16 on this walk, though for a while it felt like just one. I started off in the company of some hares, but mid morning they hared off into the distance. Despite looking back across field and valley, I could see no one behind, so for the next hour or so it was just me, alone in the drizzle .

Pretty much the whole group eventually assembled at the Ardingly Inn, however, where it transpired that some had decided to do the winter route under the Ouse Valley Viaduct - and why not? - while others….(I am not sure what the others did). The reopened pub was pleasant and efficient. It had a simple menu of pub classics but they were all nicely done and speedily served. One or two had sandwiches in the garden before coming in for drinks.

After lunch some (I did not count) decided to do the winter ending along the Ardingly Reservoir. This was an understandable choice given that the ground had so far been….soft. Or, to speak plainer, muddy and at times squelchy. Summertime has definitely ended in the Weald.

A fair few of us did the summer afternoon route, however. The drizzle abated and autumn colours were good - unusually so for the time of year, I would say. We saw a flock of (fallow?) deer and heard one barking in the woods.

Six or seven of us stopped at the Seed Cafe in Wakehurst Place, where the vegan chocolate and orange cake was supremely delicious (too good to waste on vegans really…). There was some talk of going into the gardens, the group having the requisite number of Kew or NT memberships to do this gratis. But in the end the desire to finish the walk in the daylight won out.

Approaching Balcombe the setting sun tried to escape the cloud, producing a poignant orange glow to mark the last sunset before the Great Darkness. Some, I guess, hurried on to catch the 17.55 train. Four of us had drinks in the Half Moon and three (minus one car driver) walked the back lanes to the station in the entrancing dark to catch the 18.55.

11 A 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 counted13 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.

22 on this walk (I think we decided), including two late starters and one newbie, who we hope enjoyed his walk… The weather started disappointingly cloudy, but soon brightened up to soft sun .

The quiet lanes near the start were not quite so quiet as usual. Two possible explanations for this. Either it was National Drive Down Narrow Country Lanes Day or “sportsmen” were abroad. The sound of distant gunfire and a convoy of over-sized SUVs near a farm supported the latter hypothesis.

This apart, it was a pleasant morning. Not ludicrously muddy (or perhaps I just had pessimistic expectations) and with a pleasing mix of birdsong (great tits, blue tits, dunnocks, song thrush, one mistle thrush, a woodpecker drumming), suggesting spring is not so far away. The Ouse Valley Viaduct was as magnificent as ever: still a short diversion in place for repair work, but nothing serious.

Two walkers had booked ten places at the pub, and this exactly matched the number of people who wanted to eat. The shepherd’s pie was a bit titchy, but tasty. The mushroom pasta looked a heartier choice. One person, we later discovered, went to the Ardingly Arms by mistake and found it has been revamped and is now serving food, which is good news.

After lunch we did the interesting variation suggested by the walk poster. When offered the choice to swipe right for the summer walk or left for winter, we chose the latter. We took a slightly longer route to maximise our time on the reservoir.

Approaching Balcombe two pioneered an alternative route (one unwittingly) and all of us did a nice short cut across the fields which I would incorporate in the walk directions if it was a right of way. 10 of us had a fairly long sojourn in the Half Moon, sampling beer, wine or tea (the latter priced at £4.55 a pot). A few of us took the back lanes in the dark to get the…? 17.55 ? train.

It wasn't 'distant gunfire' I experienced in the para 16 field, arriving somewhat earlier than the group thanks to an earlier train. Scattered through this large field there were at least a dozen shooters aiming away. There was even one on the footbridge leading out from the field in para 17. Obviously they were not aiming at me but it was an uncomfortable experience.

I think21 did the walk although I'm not confident that I counted the numbers right - two walkers did the short start and at least three joined by car so we were never all together. It was warm with sunny spells . Most went by the viaduct which we agreed was impressive, especially the view inside the arches. We spread out rather over lunch - at least 9 ate in the very nice Gardener's Arms, there were a number of picnic spots and some tried the kiosk at the reservoir (open for it's last day of the year) where the cake was reported to be excellent. I don't know if anyone went to the Ardlingly Cafe.

