Outdooraholics London, Hiking & Adventure Travel 25 to 49ish

Welcome to West Sussex with its iconic Ouse Valley Viaduct - a magnificent 11 million brick Victorian structure said to be the most beautiful in all of England - and also a great photo opportunity in the arches for any Instagrammers.

We take on a magnificent hike starting from the quaint village of Balcombe to explore several Sussex gems such as Balcombe lake, Ardingly Reservoir, Wakehurst Place, River’s Wood and of course the stunning Ouse Valley Viaduct. We also pass the Millenium Seedbank - the world's largest wild plant seedbank with 1.9 billion seeds and seventy five thousand species. Join us on a delightful exploration of some of Sussex’s best gems.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk under the 11 million brick Ouse Valley viaduct with it's "never ending" arches
• Pass the Millenium Seedbank - storing 1.9 billion seeds
• Enjoy ice creams or hot drinks at the Ardingly Reservoir
• Gorgeous wooded trails winding through the Sussex Weald
• Visit the vast Ardingly Reservoir which holds 5 billion litres of fresh water

HIKE DESCRIPTION

A fantastic hike starting from the rural station of Balcombe, straight out into the fields of Sussex and taking in some diverse landscapes.

We head off under the elegant and extravagant Ouse Valley viaduct famous for its symmetrical arches that appear to go on to infinity. Built in 1841 at a cost then of £38500 and with 11 million bricks imported from Holland it was a lavish and exuberant expression of the wealth that the railways were generating. We then pass by the tranquil Ardingly reservoir - home to a great number of bird species. Hiking through woods, fields and up the hills, we get to Wakehurst Place (a 16th century mansion and the National Trust's most visited admission fee charging property). Finally, we visit the picturesque little Balcombe Lake hidden among the trees.

MEETING POINT

Join us to admire the stunning beauty of Chichester's Waterways - an Area of "Outstanding Natural Beauty" celebrated for its diverse wildlife and breathtaking coastal landscapes.

Our journey takes us to the historic Roman city of Chichester and winds along a picturesque route at the foot of the South Downs. We’ll traverse vibrant wild meadows, stroll serene coastal paths, and enjoy a tranquil ferry ride across the serene waters of the channel. Along the way, we’ll also pass the charming Chichester Marina. Please note, some of this walk is unavoidably on roads

Join us for this exciting hike blending history, nature, and seaside charm!

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore Chichester Harbour, a 3,700-hectare natural estuary and designated AONB, teeming with wildlife and coastal charm.
• Take a ferry ride across the historic Chichester Channel, famously painted by J.M.W. Turner.
• Stroll through Chichester Marina, one of the South Coast’s most vibrant harbours with over 1,000 boats.
• Visit Chichester, an ancient city once fortified by the Roman Empire after AD 43.
• Enjoy spectacular views of the South Downs, wild meadows, and peaceful coastal scenery.

HIKE DESCRIPTION

Chichester Harbour is a scenic section of the West Sussex coast with outstanding views. This is the largest natural estuary in South East England and a protected wildlife haven for a spectacular variety of species.

Taking in Chichester - a major town within the Roman Empire, our trail takes us on a route following the beaches and shores of the Bosham Channel and enjoying broad coastal views. We reach the shores of the secret waterway - the Chichester Channel which used to be a safe ship passage during war times. Its beauty has inspired the famous painter William Turner who captured the channel in one of his masterpiece paintings. Enjoying the smell of the sea and the fresh breeze we cross the channel by a ferry that has been a traditional attraction on these parts for centuries.

Getting to the Roman village of West Itchenor our path continues down to the Chichester Marina with over 1000 boats. Our trail continues past ancient villages and historical sights with views towards the famous South Down hills before we finish with a refreshing end of the day pub visit.

MEETING POINT

This is one of our large group hikes - more people, more social, more fun. If you prefer our standard size hikes, we have another standard size hike today as well.

