ESSEX WALKER - 22nd April 2018
Abbreviations used:
Ahd - Ahead Bar - Barrier BL - Bear Left BR - Bear Right BW - Bridleway CB - Compass Bearing CP - Checkpoint Enc - Enclosed FB - Footbridge FP - Footpath FPS - Footpath Sign G - Gate GR - Grid Reference Imm - Immediately Jct - Junction KG - Kissing Gate L - Left LHS - Left Hand Side LMG - Large Metal Gate LWG - Large Wooden Gate M - mile R - Right RD - Road RHS - Right Hand Side ST - Stile Thru - Through TL - Turn Left TR - Turn Right Trk - Track WM - Waymarker X - Cross Y - Yards
START - Heybridge Primary School, Rowan Drive, Heybridge, CM9 4TU. GR863084
Start Times: Walkers Long Route 8.00am and Runners and Short Route 9.00am.
1. Leave school by exiting through main gate. TL on Rd and BL by Goldring Surgery. BR across small car park and TL on Rd. TL into Sandpiper Close. TR at number 3 then imm BL going thru Carport/garage. TR then TL thru small car park. Go past Drapers Farm sign in recreation area. TL and TR around rugby pitch. Ahd thru gap and over FB and Ahd with fence on LHS. Up bank with lake on LHS onto Enc path.
2. Join Trk keeping lake on LHS passing WM and BL to cross bridge. BR with Trk to reach RD at LMG and TR. 20y after Slough Lodge, TR thru KG into Nature Reserve. TL at info board titled “Chigborough Lakes”. After 270y at LMG on RHS, TL to G and road. TR on road for 25y. TL at FPS over FB onto Enc path (with lake on LHS) until reach G and TL on Trk to RD. CARE - BUSY ROAD. GR861090
3. X RD and TR on pavement. At end of pavement X RD (again TAKE CARE) to pavement on other side of road. After 175y by 40 mph sign X road (CARE) and TL into drive for Poplar Grove Farm. Pass farm to cross ST with WM. Ahd on grass Trk and at end of wooden fence on RHS, TR with wire fence on LHS. At LWG, TL between wire fences. Ahd with lake on LHS and at end of lake pass thru gap to field, TR and Ahd along field edge. At end of wire fence TR and immediately TL on grass path to reach gravel car park. X car park keeping warehouse on LHS and Ahd on gravel track to RD. GR848098
4. X RD onto drive for White Lodge (FPS) and thru LWG in front of property. Thru second small metal G onto concrete Trk. Ahd on Trk until reaching small copse and TL round end of copse keeping to path. Ahd onto Trk,TR between lakes by closed FB. Pass LMG and house onto concrete Trk to reach RD. GR837096
5. TL on verge. After 2nd telephone pole, marked 5A, X RD with care thru gap in hedge onto path and follow to disused railway. Ahd on Trk for 1400y, going under disused bridge to reach cross Trk. TR into CP1 (4.4 miles)
CP 1 Wickham Hall (GR829106)
Opening Times 09.00hrs - 10.45hrs
6. Leave CP and TR back onto disused railway. (If route flooded, use path on top of bank on LHS between fence and trees) After 650y follow path up bank and BR to FPS next to bridge. TL on Trk towards church. Just before church BR on Trk (WM/BW sign) following power lines across field towards gate and RD. Just before reaching road BL to FPS and WM by “Maldon Angling Society” sign and BR on FP beside wooden fence on LHS. DO NOT cross stile into field. Go up steps to RD. GR822116
7. Take Care - Busy Road over bridge. Cross river bridge and at end of white railings sharp TL onto FP (FPS) towards river. Thru wooden G river now on LHS. X two FBs and BR by FPS. X another FB and up steps and TL. After 10y BR across field with CB 215 to FB. Diagonally (CB 230) across field to RD. TL and continue on RD for 900y to main road. GR818101
8. X RD and TL passing houses on RHS. 80y after last house at telephone pole 188, TR onto enc path. TR at WM with wooden fence on RHS and follow path behind houses. At end of large metal fence on RHS TL on track (FPS) for 800y between fields. Ahd with hedge on RHS until reach T Jnt and TR. After 100y TR at WM. In 50y TL thru green Bar at WM and follow hedge on RHS to road. TR for 50y and then TL by FPS and wooden G, and go round LHS field edge.
