Essex Way: Fairstead to Cressing circular walk

Another lovely 8 mile walk along the Essex Way (and back). We started today at Fairstead Church and went to Cressing along this national path then self guided back to Fairstead along alternative routes.

Fantastic ancient green lanes and big Essex skies. At end of walk we went into the Church (partly built using bricks from a former Roman Villa) and viewed the medieval wall paintings.

This was a lovely and peaceful walk which is highly recommended. We hardly saw a soul all day. 

Essex Way: Great Waltham to Little Leighs circular walk

Off message but another fantastic country walk along the Essex Way (and back to starting point by alternative route). Got a little wet a couple of times but mostly bright sunshine, refreshing breeze and blue skies.

We hardly saw a soul during the 9 miles. Why do so many Londoners travel all over the UK to go walking when on their doorstep there is such unexplored beauty?

Check out route here https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/5358848/Great-Waltham-to-Little-Leighs  (you have to subscribe to OS but you can see the route)

Essex Way: Stagden Cross to Pleshey

The Essex Way is a long distance walk from Manor Park, Newham to Harwich, a distance of 96 miles (you can also start the walk from Epping). Gill and I have been walking in stages along the route (off and on) for a couple of years.

Yesterday, we started off from our previous finishing point at Stagden Cross and walked along the Essex Way to Pleshey then self guided back to the start point by a different route. Just over 6.5 miles

The weather was glorious and the countryside was empty. We saw 2 other walkers during the whole trip. The Essex Way has lots of ancient green lanes as well as paths through open fields under big skies. 

Pleshey is a medieval village with a ruined castle (visit by appointment only) thatched cottages with beautiful flowers and the remains of a defensive moat and embankment around almost the entire village.  Its pub, "The Leather Bottle" was serving take away roast dinners for £10 each. 

The route is well maintained and sign posted but best to get a map or guidebook (or for £2 per month download the ordinary survey app to your smart phone). 

Essex Way (and a Badger)

Off message. A glorious circular walk today, firstly along the Essex Way then self guided way back to starting point at Millers Green, Ongar. The weather was warm and sunny but with a lovely breeze.

On way back we saw a young badger running up a ditch to their sett. It then thought we could not see it and kept still but in our excitement we frightened s/he and it disappeared down the sett.

I have been walking in the countryside for decades and have never seen a live badger. It was really exciting and of course, I didn't have time to get a decent photo.

As usual the stunning countryside just outside London is empty. We saw probably 10 other walkers during the entire walk. 

Essex Way: Epping to Chipping Ongar

Off message. Last year Gill and I finally finished the London Loop walk (which took us 3 years to complete in stages) but on 10 June we started our next long distance walking challenge, the 82 mile (130 km) Essex Way. Which starts in Epping and finishes in Harwich. There are 10 stages, first is  Epping to Chipping Ongar.

We took the 58 bus to Leyton Station then the Central Line to Epping. Went the wrong way out of Epping station but soon found our way on the well signposted route. Lovely rolling countryside but some noise at first from M11. Crossed over M11 on footbridge and then soon found ourselves in timeless beautiful rural essex.

There are a couple of nice looking pubs on the way but to me the best part of the walk was stopping off at the ancient Saxon Greensted Church (see collage above) which is believed to be the oldest wooden church in the world.

After their pardon and return from transportation in Australia, the trade union Tolpuddle Martyrs, settled in this area and were given land to farm. Two of the Martyrs married in this church but the local vicar is blamed for forcing them to leave and most of them later emigrated to Canada.

Stage one finished at Chipping Ongar (8 miles). We got 410 bus back to Epping then Central Line to Leyton and 58 bus back to Forest Gate.

A lovely and quiet country walk. Recommended. I am also thinking of whether we can enter a Newham Labour team into the relay race on Sunday 2 September when teams will complete the entire 82 miles in one day.

Watch this space.