Cycle ride, Horsham, country lanes, Rusper, to Ifield, near Crawley

A quiet loop north of Horsham, taking in country lanes between Rusper and Ifield, makes for an easy escape from the busiest parts of the south east. The ride is entirely on-road, so it suits any kind of bicycle, and it can be completed in a morning or an afternoon without any great rush.

The route

The circuit runs for about 17 miles, though the exact distance depends on where in Horsham you set off from. It heads north out of town and picks up a network of lanes that pass through Rusper and continue towards Ifield, near Crawley. Traffic is light for most of the way, which is the main appeal: despite the region’s reputation for busy roads, quiet routes like this are still easy to find.

What to expect

Because the whole route stays on tarmac, there is no need for a specialist bike. Ridden at a steady pace on a mountain bike, the loop takes roughly an hour and forty minutes, working out at an average of around 12 mph. Road bikes, hybrids and tourers will all manage it comfortably.

A note on navigation

There are no step-by-step directions here, but the route has been tracked and the GPS file can be downloaded for use with a bike navigation device or a smartphone cycling app. Once saved, it can be transferred to the app of your choice and followed turn by turn.

If you are looking for somewhere to ride near Horsham, this is a good option to try.