Boxing Day walk 2025: Duton Hill, Essex circular 6.5 miles

Went for the traditional Boxing Day walk with Gill, starting at Duton Hill, Essex (near Dunmow), about 40 minutes from East London. Only when we arrived did we realise we’d already done this route earlier in the year (April 6), but it’s a lovely walk, soon passing the ruined remains of a 12th-century medieval abbey overlooked by its former gatehouse, now a church. 

The route offers plenty of other and more modern history too, with three historic and attractive churches along the way. In Little Easton, displays and stained glass windows commemorate the many American Air Force personnel stationed nearby during World War II who lost their lives on bombing raids against Nazi Germany. 

We also passed pillboxes and mortar positions, reminders that this area was once part of a defensive line in case of a Nazi invasion threatening London. 

The terrain was gently undulating, the weather was kind, though there was some noise from planes taking off from Stansted Airport. 

I finally figured out how to use the Ramblers.org site to download a GPS map and upload it to the OS site. I tracked steps and mileage using the Zepp app, which tends to overestimate distance—this walk is closer to 6.5 miles than the 7.81 recorded. For once, we didn’t get lost. 

Apart from the planes, it was peaceful, with only a few dog walkers, beautiful winter sunshine, and the vast East England skies. We spotted muntjac deer, a large herd of fallow deer, and red kites. Finished with a drink at the Three Horseshoes, where a roaring fire warmed the bar, though we sat outside enjoying the rear garden.

https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/routes/eastons-and-tilty-essex (may need subscription to view?)