Source: https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/haywards-heath-to-balcombe-via-ardingly/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 00:28:43+00:00

Document:
Main Walk: 15¾ km (9.8 miles). Four hours walking time. For the whole excursion including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 8 hours.
Circular Walk, from Balcombe: 16¼ km (10.1 miles). Four hours 5 minutes walking time.
Alternative Walk, finishing at Horsted Keynes: 13¼ km (8.2 miles). Three hours 30 minutes walking time.
Alternative Walk, to Horsted Keynes via Little London: 15 km (9.3 miles). Four hours walking time.
Explorer 135. Haywards Heath, map reference TQ330246, is in West Sussex, 20 km N of Brighton.
Haywards Heath is a large commuter town and there is quite a lot of it to get through at the start of this walk, but the route is rather better in practice than suggested by the map (even more so if you take an unofficial but widely-used deviation across a private meadow). An undulating stretch across open ground and woodland typical of the High Weald eventually takes you across the River Ouse, along the dam wall of Ardingly Reservoir and up to the village of Ardingly for a pub lunch.
Near the start of the afternoon section you have an unusually close encounter with a leading independent school as the walk route takes you on a right of way through the grounds of Ardingly College. You then cross over your outward route at the reservoir and join the “Winter Walk” part of the Balcombe Circular via Ardingly Reservoir walk (#22) for a long stretch along its northern side, although with a small variation as you approach Balcombe. After a tea stop in the Balcombe Tea Rooms you can either follow the route in the Balcombe Circular walk (1–16) to the station, or a slightly longer new route if you have time before the next train.
A Circular Walk from Balcombe has been included for convenience, but of necessity much of its outward route has been taken from Walk 1–16 and the “Summer Walk” part of Walk #22.
Directions are also provided to the attractive village of Horsted Keynes (pronounced ‘canes’: see Walk Notes), strung out along a broad village green. The original version of this shorter but hillier Alternative Walk takes a direct route from the same lunch pub, but a new route has been added from another pub on the northern fringes of Ardingly. The two routes combine in the hamlet of Highbrook and the ending is the reverse of the start of the Horsted Keynes Circular walk (#132), including a particularly scenic section alongside one of the oldest and most successful preservation railways in the country, the Bluebell Railway.
There is very little overlap between the Circular and Alternative Walks and they could effectively be treated as separate walks.
The original version of this walk was from Horsted Keynes to Balcombe, but the transport arrangements for this combination are particularly awkward (which is why a Balcombe to Horsted Keynes option has not been explicitly included, although you could link up the directions to make this walk). The Main Walk and Circular Walk have been retained, and one of the original routes from Horsted Keynes to Ardingly has been reversed to create the ending of the shorter Alternative Walk.
In 2019 the start of the Circular Walk was shortened to take advantage of a new public footpath south of Balcombe station.
Haywards Heath is on the main Brighton line, with frequent Thameslink services from St Pancras, Blackfriars and London Bridge, plus Southern trains from Victoria. The journey time from London Bridge or Victoria is around 40-45 minutes. On the Thameslink route you can get cheap Super Off-Peak tickets from central and north London (Sat, Sun & BH), but these are not valid on Southern services. Buy a return to Haywards Heath for the walks starting there.
Balcombe is the stop before Haywards Heath, with a half-hourly Thameslink service (hourly on Sundays). Buy a return to Balcombe for the Circular Walk.
At the end of the Alternative Walks Horsted Keynes is served by Metrobus 270, which runs hourly (two-hourly Sun & BH) between Brighton, Haywards Heath and East Grinstead. The bus stops at the western end of the village green, and also at the Bluebell Railway station on weekends. It is quicker to travel back via Haywards Heath but it is useful to be able to return in either direction; the last service to Haywards Heath is at around 7pm (6pm Sat, 5pm Sun & BH), but there are one or two later services to East Grinstead (May 2018).
A “Thameslink only” return ticket to Haywards Heath would not be accepted at East Grinstead and you would have to buy an extra single to East Croydon, where the two lines merge.
If you want to abandon the walk after lunch in Ardingly or Little London, Metrobus 272 runs every two hours (Mon–Sat) to Haywards Heath in one direction and Three Bridges in the other.
If driving, Haywards Heath station car park costs £8.60 Mon–Fri, £5.30 Sat, £2.25 Sun & BH (2019). Balcombe station car park costs £2.70 and free roadside parking is also available in the village. For the Alternative Walks you could park in Horsted Keynes (there are free car parks in the village and at the Bluebell Railway station) and take the 270 bus to Haywards Heath to start the walk.
