Walk Report

The High Weald, Saturday 5th September 2020
6 walkers, 20 miles - leader Nigel Heys
Six walkers left Balcombe Station and headed south to join the Sussex Ouse Valley Way. After clearing a herd of cows and calves out of the way they reached the Balcombe Ouse Valley Viaduct (see picture). From there they headed to Ardingly Reservoir for the morning stop.
After the break it was through Ardingly and on to Highbrook where the former phone box contained not a defibrillator but a mechanical sculpture. They crossed the Bluebell Line soon after a train had passed and stopped for lunch in a field before reaching Sharpthorne. After passing Weir Wood Reservoir they reached Stone Hill seeing people in unsuitable footwear climbing the rocks. They joined the High Weald Landscape Trail and passed the gardens at Gravetye Manor before stopping for a drink break in West Hoathly.
The route back to Balcombe Station passed the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place to complete the 20 miles.
Photograph by Nigel Heys

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