Ardingly Loop - February 2022

View of the Reservoir close to Townhouse Farm

Drawing on the South Downs National Park and West Sussex Outstanding Circular Walks Handbook (p32) I set off from the carpark in a northerly direction to the West of the reservoir.

The reservoir was constructed in 1978 so in relatively recent times and covers approximately 80 Hectares. The first view of the reservoir above was taken looking to the northwest as I walked away from the reservoir in the direction of Townhouse Farm. If you look back from here you get a good view of the Ouse Valley Viaduct which you can just make out in the distance.

Ouse Valley Viaduct in the distance.

The walk then skirts Ardingly Village itself and St. Peter’s church leading onto the west side of the Agricultural Show Ground, home to the South of England Show before heading west towards Tillinghurst Farm. Keeping to the edge of the two fields with the trees on your right you emerge on to a field with a bench that commands a good view of the northern end of the reservoir.

St. Peter's Church

Time for a breather with views of the northern end of the resevoir

Crossing the footbridge the next segment is rather arduous as the very muddy path climbs through the wood until it meets the Paddockhurst Lane at the top. Turn left here towards West Hill and then left again at Edmonds Fram following the bridal path back to the top of the reservoir. From here you follow the path back to the carpark. In all the walk is just over 5 miles and should take around two and a half hours at a leisurely pace which wasn’t helped by the muddy conditions.

This walk can be very muddy in the winter months

All the photographs here were made on y Sony A6500 coupled with the 16-70 f4 Zeiss and edited in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.

Occasional rest stops around the resevoir

Plenty of wildlife to see

Ardingly Reservoir

Ardingly Reservoir Activity Center

Not much activity on the reservoir today!