9. At field end TR then after 10y (WM) TL thru gap to lake. TL with lake on RHS and after 25y TL at WM (Members Only sign) follow field edge to corner and cross FB. Ahd with hedge on RHS. Thru gate X Rd to unmarked FP and X FB (WM). BL then BR with wire fence on RHS (WM). Continue, ignoring “Private Fishing” sign on gate, to reach “Private Fishing” post (WM). BL to Public Footpath sign and reach T Jct at river. TR on towpath with river on LHS. Ahd on towpath, thru wooden G to RD at Hoe Mill Lock. GR807082
10. Cross road with care and TL going across two road bridges and Ahd until reach green triangle. TR to reach G and TL on Enc FP (FPS) to reach wire fence. Continue with wire fence on LHS. At end of wire fence X ST and TR. Ahd on Enc path with fence on both sides, thru G to RD. TR on RD. At pink house TL (FPS) on CB 270. X FB and BL with hedge on LHS to RD. TR on RD for 850y to reach junction with Bassetts Lane. TR on Bassetts Lane for 750y passing Bassetts, and then sharp RH bend to reach 4 bar LMG and ST on LHS marked “Little Baddow Millennium Walk.” TL over ST.
11. X field, thru KG into wood and Ahd. X FB and Ahd across field CB 270 to X second FB. TR and then TL onto Trk. (Ignore any walkers coming towards you and down path from left) Straight Ahd on FP at T Jct into wood. Ahd at Jct to imm cross FB and then cross 2 ST. X Trk and FB and 3 further ST to reach main road via steps. TL on pavement of main road and up hill for 670y to CP2 on LHS. (11.6 miles)
CP2. Little Baddow Memorial Hall (GR 780073)
Opening Times 10.45hrs - 13.15hrs
At this point, the long and short routes split with the long route adding an additional loop, returning to the Hall for Checkpoint 3. Those completing the short route should follow the instructions from the Checkpoint 3 below (see paragraph 19)
LONG ROUTE
12. Leave Hall and return to RD. TL up hill to X roads. TL onto Spring Elms Lane. After 240y, TL opposite Mill Lane (FPS). At fork TR towards The Old Rodney. In 40y before house TR (WM) across grass into enc FP After further 40y TL (WM). At T Jct TL on BW (BW/WM). At T Jct TR downhill on FP marked “Admiral McHardy Way” past green bales on RHS.
13. At T Jct TR by wooden fence (WM) onto Trk. (ignore any walkers coming towards you) At end of field TL with main Trk past brick wall on LHS. BR on drive with pond on LHS to road. X RD (FPS) by 5 bar gate keeping to LHS of field. At bottom of field TR by large broken tree keeping tree line on your LHS. After 150y BL with line of trees to river and TR on towpath. Ahd for 800y to reach FB over river. DO NOT CROSS BRIDGE but TR on BW with hedge on LHS.
14. Thru gap and TR onto gravel Trk which becomes concrete, go past red and white Bar to RD (Tofts Chase) and TL. Continue on RD for 680y past house (Bassetts) and after 150y TR by blue Bar (broken FPS on ground). Follow FP up middle of field (CB 180) to reach FPS and enc path to RD. TL by postbox for 450y. GR790074
15. At Spring Elms Lane sign TR on BW (31 on post). X FB and Ahd past Nature Reserve noticeboard, over X path (WM) and continue uphill on same line of travel to reach T Jct by WM. TR for 200y (past stumps) to fork R at WM sign. Continue on main track (ignore lesser paths) for 150y. TL for 10y to reach WM. TL on BW (blue arrow). Ahd on BW to Nature Reserve Information board on LHS TR at X jct with wire fence on RHS. At X paths continue Ahd. Pass yellow posts and dog bin to reach lane by black and white bollards. Up lane to main road. GR781062
16. X RD to FP with fence initially on LHS. Ahd with fence now on RHS onto Trk. Ignore all turnings off Trk until go thru KG to road. TL on RD for 200y and TR into Blakes Wood Car Park and imm TL thru KG into wood. Ahd on winding main path ignoring all turnings. After 500y, go up bank and at small National Trust sign (WM) on post continue Ahd and go gently downhill.
17. Look out for numbered posts (discs 3 to 7) on this next stage. Keep to R at Jct (WM) passing post number 3 on RHS and straight Ahd passing post number 4 on RHS by Jct. Ahd past bench on LHS and straight over X Trk to X 2 FBs (number 5 on first bridge.)
