There’s a rhythm to Sussex that you only really feel when you’re travelling slowly … and the old railway lines that thread through the north of the county are perfect for capturing the essence of this. The Worth Way (11 km) and Forest Way (16 km) form two beautiful off-road cycling routes running from Three Bridges near Crawley in West Sussex all the way to Groombridge (East Sussex), from where the Spa Valley Railway steams off towards Tunbridge Wells.
It’s an easy, car-free adventure with wide tracks, soft woodland light and plenty of places to stop for coffee, cake or something more serious. You can do the whole thing in a day or stretch it into a Sussex weekend of cycling and food, and it’s a great option when elsewhere is so muddy as to be impassable.
Start: Take your bike to Three Bridges
Begin with the train. Three Bridges station (on the main London–Brighton line) has good cycle access and Worth Way starts just a short distance from the station, following the old East Grinstead railway line through gentle countryside. You soon leave the town behind you as the route passes Worth Church, one of the oldest churches in Sussex, and crosses the M23. From there, the Worth Way cuts through the countryside, stopping at Crawley Down before heading on to East Grinstead.
If you need fuel before you start, there is a coffee shop at the station or hang on until you get to Crawley Down (7 km) and stop at the Village Brew for scrumptious sweet treats and coffee. The route is pretty easy to follow and you are also on a section of the Sussex Border Path here. From Crawley Down just head on east to East Grinstead.
The Forest Way: East Grinstead to Groombridge
At East Grinstead, the route takes you close to the museum and to East Court, where you’ll find the Millennium Stone. This was placed on the Meridian Line at East Court in 2000 to mark the turning of the new Millennium.
Form here, the Worth Way flows into the Forest Way, an 11-mile green corridor that’s one of Sussex’s best-kept secrets. Birdsong replaces traffic as you cycle through the High Weald landscape. You are also still on a section of the Sussex Border Path as well as part of the High Weald Landscape Trail. Half a mile from the East Grinstead trailhead, turn left towards Tablehurst Farm, an interesting Sussex food destinations.
Stop one: Tablehurst Farm Café, Forest Row
If you only stop once, make it here. Tablehurst Farm is a biodynamic community-owned farm that does everything right: ethical farming, minimal waste and glorious food. The café sits among the barns, serving farmhouse lunches, soups and salads made from the fields around you. On Saturdays, you’ll often see locals queuing for home-made pies.
Try the farm burger (grass-fed beef, Tablehurst salad leaves, house ketchup) or a bowl of winter soup with freshly baked bread. You can pick up sausages, eggs and preserves from the farm shop to take home or load them straight into your panniers for a Sussex picnic later. The indoor café is open year-round Tue-Sat 9 am-5 pm. The al fresco kitchen is open in the summer months (2026 opening date TBC).
Stop two: Java & Jazz, Forest Row
A five-minute detour takes you into Forest Row, a small village with a big food culture. Grab a coffee from Java & Jazz or visit The Seasons Wholefoods deli. This is a good place to stock up on snacks or even grab a slice of cake for the trail.
Ride on: The Forest Way to Hartfield and Groombridge
Back on the trail, the Forest Way curves its way through quiet woodland and open fields. Look out for deer and wildlife and keep an ear out for the steam whistle that marks your destination ahead. About halfway, you’ll pass Hartfield, the village forever linked to A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh. Stop for a light lunch or slice of cake at Pooh Corner, which serves fresh homemade sandwiches, cakes, scones and treats.
You can see the prints of Shepard’s original Winnie the Pooh sketches, as well as film posters and movie artwork and the little Pooh museum is packed with other bear memorabilia. There’s space allocated for bikes near the entrance to the teagarden and usually a steady stream of walkers from Ashdown Forest. For more bears, The Bear Inn in Hartfield offers excellent Sunday roasts and local ales, a perfect excuse to pause before the last stretch to Groombridge and stock up on honey at the village store.
Finish: Spa Valley Railway, Groombridge
From Hartfield onwards, you’ll follow the River Medway for a while and as you approach Groombridge, your reward is the gentle hiss of the Spa Valley Railway, its vintage carriages waiting to take visitors through the High Weald to Tunbridge Wells. You can watch the steam trains in the station café with a slice of cake, or, if timing allows, hop on board for the short ride into Tunbridge Wells: bikes welcome (check timetable before travel).
From Tunbridge Wells station, you can easily get back to Three Bridges or London by train a loop of Sussex made entirely by pedal and rail power.
Essential information
- Length: Around 22 miles one way (Three Bridges to Groombridge).
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate; mostly traffic-free, gently undulating.
- Best for: Hybrid, gravel or mountain bikes; ideal all year round but stunning in autumn and early spring.
- Trains: Frequent connections via Southern Rail (bikes allowed off-peak and weekends).
- Combine with: Overnight in Forest Row or East Grinstead for a slower pace.
Extra foodie stops along the way
- Gravetye Manor, East Grinstead – Michelin-starred fine dining and kitchen garden (book ahead).
- Kingscote Estate & Vineyard, East Grinstead – offering tours, tastings, lunches and afternoon teas.
It’s not a race, and it’s not about miles. It’s about the taste of Sussex, carrot soup at Tablehurst, honey at Pooh Corner, the tang of steam at Groombridge. So pump up your tyres, pack a basket, and take the slow lane.
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