2017 WALKS
Sixteen hardy souls met for our traditional January walk from Springfield’s Tulip. The morning was clear and bright with a temperature of 3° as we stepped out past All Saints Church and Dukes Cottages, briefly the home of Oliver Goldsmith (writer of ‘The Vicar of Wakefield’ & ‘She Stoops to Conquer’).
From Springfield Green we quickly ferreted our way through residential streets before taking the footpath, alongside the railway, from Pump Lane. Back along the east side of Springfield Green to once again cross the railway line at Arbour Lane; from whence we descended into the Chelmer Valley Local Nature Reserve.
Here we walked alongside the River Chelmer, heading north past the campus of Anglia Ruskin University, briefly touching the Broomfield boundary before returning southward back along the river. Just before we reached the railway viaduct approaching Chelmsford city centre we diverted briefly past housing and back to it’s warming fire for lunch.
It was an overcast February morning when we met for a walk around the Parish of Great Leighs. Our starting point was the local pub (The Castle) reputed to have been an ale house since 1171. From here we followed a section of the Essex Way alongside the River Ter.
The area adjacent to Lyons Hall is full of springs and needs careful passage, especially after rain. Unfortunately in a hurry to exit the field some of our number took the shortest route and ended up in the mud. Needless to say the remainder assisted in extricating them and we all ended up “muddied but not scarred” to varying degrees. Luckily a roadside spring falling into a brick sump provided a handy facility to wash hands and boots.[Disappointing I know but photographic evidence does not exist!!]
We could see Great Leighs church, St.Mary the Virgin, to our right with it’s stone & flint round tower. The Church at one time had a paid attendant ‘Dog Rapper’ whose sole job (with it’s own seat by the South door) was to keep dogs out and unruly boys under control – with a “rap” presumably. I suspect it was more ‘rap’ on the knuckles than a style of song.
From here to continue along the Essex Way towards Fuller Street, before heading towards Queen’s Wood having passed a large lake full of waterfowl – mainly mallard & shelduck with a few swans and geese. The area seems to be widely used for raising pheasants for shooting: although there are also extensive signs of badgers in the area.
From Queen’s Wood our path takes us through a timber yard before crossing several more fields and then reaching the side of Great Leighs Primary School. From here it is but a brief stroll back to The Castle for lunch and socialising.
Despite the inclement weather of the preceding days the day of our March walk dawned fine and sunny. We set off from the car park adjacent to Chipping Ongar Library and headed down the High Street, crossing the tracks of the Three Forests Way, Essex Way and St.Peter’s Way enroute. From here we headed west and south through a small copse before heading across farmland and field edges.
Our route took us alongside ditches and hedgerow to Clatterford End. From here we looped north-east to catch the eastward Essex Way. Following the Essex Way we passed the southern boundary of Greensted Wood. Continuing along the Way we reached Greensted and it’s ancient wooden church. Greensted’s Saxon log church stands on the site of previous wooden buildings of worship and is the old wooden building in Europe and oldest wooden church in the world!
The church stands in a beautifully kept churchyard which is also as peaceful as the church interior itself. Some of the external timbers were reduced in Victorian times, when the brick sill was inserted, this followed previous additions (including the tiles roof) during the Tudor period.
We could have spent far longer sitting in the churchyard but our final destination, the Cock Inn which claims to be the oldest ale-house in Ongar, reputedly dating back to 1580, was calling us to lunch. So if was the last stretch of open farmland, following the Essex Way back to our starting point.
Our April walk was rather longer than usual. Our leader said it was 7 miles but he failed to count the further mile walked from the pub car park to the start, and back, thus giving rise to the term “Malcolm’s Miles”!
Despite the light breeze the sun remained with us the whole time making it a very pleasant walk. Our route took us from Galleywood Common to Stock and back in a large circle. We walked field paths, farm tracks, through woods and the edges of golf courses – not forgetting crossing the busy A12 (via overpasses) twice.
Although the hum of that busy road was never far from us we saw a great amount of bluebells in a variety of different places. Additionally we were able to confirm that Essex is certainly not flat!
Our route took us from Galleywood to Margaretting Tye, along parts of St,Peter’s Way to Stock and it’s beautiful windmill (cue Group photo). From here we followed St.Peter’s Way to within a mile of Hanningfield Reservoir before turning northwards again, recrossing Stock Road and returning to our starting point by walking the length of the old Galleywood Racecourse (and site of Chelmsford’s first golf course!!).
A well-earned and well deserved lunch awaited us at the Horse & Groom on the Common. Next month a little shorter I think.
It is amazing how many jokes there are about place names. Well for our May walk we went to the pretty village of Ugley. Our walk started through a small wood full of bluebells of the most iridescent blue. Unlike those around Broomfield, which had started to fade, these were still in their prime.
Once we left the wood we proceeded along field edges and tracks until we entered further trees and picked up a section of the Harcamlow Way which, at this point, followed a bridle track. We continued along the track with views of fine arable land to the right and views of the village to our left.
Once the Harcamlow Way turned away to the west we turned headed east, once again crossing the main road. Once across our path took us around the wonderfully named Gaul’s Croft through a lengthy copse of more bluebells, until we emerged at Ugley Green.
A linear field path and gravelled track took us to Ugley Hall Farm and the neighbouring village Church. From whence a single track road took us back to our starting point and “the beautiful Ugley Chequers” (sic) for lunch. The homemade lasagne seemed to be a popular favourite.
Regretfully, due to unforeseen circumstances, our June walk had to be cancelled. But someone forgot to pass the message on to this lonely U3A walker!
