Balcombe

A five mile walk beside Ardingly reservoir and through woodland to the South of Wakehurst Place. 

From the Brighton Evening Argus, The Great Outdoors, published on June 17 1995. Written by Ben Perkins, map by Vic Cook.

 This five mile circuit starts from the official Ardingly reservoir car-park, signposted from the lane past Ardingly College, about two miles north of the Lindfield. As well as a path through woodland to the south of Wakehurst Place we can enjoy a mile or so beside the reservoir. 

From the car park, walk up on to the reservoir dam and turn the right along the top of it. Follow the main track onwards, ignoring a path through a gate on your left which has no continuity. The track skirts to the right of a small wood and then drops down to the reservoir.       

After another half a mile or so, the track passes through a small wooded area and then comes out to the open again. After another 200 yards, turn right for awaited bridle gate and away from the water, climbing gently along the left edge of two fields, to reach a lane., pausing to admire the fine timber frame house of Edmond's Farm opposite.

At a road junction, turn left along Paddockhurst Lane. After about 350 yards turn right along a signposted woodland path, stepping over a low log barrier at the start. The gradient steepens as the path drops down through the wood. At the bottom, go forward over long and elaborate footbridge which crosses a finger on the reservoir which extends northwards, deep into Wakehurst woods at this point. 

Beyond the bridge, go left at a T-Junction. When you are confronted by the high perimeter fence of Wakehurst Gardens, turn right a over a stile and follow the fence up across a field, past a small sandstone outcrop and a rhododendron thicket, and then, still climbing, along with the left edge of two fields to reach Tillinghurst Farm. Pass the left of the buildings and follow the access drive from the farm out to the B2028 road.

Turn right and, just past the Gardener's Arms on your left, you should go right through a bridle gate, labled 'private property'. Please keep to footpaths which is to the left of a wide entrance to the South of England show ground.

Go half left across a parking area to pick up and follow the main show ground perimeter fence, keeping it on your left as you head south, on or beside a concrete drive, with the square tower of Ardingly Church in view ahead.

Just short of a wide double gate, turn right through a bridle gate to follow a short roughly metalled track out to a lane. Ardingly village with a choice of two more pubs is half a mile to the left but it continues at the right.

After a few yards, fork left along Church Lane, leaving the Church on your right. It not a signed crossing path and, by a house called Rose Cottage, keep right, (almost straight on), now on a roughly metalled track.

Where the track ends at a farmyard and you have a choice of three signposted paths, turn left over a stile by a gate and go ahead with a house and a garden immediately on your right. A few yards beyond the garden, bear right over a stile, where there is a fine view of a long sweep of the reservoir.

Now drop downhill along a left field edge. After about 200 yards, bear left over a stile and through a small copse to a second stile. Continue downhill along a left field edge at first, then on a trodden path across a field. In the field corner, make your way out over a stile, hidden behind scrub, to join a drive.

Turn right. After about 60 yards, turn left over a stile and walk down to the car park, now in sight.