This is our standard hike, but at this time of year the lavender is typically out, so we will go past a lavender field (please note, we go past it, not into it). This is a one off hike, this is the only day in 2025 that we are hosting it

We venture to Kent again and this hike perfectly illustrates why it's known as the "Garden of England". We visit the village of Otford which dates back over 3000 years and two other villages. A delightful rural hike which amongst other things takes us past two castles – Eynsford Castle and Lullingstone Castle and along a stretch of the picturesque River Darent.

We hike the Darent Valley Path alongside the River Darent and through the tranquil Kent fields and ancient wood. The area’s beauty attracted the Romans to settle here and in 80 AD Lullingstone Villa was constructed for a wealthy Roman who was keen on pagan worship.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Pass the magnificent Lullingstone Castle
• Hike along a delightful stretch of the Darent Valley Path
• Pass the site of the ruins of Lullingstone Roman Villa with its pagan history
• Hike through the picturesque Lullingstone Country Park
• Visit the remains Eynsford Castle
• Explore 3 charming Kentish villages
• Hike through the 22 metre high Eynsford Rail Viaduct with its nine red brick arches

HIKE DESCRIPTION

We start from the picturesque village of Otford, occupied for at least 3000 years. Through the centuries Otford has been home to Iron Age farmers, Romans, Royalty and Archbishops. Our hike takes us through the tranquil woods and grasslands of the Kentish countryside reaching the quaint Shoreham town where the Darent Valley Path takes us to the magnificent Lullingstone Country Park. The park is internationally important due to its collection of ancient trees including beech, ash, oak, sweet chestnut and hornbeam some of which are believed to be 800 years old.

We reach Lullingstone Castle to admire its tranquil lake before we pass the historical Lullingstone Roman Villa - one of the few Roman estate survivals in Britain whose construction began in about 100 AD.

From there, our hike continues among the rolling fields of Kent which reward with views towards the 9 arched Eynsford Rail Viaduct. Reaching the tranquil village of Eynsford, we explore the remains of Eynsford Castle - a medieval fortification built in 1088 and we finish our hike with a stroll along the lovely village.

MEETING POINT

Come and join us for this hike that takes us on a trail through both Sussex and Kent as we explore two counties. We pass the ancient rock formations of Harrison’s Rocks which owe their dramatic and striking shape to the last ice age. As we wander around below the crag surrounded by a lush woodland we’ll admire the majestic beauty of the sandstone formations. Our hike then continues across the border into the beautiful scenery of Kent - the Garden of England. On our way we will explore historical manors with enchanted forests, follow lazy, meandering rivers and indulge our senses with lush countryside.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the famous Harrison’s Rocks formed over 135 million years ago and shaped by the last Ice Age
• Explore two beautiful counties in one day - Kent and Sussex
• Pass a famous manor house dated back to the 1200s
• See the majestic Harrison Rocks which are a Site of Special Scientific Interest
• Be surrounded by a variety of wildlife species including rare plants

HIKE DESCRIPTION

We start off at Ashurst village where we dive into the serene shady woods of Kent and enjoy the scenic beauty of the countryside. Our delightful rural hike continues on to the truly stunning Kentish scenery with much of this section going through very peaceful countryside with a remote feeling. We pass the moated manor of Groombridge which has a rich history of over 700 years. The manor house as well as the bridges and moat gates were largely designed by Sir Christopher Wren, known for his redesign of St Paul’s Cathedral, following the Great Fire of London in 1666.

We then hike to the impressive Harrison’s rocks - a collection of huge rock outcrops that date back about 135 million years but that owe their dramatic and striking shapes to the last Ice Age. They're extremely popular with climbers who we often see. Following the picturesque views across the Kent and Sussex countryside, our trail reveals an abundance of lush countryside demonstrating why Kent is known as the Garden of England, bright and open woodlands including Broadwater forest are home to abundant wildlife. We finish in the idyllic village of Eridge, nestled in the northern borderlands of East Sussex next to Kent.

MEETING POINT