Balcombe Lake – Ardingly Reservoir loop from Balcombe
Balcombe Lake – Ardingly Reservoir loop from Balcombe
6
hikers
Balcombe Lake – Ardingly Reservoir loop from Balcombe
02:03
7.51km
120m
Hiking
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: April 4, 2026
Tips
Your route passes through a protected area
Please check local regulations for:
High Weald National Landscape
Waypoints
Start point
Bus stop
Get Directions
46 m
The Half Moon Inn
Highlight • Other
937 m
Balcombe Lake
Highlight • River
3.28 km
Five Acre Wood
Forest
4.53 km
Ardingly Reservoir
Lake
5.32 km
Ardingly Reservoir
Highlight • Lake
Tip by
6.28 km
Ardingly Reservoir
Highlight • Climb
Tip by
6.38 km
Bench and Millstones on Woodland Steps
Highlight • Forest
Tip by
7.44 km
The Balcombe Tea Rooms
Highlight • Cafe
quiet unassuming road from where I rode through the quiet unassuming
village for years before I discovered it was there by riding past it on a “I
wonder where this goes?” lost lanes explore. Now they know my sandwich order. It’s been a mid-ride destination on many occasions, a life-saver on a few, we cried when it was shut on that grey damp day and it’s a proper no frills nice place to be. You can sit outside in the summer and warm up in winter while gazing out the steamed up windows wondering if the mizzle’s going to ease. They can do you a full roast dinner with a pudding adrift in custard for afters if you want, but they do a good 70km to go sarnie and the back of the cafe has a vast display of cakes to choose from, I’ve seen people crumple at the very sight. And they do proper tea in a pot, although we have to remember that proper tea is theft. They’re very cycling friendly as they sit right in the middle of the Venn diagram of those pedalling up from the south
and clubs coming down from the big city but if there’s a bunch of you it’s polite to ring and let them know, they’re also very welcoming because they know that cyclists eat A Lot. There’s no dedicated bike parking, you just leave it outside.
Tip by
7.51 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
3.65 km
2.62 km
1.14 km
< 100 m
Surfaces
3.21 km
2.39 km
1.30 km
367 m
245 m
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Elevation
Highest point (120 m)
Lowest point (50 m)
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Weather
Powered by Foreca
Wednesday 8 July
32°C
17°C
0 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
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