Ardingly Balcombe 42

We start from Ardingly Reservoir Carpark where there is free parking, and head North along the edge of the reservoir, then climb up to the Ardingly Church. We walk along the edge of the South of England Show Ground, until we read the boundary of Wakehurst Place owned by the National Trust, but run as an outpost to Kew Gardens, where we head Westwards. We cross Ardingly Reservoir on a long footbridge, and climb to West Hill, then past Edmond’s Farm. 

The farmhouse  was used as Arthur Dent’s  home  in the BBC TV  Series Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, As any fan of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy -a trilogy in five parts, will know 42 is the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. In short, the meaning of life, hence the 42 in the title of the walk.

We head down to the Ardingly Reservoir and follow the North bank until we reach Balcombe Mill.  After climbing some steep steps, we head downhill to Balcombe Lake, before will heading uphill to Balcombe Village for a picnic lunch. There will be time to get a drink in either the pub or the café here.
After lunch we head southwards with fine views of the Ouse Valley including the Balcombe/ Ouse Valley Viaduct, and join the Ouse Valley Way, heading East passing under the Viaduct. The Ouse Valley Viaduct (also known as the Balcombe Viaduct) carries the London-Brighton Line over the Ouse Valley. it has been described as "probably the most elegant viaduct in Britain."
We return via the Ouse Valley Way and High Weald Landscape Trail back to Ardingly Reservoir.

Optional drink at The Gardener’s Arms, just North of Ardingly afterwards