The majority then walked to Wakehurst more or less together, with racing cars bombing round the circuit in the South of England Centre making that section less pleasant. Confusion ensued as we tried to figure out how to get past the Wakehurst entrance and out of the car park. Two had stopped for tea and some of us got rather left behind, mainly because of my stupidity in assuming an obvious gate was locked.

Those who made a cleaner exit went straight for the 1625 train I hear.

When we got to Balcombe, the Half Moon looked very tempting. Our band, by now five, stopped there and were later joined by the two who had stopped earlier for tea and two who had done the full summer route. We then got the 1655 or 1725 home.

All in all, a grand day out and thanks for posting - the modified route worked well but I'd be looking for a different way from Ardingly to Wakehurst next time.

Another refreshment stop on this walk is the Black Hut Cafe on Ardingly Reservoir, at the Activity Centre on the south west corner of the reservoir. The route passes it just before it crosses the reservoir.

www.ardinglyactivitycentre.co.uk/our-cafe/

I have booked a table for 4 at the Gardeners Arms at 12:30

They are a tough lot, the Saturday Walkers. 12 turned up on this walk despite rail strikes and a forecast of heavy rain. You know what I am going to say next, right? It hardly rained at all - just a lovely mild wind and scudding clouds and yes, one short shower after lunch.

One walker decided at the start to do the summer version of the walk and was thus lost to history. We hope he did not sink without trace into the gloopy mud. The rest of us walked along the road, passed by an irritating number of cars (normally there are none). Later we came across a Meet-Up group of about forty twenty-somethings, who helpfully waited for us to catch up before resuming their walk. Thanks for that, guys: we were feeling lonely.

We hurried to extricate ourselves from them as we walked along the farm track, passed by another procession of cars, this time with beefy male occupants. I correctly guessed a shoot and indeed in a field soon after we came across the “guns”. They were probably as pleased to see us as we were to see them. They must have loved the Meet-Up group.

On to the Ouse Valley Viaduct, which always takes the breath away. Bits are falling off it apparently so there was a short diversion to pass under it. Beyond we squelched along the valley and then climbed to the reservoir, where one walker lost a very nice hat (it upsets me to think of it..), whipped off by the wind onto the inaccessible lower reaches of the dam.

Two tables of four had been booked at the Gardener’s Inn. Three more of us squeezed onto a bar table. Nine of us got our meals with astonishing speed - we had barely sat down after ordering when they arrived. Two - including hat guy, who was having an unlucky day - had a much longer wait.

After lunch yours truly wanted to check out a supposed permissive path to Wakehurst Place. It did not exist (locked gate) but it prompted us to go off piste and pioneer a lovely route down hill, across an arm of the reservoir, and up to a lane. Most stayed on the lane into Balcombe: three of us descended to the reservoir and met two others there coming the other way (I am not sure why).

All eleven of us ended up in the Half Moon Inn in Balcombe at around 3.30pm (near top marks for group cohesion!). Some had tea, some alcohol: all were provided by the landlord with bag covers for their boots. Some got the 4.20 train, three of us went for the 4.50, walking the back lane in the atmospheric dusk - and getting totally drenched by a torrential shower (than God it did not rain like that all day!). One got befuddled by the rain and just missed the train: hopefully the last service of the day, the 5.20, carried him home.

The 9.45 train is showing as cancelled. 9.35 and 10.15 still seem to be running.

8 ,I'm told by someone who was there. some trouble with getting food, as all options were closed/short staffed or had just stopped serving food.

17 and a dog at the station. 2 more had set off early. With A N Other set to join at lunch, that should make 20

A bright sunny day. Quite a surprise after yestergrey. All walk options were covered.

