Ardingly - 9 miles

From the car park, walk towards the top of the dam and turn right. Go through the gate the right-hand and follow the gravel path.  Ignore the first footpath on the right. You will later be returning by this route.

Continue following the path along the reservoir. Often, the water level is high during late winter and spring but can drop substantially in the summer months when demand for water is high. The photograph shows the reservoir in early May. After about ⅓ mile look out for another footpath on the right. Take the footpath and follow it uphill.

When you reach Town House Farm at the top of the hill, take the track straight ahead. Now passing to the right of the farm, follow the road all the way to Saint Peters Church, ignoring all the footpaths on the left and right. Turn right at Saint Peters Church and then take the footpath on the left by the “Street Lane” sign.  Go through a gate and turn right onto a wide road which skirts the South of England Showground.

 Turn left onto the main road.  Cross the road opposite Alderwood Cottages. Just after the cottages follow the bridleway downhill.  After 50 yards, bear left just as you emerge into woodland. Follow this path for ½ mile. The path here is full of wild garlic, ferns and bluebells in spring.

When the footpath widens onto a farm track, take the footpath on the right which leads you further downhill into woodland.  Cross the bridge over a stream and start climbing again.  When you leave the woods, go left uphill across the field and continue all the way up to a lane.  Turn right onto the lane.

As the lane turns right (downhill) go straight on towards Pickeridge Cottage and Holly Farm.

Unfortunately there is a bridge closure after waypoint 10. Please follow this diversion instead:

After 50 yards, bear right. The slope will be downwards to your left on this path. Continue for about 5-10 minutes until you reach a road. Turn left onto the road which winds steeply downhill. After a bridge over a stream the road continues uphill. At the top of the hill, turn right on a track towards Pickeridge Cottage and Holly Farm. Now pick up the trail from way point 16.

Turn left past timber-framed Old Holly Cottage Opposite a barn, cross a stile on the left and turn right, now following the edge of the field all the way to the bottom of the hill. 

 Cross the bridge over the stream and soon you will come to a field.  Cross the middle of the field towards its right-hand corner at the top of the hill. Pace yourselves here, the last part of the hill is surprisingly steep! Go through the gate and continue to follow the track through a farmyard and onwards to Hammingden Lane.  Turn left onto the road. You are now in the village of Highbrook.

 At All Saints Church turn right, pass the round brick building of Highbrook Smokery, and follow the track downhill.  Go through a gate and out into the field. Here there is a view over the Wealden landscape where you should be able to see the Bluebell Railway in the distance (especially if a steam train gives away its position). Now follow the path down the hill, all the way to a stream at the bottom.

Cross the bridge and continue onwards into to a field.  Cross the field and follow the footpath all the way to the Bluebell Railway. Here you will find a level crossing. This is a good place to wait to see a train if you have time but please stay well away from the track.

 Turn right at the level crossing and follow the footpath along the side of the railway track.  Eventually the path leaves the railway but when you continue along this path it will take you back over a railway bridge. From here you can see Horsted Keynes station.  Continue over the bridge and follow the path to the railway station. Perhaps take a break here and buy a platform ticket so that you can relax for a while or explore the station.

Leave the station buildings and head towards the road.  Turn right onto the road, eventually passing a double bend (which used to pass beneath a railway bridge under the now-dismantled Ardingly Spur).  Take a footpath on the right and follow it gently uphill across the field.  Continue on the footpath ahead through the Orchard Wood plantation.

 Emerging from the trees after about ¼ mile your view expands across a small but deep valley. The path ahead now descends steeply into the grounds of Ham Cottage. Continue through the garden but be sure to keep to the footpath until you come to a road.  At the road, turn right and then immediately left taking the footpath which now passes along the edge of a vineyard.  At the end of the footpath, go through the gate and proceed along the edge of a cricket field, past the rear of the pavilion and onwards to a kissing gate.  Once through the gate go straight on, then downhill to your left. Cross a brick bridge and continue uphill.  Half way up the hill there is a house called Withyland. Climb past the house and continue along the footpath until you reach the High Street at Ardingly.

At the High Street, cross the road and turn right. Continue along the road, past a bus stop and towards a couple of signs indicating you are about to leave Ardingly Just past the signs, take the wide track on the left back into the South of England Showground (which you might recognise from earlier in the walk).

As the track bears right, take the footpath on the left through a gate by a hedge. Turn right towards Saint Peters Church then left, walking all the way to the end of Church Lane. At Townhouse Farm, continue downhill towards the reservoir. Views can be seen here across the reservoir and the South Downs (to your left). At the bottom of the hill, turn left follow the path back to your car.

Over to the far side of the dam, towards the boats and canoes, the Black Hut Café is open at weekends and school summer holidays (in case you need refreshment). Please check the website at Ardingly Activity Centre for opening times.

UPDATED DECEMBER 2025

Waypoint Arrival Times

(1) Go to the Bluebell Railway Timetable and look up the nearest departure times from Sheffield Park 

(2) Add the extra time for the trains to arrive at your waypoint from the table below

(3) Repeat for the trains from East Grinstead