Hertfordshire Walker: Much Hadam North Loop 16.4.23

I have been a little busy lately with various things but still been on some lovely walks with Gill but not had time to post on them. We did this 6.1 mile circular walk only 40 minutes drive from East London (1 hr 23 by public transport)  last month, courtesy of the free walking  website https://www.hertfordshirewalker.uk/. This is a fantastic resource for all local and London walkers. 

The walk is not that demanding but lots of gentle rolling countryside. As well as lots of historic buildings and ancient green lanes (a particular favourite of mine). The weather had been a little wet, so I wore my new gaiters but didn't really need them.  I uploaded the walk onto the https://explore.osmaps.com/ app (subscription) so I could follow the route via my phone. 

Got a little lost going through a golf course, but by doing so saw a tiny munic deer standing super still in the belief we will not see it. We passed a barn with an old horse drawn caravan in it and whose roof is reputed to have been "made from the upturned hull of a wooden ship. There is a date 1830 on a beam" (see bottom left of collage).

Finished off walk with a pint of Doombar in "The Bull" beer garden. 

Blackmore, Essex - Walk Feb 23

Gill and I went on another Big Essex Skies and Sunshine walk today, starting and finishing in Blackmore. This was a "moderate" 7.41 mile walk only 35 minutes by car from East London (public transport not great but possible). Considerate parking on street available. 

We started off with a coffee and tea outdoors at the Blackmore Tea Rooms (I "had to" have a hot sausage roll as well). This cafe was full of brightly clad cyclists also enjoying a drink or bite to eat.

Blackmore and the surrounding villages, hamlets and cottages are simply lovely, with lots of ancient duck ponds, green lanes, footpaths, forests and heathland. 

There is even a pub, The Cricketer" run by "Gray and Sons" breweries (no known relative unfortunately).

The birdsong was marvellous and we heard at least 3 different woodpeckers. Lots of signs of spring. 

There was some noise from local non commercial planes but nothing major. We saw 3 road motorbikes riding along a public footpath, but they were travelling quite slow. I took a picture but the number plates are not clear, so I have not been able to report to Police/Council. 

There was an unusual warning notice in a wood "Caution Archery practice in progress" but we could see no such activity at this time. 

Apart from the marvellous spring like weather, the walk had lots of variety, walking through fields, Common land, forests and villages. A little bit of up and down but this is Essex. 

I finished off with a pint of Doombar in the "Prince Albert" (the only ale available at that time on tap)

I downloaded this walk via the Ordnance Survey site for free (a subscription service but definitely recommended and it originated from the Country Walking site).  We just used the app to navigate and for once did not get lost (apart from few "mishaps" which were easily corrected)

This post with further pictures and map will be on my personal Facebook page but also on https://www.facebook.com/walksinandaroundlondon/. This site has nearly all our walks listed. 

Greensted Essex Walk - start at "oldest Wooden Church in the World" (& Tolpuddle Martyrs connection)

Today, Gill and I went on a superb autumnal walk, starting off from one of my very favourite locations, Greensted Church near Chipping Ongar, Essex. Which is not only the "oldest Wooden Church in the World" but was also the local church of many of the trade union "Tolpuddle Martyrs" after they returned from transportation in Australia. 

The weather was glorious with sunshine and "Big Essex Skies", apart from the last 10 minutes of the walk when it poured down with rain. 10 minutes later it was sunshine again. 

The actual walk was a 7 mile circular, which I found in Walks & Walking. Unfortunately, part of the route had been closed due to safety concerns about bridges so you have to make a messy detour (during which we got just a little lost).  

Until this is fixed, I would suggest using the walk "Greensted Church and Chipping Ongar" 4.5 mile in "Essex Outstanding Circular Walks Guide". 

Great pint of Doombar in "Two Brewers" garden. 

Check out other photos on Facebook