HIKE 22km The Sussex Weald, Ardingly reservoir and the Ouse Valley viaduct

📏 Key Info:
• Distance: 14 miles (22km)
• Grading: Intermediate/Challenging
• Ascent: 470m
• Hiking time: 5.5 to 6.5 hours
• Cost: £30 plus Eventbrite fee they charge including the guided hike and return train travel, click “Get Tickets” to join.
• Payments are refundable upto 7 days in advance, after that they are non refundable and non transferrable.
• Toilet Breaks: On the train, at the lunch stop, and at the end pub

📍 Meeting Point
• Location: IMPORTANT - London Bridge station has several levels, please check the map below before you leave home and also arrive at least 10 minutes early to get to the meeting point.
London Bridge station. Meet upstairs (top floor - so go up the escalators) between WHSmith (no 15) and M&S (no 16) - MAP
• Time: Meet 8am, leave 8:20am for the 8:35am train
• Return: 6:05pm arrival back in London (you’re committed until then)

🌟 Highlights
• Walk beneath the Ouse Valley Viaduct, a Victorian masterpiece of 11 million bricks with its “never-ending” arches
• Pass the Millennium Seedbank, the world’s largest wild plant seed collection with 1.9 billion seeds
• Enjoy ice creams or hot drinks at Ardingly Reservoir, home to abundant birdlife
• Hike scenic wooded trails of the Sussex Weald
• Visit Ardingly Reservoir, holding 5 billion litres of fresh water
• See the historic Wakehurst Place, a 16th-century mansion with National Trust gardens
• Discover the tranquil hidden gem of Balcombe Lake

🥾 Hike Description
Our hike begins from the rural station of Balcombe, leading us straight into the rolling fields and wooded trails of West Sussex. The highlight comes early as we pass under the spectacular Ouse Valley Viaduct, often described as the most beautiful viaduct in England. Built in 1841 at a cost of £38,500, its 37 arches and 11 million imported bricks create a striking and photogenic landmark — a perfect stop for photos beneath its “never-ending” symmetry.

From here, our route continues through gentle countryside to the wide expanse of Ardingly Reservoir, which holds an incredible 5 billion litres of fresh water. Its banks are home to a wide variety of birdlife, and we pause here for refreshments, with the chance to grab an ice cream or hot drink.

The trail then leads us onwards through peaceful woodland paths and open fields, reaching the grounds of Wakehurst Place, a 16th-century mansion and today the most visited National Trust property in the country. Nearby sits the world-famous Millennium Seedbank, which holds 1.9 billion seeds from more than 75,000 species — the largest wild plant seed collection on Earth.

We complete the circuit by returning through more wooded tracks to Balcombe Lake, a small and picturesque hidden gem nestled among the trees. This makes for a peaceful finale to a hike that combines Victorian engineering, rural beauty, and world-leading conservation.

🧭 Guide:
• Leader: GRAHAM
• Contact (hike day only): 07796 098487

🍽️ Food:
• Bring a packed lunch
• Pub visit after the hike (drinks optional)

🎒What to Bring
• Hiking boots/shoes
• Water (2 litres minimum)
• Packed lunch
• Waterproofs (jacket and trousers)
• Hat and gloves if cold
• Train tickets are arranged – just meet us at the meeting point

⚠️ Safety
Your guide is a trained hike leader and Outdoor Activity First Aider

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