Take the train nearest to 10:00 from Victoria or London Bridge to Haywards Heath (or Balcombe for the Circular Walk).
The most convenient lunch stop is the Ardingly Inn (01444-892214) in the centre of the village, which has a back garden and serves food to 2pm (4pm Sun). Except on Sundays when they are both closed, lighter fare is available nearby at the village bakery or Cosy Cafe (01444-891828).
There used to be a second pub in the centre of the village, but the Oak Inn closed in 2014 and is being converted into a residential property. However, there is an alternative pub on the main road at the northern end of the village, in a cluster of houses called Little London. The Gardeners Arms (01444-892328) also has a nice garden and serves very good food to 3pm (all day Sun). It is better placed for the new route to Horsted Keynes, since there is a long trudge back along the road to rejoin the main route to Balcombe.
Both pubs will be extremely busy if there is an event at the Ardingly Showground.
Except on Mondays, the suggested tea place on the main walk variations is the popular Balcombe Tea Rooms (01444-811777; open Tue–Sun to 4pm, may stay open later if called in advance). The alternative is the nearby Half Moon Inn (01444-811582), which serves tea and coffee all day as well as stronger fare. The station is a 7-8 minute walk along roads from the centre of Balcombe; longer if you take one of the nicer routes to end the walk.
There are two friendly pubs in Horsted Keynes village at the end of the Alternative Walks, the Crown Inn (01825-791609) and the Green Man (01825-790656); both are normally open all day at weekends. Alternatively, you could catch the bus first and have tea while waiting for the train: there is a café in the large Waitrose next to Haywards Heath station, plus other refreshment options in and around the station.
If you finish at the Bluebell Railway station the GeorgeⅤ refreshment room on Platforms 3&4 is open “on busy days and weekends” according to the Station Guide.
If you are doing the Circular Walk from Balcombe, start at §3.
Bear left out of the station and head north alongside the railway, at first on a path beside Sainsbury's and then up Wickham Way. Continue on the footpath heading north from Wickham Farm, across a golf course and then through a wood to reach Copyhold Lane.
Go down steps at the London end of the platform to leave the station through its booking hall and bear left across its forecourt. Cross the road at the pedestrian traffic lights and go under the railway bridge. On the other side turn right by a mini-roundabout onto a cycleway heading N between a supermarket car park and the railway. At the end join Burrell Road and go up to a T-junction.
Turn right to go back under the railway. After passing a timber merchants turn left into Wickham Way, signposted as a pedestrian route to Ardingly Reservoir. Follow this quiet private road uphill past houses, later with trees on the right. At the top you come to a T-junction with another private road, with a metal gate ahead leading into a large meadow.
There is a “Keep Out” notice on this gate, but this is widely ignored and if you feel like joining the local dog-walkers on well-trodden paths a pleasant alternative is to go down the left-hand side of the meadow, across a stream at the bottom and then up to the top right-hand corner, rejoining the public footpath on the edge of a golf course. If you do this, continue the directions at [•] below.
Until the status of this meadow is clarified, however, the ‘official’ route is to turn right at the T-junction onto another private road (which is also a right of way), going between brick pillars towards Wickham Farm. In 100m turn left at a footpath signpost near the entrance to the old house. Go downhill on a broad and potentially muddy tree-lined path, heading N again.
At the bottom of the slope go over a stream on a footbridge and continue in the same direction, gently uphill. You eventually emerge from the trees on the edge of a golf course, with a path from the meadow joining from the left.
[•] Head N on the public footpath through the golf course, which you will be following for about 500m. Initially there is netting on your right protecting you from big hitters on a distant driving range, and shortly afterwards you need to take care when passing in front of a tee. After the path goes into some trees keep right as indicated and continue on the obvious path, passing a groundsman's hut along the way. Eventually you come to a path T-junction with a three-way footpath signpost.
Turn left into a wood, joining the Sussex Ouse Valley Way1 (SOVW). Follow the path as it bends right, then fork left where a minor path branches off to the right. Further on the sunken path can be very muddy and there are various drier alternatives to the side (but keep the main path in sight to avoid being led astray onto other paths). The main path eventually bends left and leaves the wood through a metal kissing gate, emerging onto a minor road (Copyhold Lane).
Join the High Weald Landscape Trail and follow it north across the Ardingly branch line, through River's Wood and across the River Ouse to Ardingly Reservoir.
