Ardingly circular

By Eddie Start

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Ardingly Reservoir is one of those tucked-away reminders of how dependent we are upon the most basic of natural resources.

The reservoir was created in 1978 to harvest water from the head of the River Ouse and its tributaries to provide drinking water for the mid- Sussex community.

There are a number of short walks around parts of the reservoir and the colourful display of sailing boats adds to its charm.

It is a delightful setting and always worth a visit just to amble and contemplate the world; there is wheelchair and baby-buggy access around part of the shoreline.

On this shorter walk we strike out to the west at the edge of High Weald country with a return stroll beneath a spectacular 19th Century construction that became necessary in order to gain access over the Ouse.

1. From the public car park walk up the grass bank which forms part of the dam wall for the reservoir to its western side.

From this point the scale of the lake becomes apparent.

Cross the access road, going to the left to climb the low hill behind the buildings used by sailing and canoeing enthusiasts, and keep to the right of the access gates to the disabled parking site.

From the four-way finger-post walk towards the narrow stand of trees to the half-right. Cross a plank bridge into the copse, pass through to a stile, and cross into a meadow to continue the climb towards a marker post on the skyline ahead.

Pass through a hedge opening and make for the edge of an isolated copse on the hilltop, to the right. Go left around the copse and then head left down the field to a gate beside a farm track.

Turn right along the track, passing a cottage on the left, and making for the imposing building shown on the map as Stone Hall. Keep to the track as it turns to the left in front of the house and follow this to the gated entrance beside Stonehill Lane.

2. Carefully cross to the opposite side of the road, go through hedgerow for a few yards and then head half-left across two fields, crossing a plank bridge, to a brick bridge over a railway line.

Cross the bridge and turn right over a stile, along the next field edge. In 200 yards descend steeply to the valley bottom beside Furland Wood. Turn left along the woodland fence, crossing fields, to a right field corner.

Cross a bridge into a small copse turning right to clear the trees and immediately climb steeply left up the field to a roadside stile. Cross the road to pick-up the opposite track, signed for Four Acres Poultry Farm. Walk between the coppice and then follow an elevated track, with views to the south, leading to Pilstye Farm.

Continue straight ahead between the farm buildings, passing the farmhouse which is on the left, and take the left turn in the track, descending to a minor road.

3. Turn left down the road, crossing over a road bridge above a rivercourse in the first 300 yards.

Follow the rise and fall of the road for a little over half a mile to a junction with the B2036, known as the London Road. Take a few paces left and cross the road to an opposite farm drive signed for Great Bentley Farm.

Follow the drive, passing some farm buildings after 500 yards and continuing towards Great Bentley Farm. With the buildings of the farm on the rise a short distance ahead, take the signed left path at the side of the track, descending through a gate to a field and following the right hedgeline.

4. The path continues along the hedgeline and in 400 yards heads for a prominent footbridge a short distance to the left. Go half-left at the far side of the bridge, making for a wooden gate in the opposite hedgerow, in 200 yards. Pass into the next field, in which the path rises to the half-right, to the top right corner.

Cross a double stile and walk towards the buildings of Ryelands Farm. Pass through a gate beside the farm buildings, turn right and in a few yards, with the farmhouse on the right, turn left.

Walk up the track for a few yards and climb a bank on the right to a stile.

In the next field go half-right towards the prominent Ouse Valley Viaduct. Cross two stiles in scrub to pass beneath one of the brick arches of the viaduct. The viaduct is a place to linger and marvel at this grand piece of Victorian engineering built to carry the London to Brighton railway across the Ouse Valley.

It is a structure which never fails to impress.

Building materials for the construction were carried up the river by barge from Newhaven.

The riverbank, which we will shortly walk along, would have had temporary wharves created to deal with the off-loading. Having concluded the sightseeing interlude of the walk, now continue across the field to a stile at the roadside, cross and turn right.

5. Walk along the road edge for 125 yards to Upper Ryelands Bridge and at its southern side turn left into the riverside field.

Follow the path along the bank of Ouse, with River’s Wood away to the right, for a little over half a mile. Skirt around scrub and bushes to arrive at a footbridge, cross this and walk to a second bridge in 100 yards.

Having crossed the second bridge, climb the rising field to the left, along the right hedgeline to a hedge opening on the right in 100 yards. Turn right through the opening, go to the right corner along the hedgeline, and then turn left up the field.

Maintain direction for 250 yards, pass through a metal kissing gate and descend back to our starting point beside the reservoir.