18. BL at T Jct, and Ahd passing WM post numbered 6 on RHS and Ahd past 2 NT signs on LHS. After 100y TL at number 7 over FB. Go thru KG to Belle Vue Farm and TR immediately before drive onto enc FP by power pole. At small wooden G on RHS TL at fork (WM) onto enc path and Ahd to Rd. TR on RD up to Xroads. TL down North Hill to CP3. (18.9 miles)
CP3. Little Baddow Memorial Hall. (GR780073)
Opening Times - 12.00 hrs -14.45 hrs
ALL ROUTES
19. Return to main road and TL up hill to X roads. TL onto Spring Elms Lane for 400y and continue Ahd until reaching Postmans Lane on RHS. TR up lane (WM Admiral McHardy Way) for 200y. Continue Ahd through posts (WM Admiral McHardy Way) up Trk for 800y to pass large Danbury Ridge Nature Reserve sign on LHS. Continue Ahd and In 100y fork L gently downhill on CB 100. Ahd across earth bridge and uphill to T Jct. TL by “Forest House” and after 50y TR by “Robins Wood” onto FP/BW. Ahd with golf course on LHS.
20. In 800y at Red Warning sign, TL across golf course following WM signs and X tee 12 into copse. At end of copse, follow tree line and ditch on LHS to service road. X road with ditch still on left for 40y to reach Trk. TR passing house on LHS and continue Ahd for 300y to fork L by WM and wooden chalet on RHS. After 150y BL following WM onto path passing thru gap and keeping on LHS of field, head towards timbered building visible at field end on CB 50. Thru fence by red dog bin and green litter bin to Rd. X Rd to Bell public house and BR on LHS of road to Jct. GR808068
21. TL and follow pavement to School/30 mph sign. X road to FPS opposite. Take footpath keeping hedge on LHS. Go thru metal gate and Ahd with stream on LHS. X FB. At T Jct with pond on RHS, TR uphill to field. Continue Ahd along field edge with wire fence on LHS. At end of fence continue Ahd across field on CB120. X earth bridge and second field to FB Ahd to join Rd. TR on RD for 300y to green triangle and TL into Manor Road. Go past “High Oaks Cottage” to reach CP4. (22.6 miles long & 15.3 miles short)
CP4. Manor Road, Woodham Walter (GR823072)
Opening Times: 12.45 Hrs - 16.00 hrs
22. Continue along Manor Road past Cut A Thwart Lane until 30y before cream house, TR on footpath with metal fence on LHS. After 30y at end of fence, continue Ahd across field. X gravel Trk and thru metal gate with another metal fence on LHS. Keep going Ahd thru large gap in vegetation by Trk fork and after 150y cross earth bridge (WM) and immediately TL with hedge on LHS. Pass thru large gap and X field following clear path to reach Trk. TL and after 30y TR on path. X earth bridge and X field (CB 100) to Rd. GR838078
23. TL on Rd and go past No Entry sign until reach large brick wall on RHS. At end of wall Ahd thru KG onto enc path. X FB and onto boarded bridge over river at Beeleigh Falls. At end of bridge keep right with river on RHS to reach T Jct by towpath. TR with canal/navigation on LHS and X weir to Rd. X road onto towpath with river on LHS (WM)
24. After 680y at brick bridge TL over river on footpath and bridge thru G then TR on riverbank (river now on RHS) along towpath. Pass under 3 bridges and Ahd join tarmac path before passing under another bridge, ignoring steps on LHS, to reach Rd. BR on Rd and in 60y at “Lee Billing Joinery” BL away from river but still on road.
25. At Springfield Cottages sign on LHS, TR by FPS walking tight to fence to right of cottages. Thru metal gate and along in front of cottages, thru 2 metal barriers. BR on concrete path, TL and then TR to join unmade road. At T Jct, TR and follow road round left bend with fence on LHS. After 10y TL into playing fields and Ahd with hedge on LHS. BR across car park next to building to reach main road. GR859083
26. TL along pavement to Zebra Crossing and X road into Towers Road. After 50y TL into Glebe Road and continue to end, passing bollards. Cross road into school and finish. (26.5 miles/19.2 miles)
Congratulations, you have completed 26.5 miles on the long route or 19.2 miles short route.
All Entrants must Finish by 17.30 hrs