back of some warehouses, here you can see where old petrol pumps go to die!

18

The end of our walk is at the main coastal line railway bridge over the river Adur.

19

Near this bridge are some steps to a car park (for one of the warehouses).

19a

As this is the half way stage I would suggest having some refreshments either in Shoreham centre or the nearby Swiss Cottage.  Follow the side of the warehouse to the linking road and turn right towards the main road junction, and the railway bridge.  Look to your left to see the old railway bridge (which you may have been on to of if you followed the detour at 15).  At the junction the Swiss Cottage can be found up the road (to the left, and Shoreham centre is under the Bridge, past some traffic lights and left at the roundabout.

20

After your refreshments retrace your steps back by the warehouses and along the riverside walk.  Watch out for the junction back to the railway path, as it is quite easy to go straight ahead.  If the path runs out you know you've missed the turn off!

21

Carry on the railway path back past the Coastal link Exit and the sculpture back to under the Shoreham fly over.  Looking right you can see Mill Hill in the distance.

21

Just past the fly over is a gat that takes you along the river side, as we've already followed the railway route go through this gate.

22

Follow the path along the River Adur, to your right you will be able to see Mill Hill.

23

A few metres along the path you will come to a stile.  Some unusual natural water features can be seen here, as well as another view of Lacing college.

24

Go over this stile and continue on the river side path.

25

You should reach the short cut along this path just before you get to another stile.  If you are on the short cut turn right when you reach the river bank.  If you are on the full walk just carry on following the path north, over the stile and continue on.   A clearer view of Chanctonbury Ring and Lancing college chapel can be seen from here.

26

Stay on this path meandering along the river back and past the Cement works.

27

The paths will meet by the Cement works again, follow the original path back to the bridge and follow the path past Bartophs trough back to the Lay-by.