Balcombe circular

In a short distance, turn right on the surfaced drive passing by cottages, continuing ahead towards gates and a footpath sign. Go through the middle kissing gate, bearing right and taking the track towards the village cricket field.

In 200 yards, at a right turning, divert left through an opening, following the left hedge around the cricket field. In 100 yards, beside a prominent holly bush, go left into tree cover and, at a path sign, turn left through a metal kissing gate along the top of a meadow, heading for a mid-field signpost.

From the sign turn right down a trodden field path towards a plank bridge and gate. Cross into the next field and turn half-left towards the corner, passing through a metal kissing gate to a surfaced farm track.

2 - Balcombe Lake, a tributary of the River Ouse, is on the left and worthy of a brief detour. Return to the gate and locate the opposite kissing gate, leading into a small field. Continue along the left edge beside Alder Wood, bearing right by about 15 yards. Descend a gully, cross a plank bridge then a stile. Keep direction in the next field, crossing a stile and descending to a minor road.

Turn right up the hill for 175 yards and, at the top, cross left to a bridleway, entering woodland. In a few paces bear left, turning right in 100 yards. Head to a metal bridle gate, pass through and turn left to go through a wooden kissing gate and descend winding steps to the roadside, close to Balcombe Mill.

3 - Turn right down the road, turning left beside the mill, crossing the causeway and climbing for 200 yards to an Ardingly Reservoir information board.

Go right through a gate and descend the path in Great Burrow Wood. The reservoir-side path follows the water’s edge southward for about one mile, ignoring a midway left turn, passing angling sites and information boards with details of wildlife and flora. The final bend in the path leads to a bridle gate beside a minor road.

4 - Turn right along the causeway path and, at the far side, continue up the roadside, passing a gate leading on to the continuing waterside bridleway. Climb the road for a further 150 yards and turn right down some steps, bearing left in woodland, coming to and crossing a double footbridge. Walk ahead a few paces and take a left fork in the path, climbing the steep bank beneath pine trees.

At the top of the climb, the path clears the tree cover, diverting left, continuing past a house to a residential road. Turn left up Church Lane to arrive beside the church of St Peter in Ardingly. Turn right for a few yards, branching left on a public footpath, signed as a private drive, and passing through a gate in 50 yards. Turn left along a metalled track beside the South of England Showground. In 50 yards turn right, following the service road beside the boundary fence for one third of a mile.

5 - On arriving at a junction of tracks walk ahead, bearing slightly left, towards a signed path leading into Great Racks Wood. After 200 yards the path clears the tree tunnel, continuing ahead towards the showground’s northern boundary and a three-way path sign.

Turn left down the surfaced drive to Tillinghurst Farm. Keep right of the farm buildings and then cross a farmyard, passing beneath trees into a sloping meadow. Continue down the right edge of a meadow, crossing intermediate stiles and entering a rhododendron-bordered gully.

Keep direction down the field, bearing left towards the bottom and passing through a gate. Turn left down a track and, in 75 yards, turn right over a long footbridge above the reservoir headwaters.

On the far side of the bridge, bear left for a few paces and then turn right on the trodden path climbing through Tilgate Wood – ignore the path leading left. Climb the winding path through the woods to arrive at Paddockhurst Lane after a quarter of a mile.

6 - Turn right along the quiet ridge-top road for half a mile, passing cottages and a high garden wall, to arrive beside the entrance to Forest Farm. Turn left on to the farm drive, bearing left and coming to a path junction after 175 yards.

Turn right towards farm buildings, following the path that crosses in front of the farmhouse. At the far side, pass beneath trees to a path junction. Cross the stile ahead, bearing left and coming to farm tracks in 125 yards.

Turn right along the left tree-line for about 125 yards. At a path sign, divert half-right across the meadow, heading for a stile at the lower side – a gnarled oak midway acts as a marker.

7 - Cross a stile descending through the woodland, bearing right at its lower end, crossing a bridge to a forest track.

Turn left along the track, soon crossing a stone bridge; ignore a right turning. Continue along the track for nearly half a mile and take a signed left turn, descending a bank, diverting right and crossing a long plank causeway above a boggy area. At the far side, cross a footbridge above a stream and climb steps in Walk Wood.

At a path junction turn right, climbing to clear the woods, continuing up the right edge of a meadow, passing Balcombe House, to a kissing gate and crossing track. Turn right up the track, back into the village.

• Distance/Time: Six and three quarter miles, taking three and a half hours
• By Car: Roadside parking in Balcombe village, close to Victory Hall. Start point grid ref: TQ309307
• By Public Transport: Bus service from Three Bridges to Balcombe Stores and Post Office. Trains to Balcombe; walk from station to village centre adds three quarters of a mile to walk. Travel details from www.traveline.info or call 0871 2002233.
• What’s underfoot: High Weald walking with plenty of rise and fall in woodland and along hilltop paths, some muddy sections beside Ardingly Reservoir, many stiles. Possible with a baby backpack but tough going; not possible with a baby buggy.
• Thirsty Work: Refreshments available at Half Moon Inn and Balcombe Tea Rooms
• So you don’t get lost: OS Explorer map 135 plus a compass for general direction

Click here for a full-sized map of the Balcombe circular walk