Cross the road (by the remains of a low embankment for the abandoned Ouse Valley Railway2) and take the tree-lined footpath just off to the right, now on both the SOVW and the High Weald Landscape Trail3 (HWLT). In 150m go through a gate, past a cottage and through a belt of trees. Keep ahead across a potentially boggy field and continue gently uphill on a tree-lined track.
At the top of the slope go through a gate and across a brick bridge over the single-track Ardingly branch4 line. Keep ahead through a metal kissing gate into River's Wood, part of the Balcombe Estate. Follow the waymarked HWLT through the wood for 800m, gradually curving to the right while always heading roughly N. At the end of the wood go through a gate and bear right across a grassy area towards a substantial wooden footbridge.
Cross the River Ouse on this bridge (leaving the SOVW, which turns left) and continue along the left-hand edge of another grassy area. Go over a second footbridge and keep ahead up the right-hand edge of a field; as you gain height you will be able to see the Ouse Valley Viaduct5, just over 1 km away to the left. About two-thirds of the way up the field, turn right as indicated through a gap in the hedge and follow a grassy path through another field, gradually curving round to the left.
The massive building perched on a hill 600m away to the right is Ardingly College; the afternoon route to Balcombe passes through its grounds.
In the far corner go through a kissing gate and keep ahead through a small area of scrubland (leaving the HWLT, which turns right). At the bottom turn right at a three-way footpath signpost, joining the Circular Walk route.
Continue the directions at §5.
Go out through the station car park and take a new footpath heading south, parallel to the B2036. At Kemps Farm take a footpath on the right through Pilstye Wood and over a small hill to Cherry Lane. Turn left briefly onto the road, then left again onto a bridleway through Pilstye Farm to return to the B2036.
Arriving from London, cross the footbridge and go out through the station car park. Just before the access road meets the B2036 veer right onto a signposted footpath, then almost immediately turn left at a three-way signpost. Follow this new public footpath through the trees, parallel to the main road and heading S. At the end of the wood continue on a broad grass verge alongside the road, passing the driveway to Kemps Farm on the other side.
You are now following part of Walk 1–16, in reverse.
On the verge ahead there is a footpath signpost pointing slightly to the right, but you have to go a little further along to find the path. Follow this narrow path around the edge of a copse and out into the top corner of a large field. Turn right to go down a broad grassy strip on the field margin.
The signposted right of way is to go straight ahead for 75m and then turn half-right down across the field, but it appears that everyone follows the much simpler route around the field margin.
After about 250m along the field margin, where you are going alongside the bottom of the field, veer right through a metal kissing gate into Pilstye Wood. Go across a stream on a wooden footbridge and continue uphill for 200m on a broad path, heading SW.
About 50m before a woodland track up ahead, fork left at a footpath signpost and go up to a junction of tracks. Go straight ahead across one track and bear left, still climbing and soon passing an impressive rock outcrop on the right. The track curves right and comes out into the open, where you keep ahead along a field boundary. As you go over the brow of the hill and start to descend you should be able to glimpse the Ouse Valley Viaduct5, 2 km ahead on the left.
Go past a house on the right and follow the field edge briefly round to the left, then go over a stile on the right by a pole carrying power cables. Go down a few steps, across a small field and through a gate. Continue downhill between fields and turn left onto a lane.
You soon leave the Walk 1–16 route, a footpath off to the right of the lane. The remainder of the morning section is the same as the “Higher Route to Ardingly” in Walk #22.
Where the lane turns sharply right, fork left onto a signposted bridleway to Pilstye Farm. Follow this farm track up and round to the right past the farmhouse and outbuildings, then simply head E along it for 500m to reach London Road, the B2036 again.
Cross the B2036 and take the footpath heading east across a stream and then uphill alongside Furland Wood to the railway. Turn right to go alongside it, then cross it on a bridge and continue across fields to Stonehall Lane. Take the footpath going past Stone Hall, later heading east across fields to Ardingly Reservoir.
Cross the main road carefully and take the footpath opposite, going over a stile into a field. Follow a faint grassy path straight ahead, leading to a farm track going half-right into the trees at the bottom of the field. At the end of this short track veer left to cross a stream on a wide bridge (or the footbridge to its right). Make your way across a potentially boggy area and up the left-hand edge of two large fields.
