2018 WALKS
As usual our first walk of 2018, in January, was from Springfield. We started our walk from The Tulip and walked past the parish church and Springfield Green before diving through the nearby housing estate to emerge by the railway bridge. Here we picked up the footpath alongside the railway line which eventually was to bring us to the River Chelmer and the Local Nature Reserve.
Although the weather was crisp the sky was blue and there was no sign of the torrential rain from the previous day. We followed the tarmac path alongside the river to the Anglia Ruskin University complex, avoiding the “trim trail” and it’s potential embarrassments to emerge under a dual carriageway alongside allotment gardens.
We continue with the dormant vegetables to our right until we once again emerge adjacent to the river. Here we cross the bridge at the foot of Springfield Hall Park and retrace our steps on the other side of the river until once again we can re-enter residential areas and return to our starting point.
We have usually managed to avoid rain on our walks, unfortunately February’s walk was to prove an exception. In fairness it was a gentle rain without a wind behind it and it came and went. We visited Weald Country Park, another ancient hunting ground/deer park used by Henry VIII and to all intents and purposes walked around it’s perimeter.
In addition to the ancient parkland, which continues to be home to herds of Fallow Deer, there are also woods and the remains of an Iron Age Settlement. What remains of the landscaping was down to Capability Brown, who undertook the work in mid-1700’s for the then owners of Weald Hall (demolished 1950 due to war damage).
The past days’ rains had not had a particularly ‘beneficial’ effect on the underlying clay so in the dips it was particularly muddy – water of course runs down hill and as the lakes sit at the foot of two slopes it tends to be boggy here and around the many streams that run through the park.
After circumnavigating the lakes we headed north through the woods, turning eastwards along the perimeter before heading south along a bridle path with chestnut woodland on one side and larch on the other. As we headed down, towards a boggy/muddy stream bed we saw numerous deer tracks – we were probably making too much noise to see any (although we had spotted a few in fields adjacent to the park as we drove in). Also in abundance seemed to be bluebell foliage and snowdrops – although whether the former will outlast hungry deer remains to be seen!
Crossing the stream our path continued uphill towards grassland and the Iron Age works – we were unsure as to whether or not the ‘bump’ or the ‘ditches’ were the remains or all. Skirting the eastern park boundary we passed the local cricket ground where the moles (or at least their hills) were making a concerted attempt at entering the pavilion. Continuing past the belvedere, erected so others could follow Henry’s hunting exploits from afar, but now alas surrounded by trees hiding the view, and our view of St.Peter’s Church we proceeded across the parkland to the Visitor Centre and a well-deserved cup of tea.
We were unsure of the weather for our March walk, given the preceding weekend of snow, however the day dawned relatively clear and bright and apart from a stiff breeze it remained so throughout the walk.
We were undertaking a circular walk from the Cross Keys in White Notley, a timber framed Grade II listed Ale House dating from the 16th/17th century. Soon after leaving the pub we headed down a bridleway and out along field boundaries to pass Hill Farm. Continuing to ‘hug’ the hedgerow we continued until we reached Pole Lane, whence we headed south towards Fairstead.
At the bidding of those who had previously visited we turned towards Fairstead Church. A beautiful 11th century building, added to over the years, with (comparatively) recently discovered 13th century wall paintings; these had probably been whitewashed over at the time of Oliver Cromwell.
Leaving Fairstead Church we picked up the Essex Way which took us past Troys Hall along a green lane (called “Pinks Lane), crossing the main road into White Notley at Mount Pleasant (no postbox?) before leaving the Essex Way at Whiteways and heading north-west to return via White Notley’s churchyard to the Cross Keys for a welcome pint.
A Baker’s dozen set off in bright April sunshine for a circuit of The Naze at Walton. The starting point was the Essex Wildlife Visitor Centre to which we would return for lunch. Heading north we soon passed the Naze Tower and intact WWII command post; we aimed for the distant ports of Harwich & Felixstowe whose giant cranes could be seen in the distance. But this was an illusion as a maze of creeks and mudflats were in between.
This was the first of the days when we had been told to expect Spring sunshine and we were not disappointed despite the breeze at times as we progressed along the seawall. The Naze is surrounded by a network of creeks with evocative names such as Cormorant Creek, Sole Creek and Walton Channel in addition to the mudflats.
The mudflats attracted a variety of birdlife – black-headed gulls, oyster catchers and other waders (godwhit?) but it was the flooded land within The Naze that had the most waterfowl. A network of channels designed to drain this land were unable to do so and there were expanses of water with mute swans, brent geese, canada geese, mallard, teal and not forgetting the gulls making their presence known.