It was a perfect July day for a walk. Once more we were by the riverside, this time the Crouch. Our walk would take us from the marina, with it’s yacht’s basking and bobbing in the sunlight, out through the town to the countryside to the east and then on an ‘agricultural’ loop back to the town for lunch.
After leaving the marina we passed a number of old, concrete, barges that are now utilised as houseboats including one adorned with a golden pig! The towpath gave us a firm footing as we passed modern riverfront apartments, Georgian customs houses , boatyards and yacht clubs. Then we had passed the final yacht club with it’s warning of overhead cannons and out on the sea wall path. If we continued on this path our route would take us right around the Dengie peninsula and on to Maldon some twenty miles hence, but not to day…
Our route so far had not been uneventful with explosions, or cannon fire, coming from the Foulness Ranges to our south. Whether these were exercises or disposal of ordnance we knew not.
The sea wall lay adjacent to mudflats showing remains of timber hulks and an expanse of sea lavender and other plants, interspersed with the occasional gull cry. But too soon we turned inland following field paths and bridleways alongside crop ready for harvesting. Then parallel to our original route we come across that most modern of crop – solar panels.
Passing this ‘power’ plant we continue around a small copse before crossing further fields to the outskirts of Burnham. Once past the town’s impressive clock tower and it’s market we enter The Star for lunch.
After lunch a short return walk along the seawall path, retracing our steps to the Marina.
September saw a select band leave Chelmsford Station to walk a section of the Jubilee Greenway in London. We would be walking from Little Venice to the Olympic Park along the Regents Canal – ten miles.
Despite the fact that the Canal runs through some of the busiest parts of the London traffic noise is decidedly muted. We were surprised as we walked along this quiet waterway, passing houseboats, waterfowl and the occasional pedestrian how green and pleasant were the surroundings. Certainly the first section of the route through the Regents Park, passing the Royal Zoological Gardens and the soaring shape of the Snowden aviary was both green & restful.
We then reached the hubbub of Camden Lock and it’s associated market before a diversion took us through residential street to avoid canal-side works. From here a surprisingly tranquil stretch through Kings Cross – very modern and generous use made of existing old industrial buildings. Soon after we reached the Islington Tunnel and here we traversed the canal above the tunnel again to a busy market – Chapel Street. Then the Angel and back to the canal. This stretch was the busiest with lunchtime joggers and cyclists maintaining their pace, regardless of signs requesting they slow down and give pedestrians priority on the narrow towpath. We learnt to listen out for whirring wheels and dodge into the ‘land-side’ (what bells?).
Soon we reached Victoria Park a massive 218 acres of parkland with lakes, tree-lined avenues and wide vistas – based on John Nash’s concepts for Regents Park. This was truly an oasis in the East End with it’s typically ornate Victorian drinking fountain at the centre.
From Victoria Park we left the Regents Canal via the Hertford Union Canal and briefly joined a section of another London long distance route – the Capital Ring – alongside the Olympic Stadium, now home to West Ham Football Club, and Anish Kapoor’s Orbit then down a ramp to journey’s end – Pudding Mill Lane station.
Another successful annual expedition thoroughly enjoyed by all.
This month we were a little nearer home at Great Bardfield. October is the month of mellow fruitfulness so we were hoping to see a proliferation of berries and autumnal colours on our walk. Whilst some leaves were turning there was not the majesty we were hoping for, however we did find plenty of leaves on a ‘green lane’ to shuffle through!
Leaving Great Bardfield we headed towards Finchingfield passing, in the near distance Gibraltar Mill. The Grade 2 mill was built around the turn of the 18th century and was in use until 1950, when it was subsequently turned into a dwelling, but retains all it’s external features.
Soon we reached the remnants of a vast iron watermill wheel. This mill was originally worked in partnership with the Gibraltar Mill. Leaving the mill race behind our path runs parallel to the Finchingfield Brook leading us towards St.John the Baptist Church at Finchingfield. Upon reaching the church whilst several of us looked inside the church others looked at the geological structure of the walls (as part of the Geology Group’s survey of Essex buildings).
From the church downhill to the village pond, fed by the Brook we had been paralleling, the uphill towards Saffron Walden before taking another path across country to the Elizabethan manor of Spains Hall. From here we turned towards Great Bardfield along a farm track, to a bridleway and eventually a ‘green lane’ (Tom’s Lane). Reaching a road we cross it and drop down towards the River Pant (which becomes the River Blackwater downstream at Bocking) following the river towards our destination we soon reach the comfort of The Vine for lunch. The reason everyone’s smiling in the picture is that they can see the pub 100 yards away!
A good walk with the weather once again in our favour.
A slight overcast welcomed us to the village of Great Stambridge for our November walk, but as we walked the western sky slowly lightened until it was relatively clear and bright (given the time of year!).
Twelve of us left the Royal Oak car park and headed along an enclosed field edge until we reached more open farmland with a distant view of Great Stambridge church (which is some distance from the bulk of the village) and the trees edging the River Roach. Following a path across these fields we soon reached The Cherry Tree; alas like many country pubs this had closed some time before but was now seeking an owner.
Crossing the road at this point we headed down Mill Lane towards Stambridge Mills. However not far down the road we turned and crossing between a pair of fishing lakes and over a cricket pitch we reached the river’s edge and the start of our section of the Roach Valley Way. As we followed the meandering course of the river eastwards, along the raised seawall, so the breeze picked up and by the time we left it a couple of miles distant it was blowing quite hard.
Reaching Hampton Barns we left the river and followed the footpath back to our starting point at The Royal Oak. A welcome lunch was partaken before our return to Broomfield.
We do not walk in December instead we plan our walks for the following season, assisted by mince pies and mulled wine............