At the top follow the field edge round to the right, with the main railway line on your left. About 100m before the end of the field, turn left to cross it on a brick bridge and continue on a track across the next field. This gradually approaches a hedge where you turn half-right by a footpath sign, crossing a ditch on a plank bridge. In the next field bear slightly left and go across it to a stile in the trees on the far side. Go over this and down a bank to a road (Stonehall Lane).
Cross the road, turn left and immediately fork right into a driveway, passing a couple of stone pillars and a lodge. 200m from the road, turn right onto a concrete track, heading E. There are two impressive houses here, Stone Hall at the corner and then Balcombe Place6 off to the left. The drive goes across a small dip and past a few cottages on the right, then comes to a metal fieldgate and wooden side gate across the drive.
Do not go through either of these gates but go through a metal fieldgate on the left into a field. Turn right to go slightly to the left of your previous direction, aiming for the right-hand end of a copse. Go over a stile in the hedge here and continue alongside the copse. At the end of the trees keep ahead across the field to a stile in the hedge on the far side.
Go over the stile into the next field and follow a faint grassy path slightly to the left, with the reservoir visible beyond the trees on your left. Near the bottom corner go through a gate and follow a path half-right through some trees, then over a stile into a small area of scrubland. Go through this and keep ahead at a three-way footpath signpost, joining the Main Walk route.
Go along the dam wall and then through a copse alongside the reservoir. Turn right and go uphill to Townhouse Farm and continue on Church Lane. At St Peter's church turn right into Street Lane.
Go down a short slope to a corner of Ardingly Reservoir7, with the Activity Centre (which has a small café) on your left. Walk along the dam wall and continue through a gate into a copse. Unless you want to make an out-and-back detour down the signposted path to a bird hide on the edge of the water, follow the main path through the copse.
The afternoon route to Balcombe repeats this short stretch through the copse.
Immediately after emerging from the copse, turn right at a three-way signpost and go over a stile into a field. Go up its right-hand side, through a gap in the corner, and then straight across a larger field, still climbing. At the top, with Townhouse Farm on your left, go across a junction of tracks (slightly to the right) onto a lane, initially heading NE.
The lane soon curves left and you follow it past houses for 500m, ignoring ways off. Eventually you come to a churchyard on your left; if you visit the church of St Peter8 you can leave via its lychgate further up the lane. At the end of Church Lane turn right, into Street Lane. Almost immediately there is a private road off to the left, signposted as a public footpath.
If you are doing an Alternative Walk to Horsted Keynes, go to §11 for the route through Ardingly village, or §12 for the route via Little London.
Either go along Street Lane into the centre of the village for the Ardingly Inn, or loop all the way round the showground to the Gardeners Arms and return along the B2028.
If you want to visit the alternative lunch pub in Little London, follow the route in §6b.
Ignore the footpath and go all the way along Street Lane into the centre of the village. The Ardingly Inn is between the village bakery and Cosy Cafe near the end of the street, just before its junction with the B2028.
Turn left off Street Lane into the short private road. At the end go through a wooden side gate and turn left onto a wide tarmac driveway, which you will be following around Ardingly Showground. The drive soon turns half-right to head N, with views across a valley on the left containing an arm of the reservoir (not visible).
In 500m turn half-right at a three-way footpath signpost to stay alongside the perimeter fence. In 200m ignore another footpath off to the right by an entrance to the showground. The main driveway soon turns half-right again and you follow it out via a wooden side gate to the B2028, directly opposite the Gardeners Arms.
Turn left out of the pub to head S on the B2028. You could simply walk along the pavement for 1½ km into the centre of Ardingly, but there are a couple of places where you can move away from the road: in 250m you can veer left into a long lay-by which curves back to the main road; and in 900m (on the other side of the road) you can fork right through a gate and go along the edge of a recreation ground for 150m.
In the centre of the village the B2028 comes to a junction with College Road and Street Lane, rejoining the main route via the Ardingly Inn.
Head south-east on the B2028 for 200m, then turn right onto the High Weald Landscape Trail. Head south across several fields, then turn right at a path crossing. Go through Standgrove Wood to reach College Road.
From the major road junction in the centre of Ardingly head SE on the B2028, towards Lindfield and Haywards Heath. In 200m, shortly after passing Ardings Close on the left, turn right into a driveway, signposted as a public footpath and joining the High Weald Landscape Trail3 (HWLT). At the end of the drive veer right to go round the back of a house, then left onto an enclosed path.
