Easy going on cycle tracks, bridleways and country roads.
Can be (very) muddy in winter and, in parts, in Summer.
19km

Start and Parking at Southwater GR159263 or on the Downslink at West Grinstead GR184225

• Leave Southwater heading northwest on the Downslink for 1.25km until you reach the 'Bax Castle'. 
• Head steeply up a bank turning left onto a road and in 350m turn left in direction southwest,  up a small hill.
• In 500m turn right onto a bridleway at GR149264  sometimes signposted 'Birch Wood'.  After 750m on a concrete/tarmac track carry straight on into the woods heading south.  Follow the bridleway signs for 1km and then turn west just past (south)Trawler's farm for about 300m.
• Emerge on a tarmac road, turn left (south) to Dragon's Green, merging with a road coming in from the right.
• Cross the A272 (GR143230) and take the bridleway heading southwest.  When you reach a tarmac road, turn left following  the road round to King's Mill (GR143219).
• Take the bridleway that heads south past the mill and at the next road go left and carry straight on at the 'T' junction.
• After 1.5km turn left onto a bridleway (GR155206) heading northeast; cross the river Adur and at the top of the hill head east (automatic gate here) to join the A24.
• Pedal like fury down the slip road and cross to the central reservation and onto the B2135 (Partridge Green) road.  In 1.25km turn left, northeast, on Park lane crossing the A272 in 1.5km.
• Cross the A272 and rejoin the Downslink at West Grinstead station.
• Cycle north for 4.5km back to Southwater!

• Instead of crossing over to the B2135, turn right onto the A24 and after 400m turn left into Rookcross lane, just past Bay bridge, and then left in 250m into Bassell's lane
• Follow the bridleway southeast through Clothall's farm and then east across the river Adur at Hatterell bridge
• Continue east after the bridge for a further 1km to join the Downslink. Turn left (north) for Southwater, passing in 4.5km under the A272 to enter the rainforests of north Sussex.

The C15 inn Bax castle, formerly 'the Donkey', was known by its posh name before the birth of the composer, Arnold Bax (1883-1953);

This is the King's mill, occupied by Hilaire Belloc and featured in the BBC series "Jonathan Creek"  

The masonry stump to your right is the remains of Knepp castle 

For a bit more on Hilaire Belloc and West Grinstead church