Turns out the Ardingley Inn doesn’t do food on a Sunday but there was talk they allowed food from the nearby caff in. I was one of the ‘dejeuner sur l’herbe’ faction so don’t know how that worked out. They’ll have to let us know, won’t they.

I can’t ever remember having got back to the station for 14.44 before, but it happened today. What’s more, I’d even had time to swill down a beer in the Half Moon first. Or was I dreaming? If it was a dream, I wasn’t the only one in it.

hello pete the leader , what time walk start ? is it 10:25? and name of station is ?

just like to make sure.

shira 07801 492106

The walk starts at Balcombe station at 10.25, yes. We usually meet on the arrival platform.

We have no leaders!!! This is very important!!! Please read the following very carefully if you are new to our walks.

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/swc/index.shtml

Yes. No leader, Shira. You need to be independent - this is not the Ramblers. Don't offer up your personal details, helplessly. Take the instructions with you and you'll be very welcome indeed.

30 got off the train, to enjoy a fine day for this enjoyable & mud free walk. As usual, we quickly fragmented into smaller groups. The first picnic spot was by the reservoir and some in the churchyard. The Ardingly Arms wasn't doing food, but you could eat food from the Village Cafe next door in the garden. I think around 20 spent some time in the pub garden.

Wakehurst proved too difficult even for the committed tea stop walkers, so a bit after 4, 7 of us were sat outside the community owned Half Moon Inn, later to be briefly joined by another 6 (at a distanced table), with various walkers passing by on their way to the train. The front runners reportedly caught the 1604. Some of us thought we ought to support the pub in these difficult times & made up the rear on the 1834.

Will buy coffee in the cafe next door in future. Rip-off prices for coffee in Ardingly Arms, and very poor quality.

If you want to do lunch at Ardingly and wish to drop out there, it appears you can catch a 272 bus to Haywards Heath at 14:11 or to Three Bridges at 15:16 see the timetable here. If you're planning on going to Haywards Heath, make sure you buy your return train ticket to that Station.

I didn't count but at least 16 got off the train and I think all did the posted walk. It was cloudy with a short sunny spell after lunch. Lots of slippery mud along the way. Ten ate lunch by the resevoir while one newcomer was bird spotting. All moved on quickly as the cool breeze made it uncomfortably cold. Three had indicated they were going for a pub lunch and two may have joined them or lunched somewhere else. Some finished in time to catch the 13.52 train. Five went to the tea room in Balcombe which was hot and steamy. A big array of cakes on display but none of them vegan :(. Three left to catch the 14.22 train and the other two followed shortly after, abandoning teas which were not to their taste to run all the way to the station, arriving at 14.21 to find the 14.22 cancelled. No sign of the three who preceded us, apparently whisked away on an earlier, late running train. We cleaned our boots and caught the 14.52.

Only four hardy souls braved the bad weather forecast to meet at Balcombe, but I for one was eagerly envisioning enjoying the sight of a misty and mysterious reservoir through the drizzle.

Unfortunately however, we never got to Ardingley, as fairly soon into the walk we went wrong and got hopelessly lost in the woods. But beautiful woods they were, of fragrant ferns and gaggles of grouse, so we voted to go with the flow and see where the path would take us, rather than retracing our steps.

( Although we all had paper instructions, none of us GPS or even a map, so once we were lost there was no way of knowing our location.)

References to the Blair Witch Project were made, and much merriment was had when hopelessly hailing for help a helicopter heedlessly flying overhead. Finally we found a road, and ended up in Staplefield, a charming village on a cute green, with the added bonus of an excellent pub, the Victory Inn. Two of us savoured a delicious repast and were soon joined by the packed lunchers, forced in by the driving rain, after which a pleasant hour or so was spent chatting and imbibing. There is always a silver lining to life's disappointments, and in many ways we lucked out, as I am reliably informed that the Victory is a far better hostelry than the recommended options in Ardingly. Indeed, we all agreed that it would be wonderful if a walk could be put together including the Victory as the lunch stop. Any takers ? Eventually at 3 pm we shared a taxi to Crawley and took the train home from there. Looking at the map later it transpired that we had gone wrong at point 97 on the summer walk, by turning direct right rather than diagonally right, thus going through the wrong metal gate and taking the wrong gravel path. Lesson learnt ....