At the end of the path go over a stile; you will be heading S across three large fields for the next 750m. Go along the left-hand edge of the first field, then straight across the second (crossing a concrete track in the middle). In the third field bear slightly left, aiming for the left-hand end of a hedge projecting into the field 250m away. Go through a gap here into a fourth field.
Go along the left-hand edge of this field for just 75m, then turn right at a four-way footpath signpost onto a grassy path across the field, heading W. On the far side go over a stile beside a metal fieldgate and follow the potentially muddy main path through Standgrove Wood. At the end of the wood keep left through a parking area to reach a road (College Road again).
Take the main entrance into Ardingly College and follow this public bridleway through the school grounds. Keep right at a junction onto a footpath going past Great Saucelands, then turn left to come out onto a green space below the dam wall of Ardingly Reservoir. Turn right and join its perimeter path along the eastern side of the reservoir. At the end turn left onto a lane (West Hill) and go down to the Causeway.
Cross the road carefully and take the main entrance into Ardingly College9, signposted as a public bridleway. Stay on the main drive through the school grounds: after passing the South Quad in front of the imposing main building it turns left and goes past some more school buildings; keep right and follow it down a slope.
At a three-way junction keep ahead and follow the drive as it curves to the right past a large pond, with an attractive house (Great Saucelands) on the far side. The drive bends left in front of the house and goes across a small wooded valley. Shortly before a fieldgate across the drive, turn left as indicated onto a woodland path.
At the end of this short path go over a stile and turn right (leaving the HWLT), climbing a grassy slope onto the dam wall of Ardingly Reservoir again. Veer right at the top and repeat your morning route through a copse, with another chance to visit the bird hide. This time, ignore footpaths on the right after emerging from the copse and simply continue along the perimeter path for 1 km. At the end turn left onto a lane and follow it across the causeway separating two parts of the reservoir.
Turn left onto another section of the perimeter path and go all the way round the northern shore of the reservoir. Continue through Great Burrow Wood and turn left onto Mill Lane. Follow the road round to Balcombe Mill, then turn left onto a footpath going up steps to a field. Turn right at the top and go through a small wood to rejoin Mill Lane. Turn left and follow the road briefly round to the left, then turn right onto a footpath heading north-west. Go across a valley, past a cricket pitch and the entrance to Balcombe House to reach the village.
On the far side of the causeway turn left through a gate and follow another section of the perimeter path for 2 km, again with the reservoir on your left. The final section is through a wood where the path climbs a slope and comes out onto Mill Lane.
Turn left and follow the lane downhill, then round to the left, again crossing a causeway. Shortly after the lane passes Balcombe Mill and curves to the right, turn left at a footpath sign to go up a long flight of steps (with a stone seat “for the enjoyment of walkers” along the way).
At the top go through a wooden kissing gate into a field and bear right towards a three-way signpost. Go through a gate here into a small wood, initially heading N. In 75m the bridleway turns left; later it narrows, curves back round to the right and emerges from the wood on Mill Lane again.
Turn left onto the lane and follow it round to the left (note the cautionary sign at the track leading to Woodwards Farm). 50m after this left turn, go over a stile in the hedge on the right. Go down across a field to find a gap in the trees on the far side and cross a stream on a wooden footbridge. On the far side turn left and go up the side of a field. In the top corner bear left and go through a gate onto a short path through some trees to a cricket pitch.
Turn right and go around the side of the playing area. In 100m veer right through a gap in the hedge and turn right onto a track. Follow this gently uphill between hedges, in 200m going past a wooden fieldgate and round to the left. In 75m turn half-left again, passing the Balcombe Stores and the Half Moon Inn (a possible refreshment stop) on your right. If you arrive before 4pm the suggested tea place is the Balcombe Tea Rooms: bear right at the road junction and go across Haywards Heath Road into Bramble Hill, where the tearoom is one of the first houses on the right.
There is a choice of routes to complete the walk. The main route goes down Bramble Hill, across the B2036 and along Rocks Lane. After going under the railway and passing below the station climb a flight of steps on the left to the station car park. For a longer route, head north-west out of the village on Haywards Heath Road. Briefly join the B2036, then turn left onto a footpath going through a small wood to a farm lane. Follow this across the railway and round a long curve to the left. At Peter's Wood take the footpath heading south-east to a lane. Go across this and up steps to the station car park. The shortest route is to go down Bramble Hill and the B2036.
