Most of the path follows two abandon railways, the Cranleigh Line and the Steyning Line. These railways were closed in the 1960s in the Beeching Axe. The former railways were purchased by the local councils in 1974 where the routes could be used by the public for walking. In 1984 the local authorities worked together and established a 48km long path. The path has been extended over time and now is a continuous 59km route with only a few sections using residential streets.