Tue 26 March 2019 - 9 miles - BALCOMBE CIRCULAR VIA ARDINGLEY RESERVOIR AND WAKEHURST PLACE - Leader: Sue E

At moderate pace with some short but steep ups via woodlands and the reservoir waterside. We stop for lunch at Wakehurst Place (National Trust and the outstation of Kew Gardens). National Trust or Kew members free to gardens or fee of £12.95.Fee not necessary for café or picnic area. Occasional buses later in the afternoon from Wakehurst Place to Haywards Heath rail if you wanted more time at the gardens. Lunch: Cafe/picnic at Wakehurst Place. (No entrance fee for basic cafe)

1. Sue briefing the group

2. View of Ardingly Reservoir

3. Heather with Ardingly Reservoir and (for the sharp-eyed) Balcombe Railway Viaduct in the background.

4, !5th Century brasses of the Culpeper family in Ardingly Church

5.View towards Wakehurst Place.

6.Climbing up to Wakehurst Place

7.Primroses

8. Dinah and Anthony at Wakehurst Place

9.Group photo

10. The inevitable animal photo - some strange looking sheep.

11.A Sussex landscape near Balcombe.

Photos: Caroline S