The main route to Balcombe station is the same as the end of Walk 1–16. If you have plenty of time to catch the next train you could take the longer route in §10b, an arc around the hill on the other side of the railway line. If you are short of time, take the direct route in §10c.
Turn right out of the tearoom and go down Bramble Hill to its junction with the B2036. Cross this busy road carefully and continue on Rocks Lane, which goes downhill past a few cottages and under the railway after 300m. In a further 300m, just before a track branches off to the left and the lane bends right, turn left at a footpath sign.
Go up a flight of stone steps, across a strip of grass and then up more steps to return to the B2036 by the entrance to Balcombe station. Turn left and go through its small car park. Platform 1 on the near side is for trains to London.
Make your way to the road junction in front of the Half Moon pub and turn into Haywards Heath Road, heading NW. At the end of a small green continue briefly along the B2036 for about 50m, then cross this busy road carefully onto a signposted footpath. Go down a slope and veer left at the bottom onto a grassy path between trees, which soon bears left and goes downhill to join a lane.
Turn right onto this lane and now simply follow it for 750m. After crossing the railway there is a wood on your right and a field on the left; later, ignore a footpath branching off to the right and stay on the lane as it curves round to the left. At a three-way junction fork left briefly onto an unsurfaced track.
The final part of this section is the same as the start of Walk 1–16, in reverse.
Soon after passing a shed bear left into a field, going over a stile to the right of a wooden fieldgate. Follow a grassy path heading SE, steadily downhill across several fields and crossing a few stiles along the way (and with a thinly-disguised phone mast, which you might have spotted earlier, away to your left). At the bottom go out through a new metal side gate and turn left briefly onto a lane. Just after a track branches off to the right and the lane bends left, turn right at a footpath sign.
Turn left and go along the main road for 350m to come to the station entrance. Go down a few steps on the right and over the footbridge to Platform 1 for trains to London.
Go along Street Lane to the Ardingly Inn, in the centre of the village. Head north briefly on the B2028 and turn right onto a footpath. At Withyland fork right and cross a stream in a valley. At the top turn half-left and follow the footpath past a new building at Brook House Farm into the hamlet of Highbrook. Head north on Hammingden Lane to All Saints church.
Take the short link road directly opposite the pub onto Ardingly's High Street (the B2028), heading N. In about 100m, opposite Holland House (#29), turn right into a short lane signposted to 28-60 High Street. At the end go through an old kissing gate next to a fieldgate and take a faint grassy path across a field (slightly to the left), soon starting a long descent into a valley.
Go over a stile in a belt of trees and continue down the right-hand edge of the next field. In the bottom corner go over another stile and follow the path between a wood and a garden fence. At the start of an open area fork right at a three-way footpath signpost, then keep ahead at another signpost, ignoring a footpath off to the right. Go along the right-hand side of a grassy strip, gently downhill towards a wood.
Go into these trees and across a stream, then uphill on a narrow path at the edge of the wood. At the top of the wood go through an old gate and keep ahead along a broad grassy path, soon alongside a young hedge between wire fences. Follow the path as it turns half-left, going through a metal fieldgate and now with fences on both sides. At the far end go through another fieldgate and continue past a modern barn on your left. Briefly join a tarmac driveway, then opposite a large new house turn left as indicated.
Cross a ditch and go along the left-hand side of a field towards the spire of Highbrook church. In the corner veer left to go over a partly-concealed stile into the corner of a grassy enclosure in front of a house. Go diagonally across it to the opposite corner and over another stile. Turn left and go out onto a minor road (Hammingden Lane) at a bend. Keep ahead through the hamlet of Highbrook, soon joining the other route from a footpath by stables on the left.
Turn off Street Lane onto a short link road leading to a driveway. Follow this around the western side of Ardingly Showground and out through its North Gate to the B2028, with the Gardeners Arms opposite. Head south on the B2028 for 500m, then take a bridleway almost doubling back along a wooded hillside. At Fulling Mill Farm turn right onto the HWLT and follow it across a stream in Hoathly Shaw and up the other side of a valley to Hook Lane.
Turn left out of the pub to head S on the B2028. In 250m you can move away from the main road by veering left into a long lay-by. Shortly after this rejoins the road turn left onto a signposted bridleway, going around a makeshift vehicle barrier onto a grassy path between hedges. Follow the path round to the left to head N, potentially becoming muddier as it gradually descends the wooded hillside.
