London > Brighton via A or B roads

[salem]

I quite like the idea of taking my vespa down to Brighton on a warm day. Anyone have any tips, know any good routes or know websites which list them.

It'd be nice to stick to quieter country roads as it's only a 125, so not great above 50mph and I can't go on the motorway

Hell if any other scooter riders like the idea I wouldn't mind a partner either.

 

[zenie]

A23 all the way?

 

[salem]

How busy does it get and what are the speeds like on the A23?

 

[Oswaldtwistle]

A23 southern section is a motorway in all but name. Where are you starting from.

 

[Oswaldtwistle]

OK if you can get yourself to the B269 coming out of Croydon? Follow this road under the M25 and through the staggered junction across the A25 (its a left then a right 150 yards later to stay on the B269)

Stay on the B269 until you get to a village called Crockham Hill. Pick up the right fork for the B2026 towards Edenbridge

Straight on through Edenbridge, past two railway lines and across river. Straight on at roundabout after river.

About half a mile out of Edenbridge, turn right for the B2028. (This road will take you most of the rest of the way)

After about 5 miles you'll reach Lingfield, under the railway line and past the racecourse (on your right) You'll then need to make a left at a mini roundabout to stay on the B2028

After Lingfield you'll reach a roundabout for the A22. just go straight on, straight across another crossroads and straight on at another roundabout. Just stay on the B2028.

Stay on the B2028 straight through Turner's Hill and Ardingly

Stay on the B2028 into Haywards Heath. When you get to a roundabout, take the first exit for the B2112.

Straight on at the next roundabout and stay on the B2112

Out of Heywards heath and into Wivelsfield (branch right at rounabout to stay on B2112)

straight on at next roundabout, and on into Ditchling. Straight on at crossroads.

After the crossroads, the B2112 swings right, but you want to go straight on, over Ditchling Beacon and head for the sea! Enjoy!

 

[Oswaldtwistle]

That's my route. The good folks at SABRE seem to think the Quadrophenia bikers would have used the Saddlescombe road (further west)

A kind SABRE member has told me "Directions to pick this up in a nice route avoiding the A23 as it is these days would be probably somehow get to Cowfold which is on the A272/A281 and take the A281 out of Cowfold and head south to Henfield, out the other side until you get to a roundabout immediately before the escarpment and probably signed Brighton A23 on the left exit, continue onwards and that's Saddlescombe Road, you'll know you're on the right track as you'll have to climb very steeply Though not as much as Ditchling Beacon."

so pick one of those two.

Did you hear about the time Editor, Fridgemagnet and Han went to Brighton? They were arrested!

(mind you they were smashing up a seafront cafe whilst singing "we are the mods, we are the mods, we are, we are, we are the mods")





Sorry


I'll get me coat

 

[Epona]

Oh shit, I did that once on a 125 scooter - missed my turn for the B road and about pissed myself when I found myself on the slip road heading onto the A23, committed with no way out to a rather hairy fast-traffic adventure on a scooter with a new engine so couldn't take it above 45mph which is quite frankly dangerous on a road like that - bloody drivers do not give you enough room when they pass you at high speed leaving you gritting your teeth in the slipstream. I made it to the end OK but it's not a journey I'd want to repeat, so do check your directions carefully because it's not a pleasant nor a safe experience, it is as has been said a motorway in all but name. I got it right on the way back and it was a much more enjoyable ride!

 

[braindancer]

This is a lovely route to do via bicycle..... pretty much avoids main roads the whole way - although this may of course not be so necessary on a scooter.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/com...gland/route-london-brighton.htm&f_cardinal=10

 

[salem]

some great ideas there, fantastic.

 

[tommers]

Oh shit, I did that once on a 125 scooter - missed my turn for the B road and about pissed myself when I found myself on the slip road heading onto the A23,

yeah, me and my mate did that on pushbikes. had to carry em up the embankment and onto a bridge. got away from it that way.

don't miss ditchling beacon, that's the moral.

 

[joevsimp]

recent london to brighton bike ride went past my house

i think that instead of london road/A23 they came via heywards heath and burgess hill, then down ditchling lane, coldean lane and then into town on the Lewes road/A270

 

[yardbird]

recent london to brighton bike ride went past my house

i think that instead of london road/A23 they came via heywards heath and burgess hill, then down ditchling lane, coldean lane and then into town on the Lewes road/A270

Also went past my local in Lindfield *wave,wave*
"ooh, pretty vilage"

Soddin day trippers!

 

[minkboy]

Another place with lovely views is the Jack and Jill Windmill at Clayton (Mill Lane on the map)
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&h...5441,-0.148423&spn=0.007158,0.018797&t=h&z=16

 

[braindancer]

A scooter would be quite handy for getting over Ditchling Beacon though!

Fucking hell what a bitch of a hill!

 

[Oswaldtwistle]

yeah, me and my mate did that on pushbikes (ended up on fast flowing A23) had to carry em up the embankment and onto a bridge. got away from it that way.

don't miss ditchling beacon, that's the moral.

These are the two crucial junctions to avoid the A23. Go straight on at the cross roads in Ditchling (where you cross the B2116) then take the next right (beacon road)

Look for any signs for Ditchling Beacon but *ignore* any signs for Brighton at this point.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&h...0.920432,-0.113297&spn=0.014447,0.037851&z=15

If you find yourself on the A273, running parallel to a railway line, turn around pronto as that leads on to the A23.

 

[salem]

A scooter would be quite handy for getting over Ditchling Beacon though!

Fucking hell what a bitch of a hill!

Ohh, I love riding up hills. Especially past knackered cyclists

These are the two crucial junctions to avoid the A23. Go straight on at the cross roads in Ditchling (where you cross the B2116) then take the next right (beacon road)

Look for any signs for Ditchling Beacon but *ignore* any signs for Brighton at this point.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&h...0.920432,-0.113297&spn=0.014447,0.037851&z=15

If you find yourself on the A273, running parallel to a railway line, turn around pronto as that leads on to the A23.

Thanks, quite possibly life saving advice