This walk takes in Ardingly Reservoir, the Ouse Valley Viaduct, and fine Weald territory.
T=swc.22 Length: 19.5km (12.1 miles) or, if you go via The Gardener's Arms and take the shortcut from there to Wakehurst Place, 16.7km (10.4 miles).
Toughness: 7 out of 10.
Trains: London Bridge 10.05 (East Croydon 10.19) arrives Balcombe 10.36.
Return trains from Balcombe xx:25 and xx:55
Lunch: The Ardingly Inn (01444 892 214), 10.1km (6.3 miles) into the walk
Next door is the Ardingly Cafe (01444 891 113), which serves sandwiches, salads, soups and light meals until 3pm Monday to Saturday.
The Gardeners Arms (01444 892328), is an alternative lunch option 10.2km (6.4 miles) into the Summer Walk.
Picnic spots: There are many benches around Ardingly Reservoir.
Tea: Wakehurst Place (01444 894066), has a self-service cafe, the Seed Cafe, which is the recommended tea stop for that walk. It is open until 5.30.
Further details L=swc.22
2 comments:
N=11 A w=sunny-hot day So hot, several were discussing doing the Winter walk because it’s cooler in winter (one of my jokes, actually because it’s shorter). “Me, me” said Mr Tiger eagerly “ I’m up for the winter walk” Take me And so a sizeable proportion set off up the hill. Much to Mr Tigers surprise, at the top of the hill, they all went off to the right. Huh? What? What walk were they doing? An autumn walk?
Mr Tiger continued straight ahead on the proper Winter walk and never saw the others again.
Under the viaduct, the misleading signs give the impression there is no footpath but there is, if you follow the diversion. ( Mr Tigers arms were burning after this section - nettles? - or giant hogweed maybe?)
And so to the reservoir. I’ve said it before and I”ll probably say it again There is too much reservoir on the winter walk.
No point diverting to the Ardingly Inn. If its website is true, it doesn’t open till 4:30 weekdays.
Got to the Half Moon for 2:50, downed a pint of cider by 2:55, thought of getting another and waiting a bit but the pump had run dry :( The tearoom wasn’t open, btw. Not that I wanted any.
Got the 3:25
Back in London by 4:05 The others will have to tell you how THEY got on.
I counted #13 on the platform and it was #Scorchio. There was plenty of shade however and everywhere was lovely and green (thanks to the amount of rain we’ve had). Lots of meadow flowers including cornflowers. The group did split into 2 early on. 7 of us aimed to do the long route, but by the time we got to the church outside Ardingley village (after lunch and cold drinks at the reservoir) we cut across to Wakehurst Place and made a beeline to the café. After some refreshments and cooling off, one got the bus from the gardens, and the others ploughed on to Balcombe, where we met up with some of the shortcutters having a drink in the Half Moon. At the station, most caught the 16.25 to London, two went to Brighton, and one to Lewes to retrieve a lost item. Thank you Wanderer for posting.
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