In 500m there is an open field sloping down to the right and the path climbs gently. In 300m there is a wooden fence across the field and the path joins a track coming through a gap in the trees on the left. As indicated by a blue waymarker the right of way carries straight on to a three-way footpath signpost where you would turn sharp right to go back down a small triangular field, but a faint grassy path alongside the wooden fence implies that locals take a short cut to the bottom of this field.
Either way, go into the trees at the bottom and continue on a clear path sloping down the hillside, heading SE (and briefly back on another section of the HWLT). At the bottom cross a stream on a wooden footbridge and follow the path up through the wood and out into a large field. Bear left and follow a broad grassy path heading E. At the top of the field go through a wide gap and continue along a farm track with a hedge on your left, which leads to a minor road (Hook Lane).
Turn right and go along Hook Lane for 250m, then fork left onto a farm drive (leaving the HWLT). Follow the footpath across another valley and up to the village of Highbrook.
Turn right and go along this narrow lane carefully for 250m, heading S. Where the lane bends right fork left onto a farm track, signposted as a public footpath. In 150m fork left off the HWLT at a three-way footpath signpost, towards Holly Farm. After passing a house on the right do not simply follow the broad track ahead into a dip but veer left through a signposted gap in the hedge. Go over a stile and turn right to go down the field edge (directly towards Highbrook's church spire on the horizon, 750m away).
In the bottom corner of the field veer right and left to continue along the right-hand edge of another large field, underneath power lines. In the next corner go over a stile into a wood and follow a potentially muddy path down a bank, across a stream on a wooden footbridge and up into another sloping field. Make your way steeply uphill to its top right-hand corner, more or less following the power lines, and out through a fieldgate.
Follow a farm track curving left past some rather dilapidated farm buildings and then stables. At the end go over a stile to the right of a double metal fieldgate and turn left onto a minor road (Hammingden Lane) heading N through the hamlet of Highbrook.
At the church turn right onto the footpath heading east across a valley and up to the Bluebell Railway line. Turn right onto the footpath running alongside the railway, then round a short loop onto Leamland Bridge.
In front of the lychgate for All Saints10 church turn right onto a broad track, signposted as a footpath and immediately going past an unusual building on the right, Highbrook Smokery11. Keep left alongside the churchyard and then between hedges for 300m, heading E with fine views ahead as you gently descend into a valley. The track eventually opens out and you continue near the left-hand edge of two large fields, still downhill.
At the bottom go through a metal fieldgate onto a path through a small wood, curving round to the right. After crossing a wooden footbridge over a stream go up earth steps and leave the wood over a stile. Follow a grassy path slightly to the left across a field, climbing steadily. At the top go over a stile in the fence and keep ahead, skirting the corner of a horse training area on your left. Go over another stile in the trees on the far side to come out in front of a level crossing over the single-track Bluebell Railway12.
Do not cross the track but turn right onto a footpath running along the railway embankment, with fine views on both sides. In 500m you can see Leamland Bridge over the railway ahead, but you have to take a circuitous route to reach it: over a stile on the right and through a small plantation, round to the left along a short enclosed path and then up a track curving round to the right. At the top turn left to go over the bridge, with a view of Horsted Keynes station13 off to the right.
To finish in the village, veer left at the top of the slope overlooking the picnic area and take the footpath alongside Leamland Wood to a minor road. Turn right briefly, then take the footpath on the left down through a wood to Mill Lake. Keep ahead at a path crossing to go along the valley floor and turn right up Church Road to the village green. Alternatively, simply go down past the Bluebell Railway station to the bus stop at the end of the driveway.
On the other side of the bridge veer right through a small parking area. Follow the track to the top of a slope overlooking the Bluebell Railway's main car park and picnic area.
At weekends the 270 bus calls at the station and if you want to cut the walk short, follow the directions in §15b. However, the only possible tea place here is the refreshment room on Platforms 3&4, and you would probably have to buy a platform ticket to reach it.
Turn left at the top of the slope and follow the track up to Leamland Wood. Go through a metal kissing gate onto an enclosed path heading E alongside the wood. At the end go down an earth bank and turn right onto a minor road. In 100m go over a stile on the left into a strip of grassland dotted with trees.
Follow a grassy path through this area and continue on a woodland path going downhill for 350m, ignoring ways off. At the bottom of the wood turn right at a three-way footpath signpost onto a grassy track. This curves to the left around Mill Lake14 and comes to a path crossing.
If you want to detour to St Giles church, turn left and follow the path past the picturesque Old Mill House and up through a wood to the village school and church. After visiting the church, go along Church Lane into the main part of village and complete the directions at [•] below.
