Ultimate Ouse Valley Viaduct Walking Guide

Getting to Ardingly Reservoir

From the village of Ardingly, turn onto College Road. Just south of the main Ardingly
College buildings turn right - signposted ‘Reservoir’. Follow the road to the reservoir and the car park will be on your right-hand side.

Car Park Postcode: RH17 6SQ

The car park is open from 1 October to 31 March, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and from 31 March to 30 September, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

You will drive to the reservoir down country lanes; don't think you are lost; you are on the right road.

Things to do in Ardingly Reservoir

The Ardingly Activity Centre is the main attraction at the reservoir and offers watersports, including kayaking, paddle boarding and windsurfing. Before heading to the Ouse Valley viaduct, you could easily spend time trying an activity on the water.

The reservoir includes picnic tables, toilets, and a small kiosk serving drinks and snacks.

Start your walk To the Ouse Valley Viaduct

Looking back at the entrance gates of Ardingly Reservoir, you will see a sloping hill on the right-hand side (the car park will be on your left).

The Ouse Valley Viaduct walk isn't signposted, but you will undoubtedly see hikers and dog walkers heading in the direction you want. Follow up this small hill, and you will come to this stile (with an ominous sign), which you must go through.

I've been on this walk twice and haven't seen a bull either time, but that's not to say he's not lurking somewhere in the field. Stick to the well-walked path leading along the side of the field to be on the safe side!

Follow the path until you come to a small gap in the hedge. Once again, this area is well-trodden and easily identifiable.

Get your first view of the viaduct from this viewpoint

Pass through the hole in the hedge, and you will be in another field with great views of the railway bridge and iconic arches looming in the distance. It holds the title of the most beautiful viaduct in England; I wonder whether you will agree?

If you have been to Knaresborough in Yorkshire, you may think it looks similar to the viaduct there.

Walk down the hill, keeping to the left-hand side of the hedgerow (remember, there is a bull that calls these fields his home)!

At the bottom of the field, you will come to a wooden bridge crossing the River Ouse, which takes you into another field.

It looks like you aren’t meant to cross it, as it has wooden bars across it, but you can. Climb over the wooden bars (they are low) to stay on the walking route.

Once across, proceed through this field, and you will come to another smaller wooden bridge.

After crossing it, look for the wooden signpost on the right-hand side of the bridge to ensure you have stayed on the Ouse Valley Viaduct walk.

Arriving at the viaduct

Follow the public footpath marker, which takes you along a gravel track which converges into another field.

You will now see the colossal Victorian viaduct in the distance. Head towards it with the river on your right-hand side.

At the end of the field, walk through the metal turnstile, and you will be on Borde Hill Road with the Ouse Valley Viaduct opposite you. Cross over, carefully checking for fast cars coming along the road.

Take some iconic Ouse Valley Viaduct photos and explore the site for a while. When you have seen what you need to, reverse your walk to take you back to Ardingly Reservoir.

I hope you have found this post informative. You can read here about what to expect when you visit the Ouse Valley Viaduct.

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