The Worth Way follows for much of its route part of the course of a dismantled railway - the Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line - which opened in 1855 and closed in 1967 as a result of the programme of closures put forward by East Grinstead resident and British Transport Commission Chairman, Richard Beeching.

A final minor diversion occurs near Rowfant railway station (still standing) where the former goods yard is in industrial use and the route briefly diverts to the road.

[4] Both the Worth Way and the Forest Way, together with a third disused railway footpath - the Cuckoo Trail, form part of Route 21 of the National Cycle Network linking London, Reigate and Gatwick Airport with East Grinstead, Heathfield and Eastbourne.

In addition, in areas where chalk was used in the construction of the railway line, chalk-loving plants such as guelder rose, common spotted orchid, twayblade and wild strawberry have flourished.

Adders, grass snakes and the common lizard bask in sunny glades along the old railway line, and the adjoining farmland provides a habitat for roe deer and foxes.

[6] Litter picks along the length of the Worth Way have been organised annually by Crawley Borough Council as part of their Let's FACE it campaign to clear fly-tipping and refuse dumped along the trail.

[7][8] In 2006 Mid-Sussex District Council floated the idea of constructing a 62-foot (19 m) wide concrete tunnel under the Worth Way which would carry a relief road for East Grinstead over the line of the trail.

[10] The Worth Way Action Group was set up to fight the proposals and it achieved its goal in March 2007 when the scheme was dropped on the basis that its estimated costs of £157 million (representing £60,000 per East Grinstead dwelling) made it unviable.