Balcombe, Ouse Valley Viaduct & Ardingly Reservoir, 10 mi circ. walk with a picnic lunch (Group 2)
Overview
Please meet in Balcombe railway station car park, London Road, Balcombe, West Sussex, RH17 6JQ by 09:50, ready to depart at 10:00.
This is a circular walk; please bring a flask, drinking water, snacks and your picnic lunch as we will break for morning tea/ coffee, our picnic lunch and afternoon tea/ coffee. We'll walk across fields, through woods and on farmland to the iconic, grade II listed, Ouse Valley Railway Viaduct where we will have our morning drink and snack break while admiring this architectural marvel. Walking on, we follow the stream (which was once a mighty river, along which barges brought the viaduct's 11 million bricks and limestone from Holland) to Ardingly Reservoir and through the Ardingly show grounds where we will have our picnic lunch (you might like to bring a picnic blanket). The afternoon walk is through countryside, woodlands and along the north banks of Ardingly Reservoir (with an afternoon drink from our flasks stop, over-looking the reservoir) back to our cars at Balcombe. Please note that there are two groups of 5 Spice members participating in this event - this group (Group 2) will 'follow in Linda's footsteps (the walk leader) at a socially safe distance' behind Group 1 before lunch. After lunch, Group 2 will walk with Linda as the advanced party while the 5 Spice members of Group 1 walk in our footsteps. The leader will keep both groups within her sight at all times.
Please bring drinking water, your picnic lunch, and any other drinks or snacks you might want. Limited to 5 walkers plus Linda to comply with Covid-19 rules. Please dress for the weather on the day. Your walk leader is Linda Richardson (07575 799909 for on the day), please ring or text if you are lost, late or can no longer attend.