4

wet

Oh yes, I forgot: there is at least ONE other walk created specifically to be done in January.... (Read the Guildford to Gomshall post to understand this comment). Yes, this walk has quite a lot of firm surfaces: some potential mud in places but it has been so dry this probably won’t be an issue.

20 on this walk - a mild and overcast day . The group spread out quickly with a around a third skipping the pub to have a packed lunch or just walk on without a break. The Ardingly Arms was welcoming and served basic pub food without delay. Some eat at the cafe next door. Not too much mud underfoot. Those that tackled the full walk were rewarded with a wide choice of brilliant home made cakes at the Balcombe Tea Rooms where the staff were friendly and welcoming. A good day out with only delayed trains to contend with.

Balcombe tea rooms is now a community run pub. They didn't seem to mind that we brought our own cakes to go with their tea last time. They do however do a great bowl of chips.

34 on this walk, including one late starter, on a lovely sunny day . Beautiful scenery, lovely weather, nice company, no mud yet: what more can one want?

Quite a lot of people seemed to have brought sandwiches. Maybe 15 ate in the Ardingly Inn but some did not like the offering and went next door to the Ardingly Cafe (which I have never noticed before).

Most seemed to bypass tea at Wakehurst Place, though some of us went there and enjoyed a new outside seating area in the sunshine. Groups of people coalesced at various times for drinks in the Half Moon Inn in Balcombe.

Thameslink trains operated without incident, which made a nice change, and the Thameslink-only fare with a Network Card was only £6.55.

Is the Winter Walk the one marked by the red line on the OS map?

After four wet and windy Saturdays, a perfect one. Sunny . Blue skies. A big powerful sun, no longer pale and wintry. Mild, even warm temperatures. Chaffinches singing for the first time this year. Occasional primroses and daffodils: one celandine. And yes, even a butterfly. It was easy to believe that spring was round the corner. It almost certainly isn’t, but we had a sneak preview.

30 set off from Balcombe, at a cracking pace that Mo Farah might have struggled to keep up with. Some newbies got left behind, I think. The ground was fairly muddy in places but this walk does have more than its fair share of firm surfaces. The Ouse Valley Viaduct was a wonder, as usual. Sandwichers got to picnic by the reservoir. Of the rest of us, most went to the Ardingly Arms and seemed well pleased, but six of us diverted to the Gardener’s Arms. This was a lovely place with fine food, but you need to book it. Four of us secured the last table, the other two sat in the garden. I actually envied the latter, as for the first time this year it was warm enough to sit outside.

In the afternoon a lovely saunter along the reservoir. A bit of sitting in the sunshine on benches. About a dozen of us still got to the Balcombe Tea Rooms before their cruelly early closing time - gorgeous cakes as usual. Some got the 4.20 train: I was glad I stayed for the 5.20. On the platform as the sun dipped behind the hill there was for the first time this year layers of birdsong: several ardent song thrushes, a dunnock or two, great tits, robins.

And at that moment a blackbird sang. Distantly but clearly. The sound of spring.

Remember this day during the cold weather to come....

When you alight at Balcombe be careful not to get swept up by a Ramblers group (the Capital Walkers) doing a similar Wealden walk. They'll be setting off on a more northerly route via Wakehurst Place, but you'll have the opportunity for another skirmish at Ardingly when your paths cross at lunchtime.

I am not quite sure why the home page for this walk describes this as a figure of eight walk because it is no such thing. It is two interlocking circular walks. The circular walk has three segments and on each segment you have a choice of two routes. The "winter walk", as chosen here, is the recommended walk for shorter days but those wanting a longer walk could try the summer start. Whatever you choose to do you will be doing a circular walk, however, NOT a figure of eight (which would be having the same place for lunch and tea as on Saturday's Wadhurst walk).

