Increasing demand for water led to the construction of Ardingly Reservoir in 1978. It covers an area of 78 hectares and it holds approximately 5,000 million litres. Starting at Balcombe station, Vincent Hallett walks around the reservoir’s fully accessible eastern shoreline, named the Kingfisher Trail. It is a haven for wildlife and is a designated local nature reserve.

1. Walk up the station access road and at the junction with the B2036, London Road and use the footpath that follows the road for 350 yards until this emerges onto a grass verge.

Continue ahead for a further 100 yards and leave the roadside where a new footpath starts on the right.

Beyond a stile the footpath goes ahead across a field. It may be easier to walk right around the edge of the field to re-join the footpath where it enters Pilstye Wood through a squeeze gate.

The footpath crosses a footbridge and then climbs to a track.

As indicated by a 2-way finger post do not follow the track but continue in the same direction with a rocky outcrop on the right to a hilltop.

Head down to Upper Pilstye Cottages.

Keep to the left of a hedge.

The footpath shortly afterwards goes through that hedge at a stile.

Pass through a gate and join Rowhill Lane.

2. Turn left and in 150 yards take the bridleway on the left that starts where the lane turns sharp right.

The bridleway goes through Pilstye Farm and leads back to cross the B2036 after ⅓ mile. Continue along the footpath opposite, through a gate and down into a dip to cross a stream.

The footpath then follows the boundary to Furland Wood on the left and then a railway embankment up to a footbridge over the Brighton mainline.

Beyond the footbridge go through a hedge gap, across a field and out through a gate onto Stonehall Lane.

Cross the road and walk into the Balcombe Estate between stone pillars next to a lodge. The footpath turns right at Stone Hall and is a concrete road until a stile gives access into a field after Batchelor’s Cottages.

Go over three further stiles after which head left to find a gate into a thicket.

After a second gate, go ahead at a 4-way finger post and walk onto the top of the dam.

3. At the far end of the dam start the walk around the entire eastern side of the reservoir.

After ⅔ mile go left across a causeway and re-join the perimeter path that is a bridleway from this point.

At the head of the water, walk down Mill Lane, passing Mill House on the left.

Just around the bend climb the footpath starting on the left that goes steeply up steps. At the top, turn left and stay on a bridleway through to Haywards Heath Road.

Cross over and walk left on the pavement to reach Oldlands Avenue.

Where this becomes Newlands, leave by the footpath on the left, opposite Jobes.

This footpath leads to a footbridge over the railway and comes out onto the B2036 at a point opposite the route walked earlier.

Cross the road and go right to return to the station.

The Essentials

DISTANCE/TIME: Six and a third miles taking two and three quarter hours.

BY CAR: Suggested on road parking around the junction of Oldlands Avenue with Newlands. Follow the walk directions from the last two sentences in section 3. RH17 6HX. TQ309300.

BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Rail: Balcombe.

WHAT’S UNDERFOOT: There are three short but steep climbs on this route. The footpath from Balcombe Mill to Balcombe has steps cut and a handrail provided to assist walkers. There are several stiles. Most of the walk is on footpaths and these are likely to be muddy in winter.

THIRSTY WORK: The Half Moon Inn, Haywards Heath Road, Balcombe. A community owned pub, walker friendly, just off route. The Balcombe Tea Rooms, Bramble Hill.

SO YOU DON’T GET LOST: OS Landranger 198. Explorer 135, Ashdown Forest.