For the most direct route into the village, keep ahead on a signposted footpath and follow this narrow path through the trees, heading SE and ignoring ways off. In 150m you pass a pond on your left and continue on a fenced grassy path along the valley floor. At the far end turn right onto Church Lane (away from the church, up on the left).
[•] Follow Church Lane uphill, passing the impressive gates to the Old Rectory on your left and some attractive old cottages. Where the road forks, the shortest route to the bus stop is to keep ahead up a steep little tarmac path to the main road, but the suggested route is to follow Church Lane round to the left. This comes out onto the long village green in Horsted Keynes15 opposite the Crown Inn16, with the village stores off to the left.
To complete the walk turn right (or left if leaving the Crown) and go along the green, past the Green Man. The 270 bus stop for Haywards Heath is just beyond the road junction at the western end of the green (buses to East Grinstead leave from the stop outside the Green Man).
Keep ahead down the slope and go past the right-hand side of the car park onto a short access road leading to the station buildings. The 270 bus stop is at the far end of the station approach road.
At Haywards Heath alight from the bus at the Perrymount Rd/Stn stop, just past a roundabout. Cross Perrymount Road at the roundabout and go past the large Waitrose store (which has a café) on your left to reach the station entrance.
The Ouse Valley Railway was a ‘spoiler’ operation by the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway, which wanted to keep rivals out of its territory. It would have linked the Brighton line to St Leonards (near Hastings) via Uckfield and Hailsham. Shortly after work began in 1866 the collapse of the bank financing its construction led to the project being abandoned.
The Ardingly branch connected the Brighton line at Haywards Heath with the Bluebell line at Horsted Keynes. The intermediate station at Ardingly (2 km south of the village, on College Road) was popular with ramblers and often the destination for special trains. The short section from the Brighton line to its old goods yard is still used by freight trains.
The Ouse Valley Viaduct (seen to better effect on Walk #22) was opened in 1841 and carries the Brighton main line 450m across this wide valley, 29m above the river. Its 37 brick arches are topped with a stone balustrade and four classical pavilions, making it one of the most elegant railway structures in Britain.
The imposing Balcombe Place was built in 1865; originally the home of Lord Denman, it was the Headquarters of the Women's Land Army in WWⅡ and is now a care home. The Jacobean Stone Hall was its dower-house (one set apart for a widow, usually on her late husband's estate).
The 198-acre Ardingly Reservoir is a popular fishing venue and its Activity Centre provides watersports such as sailing, canoeing and windsurfing.
St Peter, Ardingly dates from around 1330, with the tower added in the early 15thC. The village later developed around the main road to the east, leaving the church on the outskirts.
Ardingly College is a fee-paying independent school, catering for around 750 pupils from 2½ to 18. It was founded by Canon Nathaniel Woodward in Shoreham-by-Sea in 1858 and moved to these new buildings in 1870 (with an inaugural sermon from “Soapy Sam” Wilberforce). Now one of a group of Woodward Schools, it retains a strong Anglo-Catholic tradition.
All Saints, Highbrook was built in 1884, mainly using local sandstone. The tower contains a clock and carillon which plays tunes on the church bells at noon, 3pm and 6pm.
Highbrook Smokery was built around 1780 to preserve meat from pigs brought into the Weald to feed on acorns in autumn. The building was restored in 2009.
The Bluebell Railway began operating a steam railway between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes in 1960, just two years after British Rail closed the line from East Grinstead to Lewes. In 1994 it was extended north as far as Kingscote, and after a major project to clear a cutting of landfill waste steam trains started running through to East Grinstead again in March 2013.
Horsted Keynes Station has been re-created as it was when part of the Southern Railway network in 1935. It is surprisingly large for a sleepy country station on a secondary line, some way from the village it was built to serve. There is a £2.50 admission charge for non-travellers, rather more than the 1d platform ticket in 1935.
Mill Lake was one of a series of lakes created to supply water for the local mills, and is now a popular fishing pond.
The Saxon manor of Horsted (meaning a place where horses are kept) was given to the Norman knight Ralf de Cahaignes by William the Conqueror. The anglicized version of his name changed over the centuries to Keynes but the pronunciation stayed as ‘canes’, not ‘keens’.
The Crown Inn was seriously damaged by fire after being struck by lightning in 2003, and was closed for six years.

References: §3
 §5
 §11
 §12
 §6
 §10
 §10
 §15