All this being said, it is a very nice day out.

OMG Sean, I wont know which group to walk with!!!

Hayley

Apologies for Southern Train services.

The 9:42 became initially delayed then mutated into a "fast" service to Brighton.

The next train was at 10:42 but there was no guarantees that wouldn't suffer a similar fate.

In many ways the Southern Staff "sicknesses" are worse than a strike - at least with a strike the you know for certain your train will be cancelled!

In the mean time I'm going to avoid posting any more walks using this train service until Southern Rail resolves this conflict.

On a final note, I find it reassuring to have a guard/ticket inspector on longer journeys, what do you think?

it was jinxed because you posted a pre 10 o'clock walk start Arthur !

5 overcast cool breeze

When the 9:42 became a "fast" service, Thameslink heeded a protest from one walker at East Croydon and got the next Brighton-bound train to make an unscheduled stop at Balcombe. Two walkers who stayed on the original train were able to change at Gatwick and join two others who boarded the later train at East Croydon, thus starting the walk only half an hour late. Unfortunately others must have given up at London Bridge without waiting for news of the alternative service. A fifth walker coming from the south coast caught up with the rest during the morning. All did the longer "summer" version of this lovely walk in perfect walking conditions and most got back to Balcombe for the 16:29 train home.

Sounds great. A good viaduct, often travelled on it but not under it.

It is the CHRISTMAS PARTY on Thursday - don't forget!! See listing below

11 on this walk Windy cloudy mild As walk poster I have to concede that a train an hour later would probably have been better since we were leaving lunch by 1.30pm and finishing the walk by 3pm.

Since the whole aim of the earlier start was to go to the lovely Balcombe Tea Rooms before they closed at 4.30pm, it was disappointing to find them shut. They obviously HAD been open as there were sounds of washing up coming from beyond the shutters, but they presumably had had little business that afternoon and decided to shut early. Lack of tea room caused most to go straight for the 3.20 train but four of us stayed and parlayed with the pub, who let us buy mince pies from the local shop to go with our tea, and we had nice comfy sofas to sit on as we consumed them, so maybe that was better.

The lunch pub, the Ardingly Arms, was unchanged,despite posher website (or did I look at the wrong website?). As usual we were practically the only customers and as usual the food was hearty. In the morning the Ouse Valley Viaduct was a highlight, as ever, causing mobile phone cameras to be brought into play.

Two did the summer afternoon route and reported it not so muddy really. They also finished easily in the daylight. We just seem to whip through these walks nowadays....

Those of us who did the main route had to contend with gunfire from a shooting party across the water. One walker reported that stray shot came across the path in front of him. The rest of us discussed the ecology, politics and morality of hunting as a pastime.

At least four of us took the back way to the station in the intense dark. For me, this was one of the loveliest bits of the day and all too short.

Apart from the yells and gunshot from the deranged bloodsport enthusiasts near Ardingly Resevoir, it was a very enjoyable walk!

aha! walker 'concedes' that this walk would have been better with a later start... Some of us agree.

a vote for later starts please..

The Half Moon also serves some cakes from the Balcombe Tea room, after the tea room has closed. In the past, they have also been ok with us buying cakes from the shop next door to have with our tea.

Just checking the trains, and it seems cheaper to buy a return from London Bridge rather than a return from East Croydon (the zone 6 boundary). Odd!

Thameslink-only tickets are **much** cheaper.

10 walkers. Sunny all day . A core group of seven stayed together most of the day, with three opting for variations including one who managed to combine both the winter and summer variants of this walk. The Ardingly Inn has good variety on its menu but the quality was somewhat lacking. Tea at the Wakehurst Place cafe after having been told off (at length) for entering through the wrong door.