The tide was coming in (high tide would be in two hours) so there was a flurry of movement amongst those feeding before their mud provided feast was lost. Our course had taken us west and then south as we approached a static caravan park and leisure complex. From here we crossed the car park and main road to reach the old lifeboat station before again heading north, along the eastern seashore of the Naze back to our starting point.
May the month of flowers and blossom, ideal for our return to the unfortunately named village of Ugley. Our route took us through a wood full of bluebells before we linked into a section of the Harcamlow Way heading north. Continuing along the Harcamlow Way towards Cambridge we passed along the edge (private land) of further small woods and copses lined with bluebells. We continued cross-country to Rickling Hall and it’s small, but inquisitive herd of Alpaca.
From Rickling Hall we headed eastwards past the unusual Quendon Church, regretfully locked, until suddenly we burst out onto a rise above the M11. Not heeding the traffic noise, our path took us parallel to the motorway again past private woods with bluebells until we were able to return back to Ugley and “the beautiful Ugley Chequers” for lunch.
It was a warm June day when the Group set off for Blackmore. Our starting point (and lunch) was the Prince Albert on the Green, from here we proceeded to the Church of St.Laurence. The church built in the 11th century incorporates the original Augustinian Priory Church. It's half-timbered bell tower, roofed with oak shingles dates from the 14th century. It's bells are so heavy they can no longer be 'swung' as they would destroy the tower! Instead an arrangement of cords enables the bells to be struck.
We were lucky to be taken on a tour of this lovely church before we continued on our way. The church was a stopping point for pilgrims enroute to the Chapel of St.Peter at Bradwell; thus it lies alongside St.Peter's Way and much of our route took us along it's path.
Our path took us around field edges and along footpaths across them through a wide variety of crops from cereals, through peas to rape. In the course of our journey we were closely monitored by a deer in a neighbouring field - it's head just above the level of the crop
Passing Passlow Common Farm were greeted with a loud chirping- too loud and certainly not canaries; we soon spotted the sign at the farm entrance - QUAIL!
Our final leg took us across a large field through which drains had been laid - hopefully not the precursor of a future housing development in such peaceful countryside. Down the centre of this field ran a line of ancient oaks - long may they remain!
We had decided to undertake a longer walk in July. This would take the form of a “pub crawl” around the surrounding area. There were however two caveats – the only one we stopped at would be for lunch – and those who did not wish to do the full (7 mile) circuit could catch a bus back after lunch.
Whatever the intention we had seventeen walkers start off from Broomfield Church car park and head for our first ‘waypoint’ at The Walnut Tree in Broads Green. Thence again across country to the Rose & Green on the outskirts of Great Waltham, although we had entered the village so could have diverted to The Beehive (but we didn’t!!). From here again across fields under crop and over the busy B1008 to Little Waltham and our lunch destination at The White Hart.
After lunch our route took us along the River Chelmer through a string of Essex Wildlife Trust reserves (Little Waltham Meadows & Newlands Grove) back into Broomfield and a short stretch of road walking back to the church car park.
A warm day with sightings of buzzard, green woodpecker and kestrel along the river, enjoyed by all.
Our Walk Leader had decided to go on holiday si it was eight lovely U3A ladies that gathered by Galleywood church, set high on the common with our goal Hylands Park in the far distance, on a September morning. It was a gentle long decent across field footpaths picking up the private road until we crossed the old A12.
The high winds predicted kept us moving swiftly finally taking shelter from the open parkland into the tree lined nature trail. Emerging we walked over to the formal gardens with its well tended beds saying our goodbyes to two of the group as pre arranged.
The rest of us carefully recrossed the main road taking the long uphill trek to our lunch stop before home.
We only had a pedometer between us but we think it was close to five miles due to time restraints and the lure of lunch.....which was not memorable!
Once again a brilliantly sunny day! Our hope was that our October walk would be through beautiful autumn colours and we were not disappointed. Our walk took us on a circuit through Epping Forest starting at the King’s Oak in High Beech, past the Iron Age Fort at Loughton Camp to the Strawberry Hill Ponds, water-filled craters created by German bombs dropped during the Blitz and back to High Beech.
Someone had obviously not told the leaves that they should be dropping as they were still on the trees. The variants of yellows and oranges on them glowing in the sun was wonderful. However the autumnal hues failed to hide the undulations of the final stretch back to the start – who said Essex was flat?
Regretfully our November walk was cancelled due to illness and we did not walk in December as we had our planning meeting (with mulled wine & mince pies).