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SAFFRON STROLL
DISTANCE: 10km
START VENUE: Swan Meadow car park off Bridge Street, Saffron Walden CB10 1DA(Map 154 GR TL534384)
CAR PARKING: At start venue. Parking charges apply. Parking is free on Sundays and Bank Holidays
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Bus service to within 1k of the start – or as it a circular route, it can be started from The High Street Post Office.
TERRAIN: Urban areas, open countryside, parkland, roads, tracks and field footpaths. It is not suitable for push chairs.
REFRESHMENTS: These can be purchased at numerous outlets in the town.
ROUTE DESCRIPTION (Updated January 2018)
In bay 4 of the car park, counting bays from the car park main entrance and opposite the coach park on the other side of the entry road, look for a gate and wooden footbridge in the tall trees along the bottom edge of the car park, identified with large sign ‘Permissive Footpath’.
Go through gate and cross footbridge into park. Bear left on footpath.
At next junction of footpaths turn left towards large black iron gates do not go through but turn right uphill on a grass path between fields with the occasional large tree.
Keep straight ahead on this path, cross a gravel track, to reach an iron gate to the right of a cottage.
Leave park through this gate and turn right down roadside footpath.
Pass entrance to Audley End House on right and continue along road, miniature railway on left.
Cross a ‘weak bridge’ and at road junction turn left, signposted to Bps Stortford and Newport.
Continue along roadside footpath and at next road junction turn right, signposted to Strethall and Littlebury Gn.
Walk along this tree lined road with care for about 1K, passing under a railway bridge.
Just before overhead motorway bridge turn right through gap to right of metal gate onto a grass track (footpath finger post hidden in bush on left side of gate).
Continue along this grass track to reach another road.
Turn right on road and continue with care into Littlebury.
At cross roads, cross with care to church opposite.
Continue downhill on road, church and graveyard on left.
At road junction turn right.
Cross river bridge and continue along roadside footpath to junction with main road.
At junction turn left, cross road with great care and walk on the left side grass verge for approximately 100 metres towards a white post.
At the white post cross road with care onto grass track opposite, identified with a footpath sign.
Walk up this grass track, passing wood on left,field on right, through gap in hedge with way marker.
Continue on neatly cut grass track, wood still on left, field on right, then a tall hedge followed by another wood on left to reach junction with a well used gravel farm track.
Turn right on this track towards farm buildings.
At the buildings, DO NOT ENTER THE FARM, but turn right on the grass around the outside of the farm buildings, following the signs to Saffron Walden and the way markers.
On reaching a tarmac farm road, the other side of the farm, turn right on the grass field edge/verge.
Continue down the farm road on the grass verge, pass houses on the left.
At a signpost on the right pointing to Springwell, continue on the road for about 100 metres, then bear right up the bank, keeping to the grass field edge above and parallel to the road.
At next signpost on left, just after the ‘chalk cliff’ on left, turn right on a field path between open fields, sign posted to S Walden Catons Lane.
Go through gap in hedge now with a hedge on left.
When path reaches edge of town, at start of gravel track (Catons Lane), continue straight on along track to Saffron Walden Town football ground on right .
Continue further on to a small car on the right and turn right through this car park to a barrier on the left.
Go through barrier onto a tarmac footpath, children’s play equipment on right.
Continue to end of green metal fence on right at junction of tarmac footpaths,
turn left through a tall black gate and up to road (Castle Street).
In Castle Street turn left and almost immediately, at road junction, turn right into Museum Street.
Continue, passing the Museum entrance on left and Church on right, to crossroads.
Turn left (Church Street) up to mini roundabout with care. (The Castle Ruins are over to the left).
Turn right down Common Hill, Saffron Walden Common on left.
At first road junction on right turn right into Emson Close.
At end of road turn left into the Market Place.
Continue down the left side of the Market Square.
At corner of Market Square turn right to pass in front of the Town Hall on left.
Continue straight on down King Street to the High Street.
Cross road with care into Park Lane opposite, signed to Swan Meadow car park (Post Office on left).
Continue along Park Lane to car park and end of walk.
We hope you have enjoyed the walk..
The organisers are not liable for accidents, thefts and/or damage to property.
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WALDEN WANDER
DISTANCE: 10km
START VENUE: Swan Meadow car park off Bridge Street, Saffron Walden CB10 1DA (Map 154 GR TL534384)
CAR PARKING: At start venue (Parking charges apply). Parking is free on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Bus service to within 1k of the start, or, as the route is circular, it can be started from The High Street Post Office.
TERRAIN: Urban areas, open countryside, parkland, roads, tracks and field footpaths. It is not suitable for push chairs.
REFRESHMENTS: These can be purchased at numerous outlets in the town.
ROUTE DESCRIPTION (Updated January 2018).
In bay 4 of the car park, counting bays from the car park main entrance and opposite the coach park on the other side of the entry road, look for a gate and wooden footbridge in the tall trees along the bottom edge of the car park, identified with large sign ‘Permissive Footpath’.
Go through gate and cross footbridge into park. Continue straight ahead on footpath. and bear right.
After about 200metres at path junction turn right and cross a footbridge, keep straight ahead, river and golf course on right.
At end of golf course, other side of river, exit park through a small rusty metal broken gate into a narrow path, with wall on left, farm on right, other side of river . DO NOT turn right over river bridge.
At concrete track bear left and ahead up to main road.
Turn left on roadside footpath and pass the front of Audley End House.
At road junction turn left to go over a ‘weak bridge’ and ahead, Audley End House on left, miniature railway on right.
About 150metres after entrance into Audley End House turn right into Audley End Village, sign-posted to the ‘College of St Mark’.
Walk between rows of small white painted terraced cottages.
Cross a small bridge and turn left towards Donrobin Farms.
Disregard ‘Private’ sign and continue along this metalled track signed Donrobin Farms passing buildings on right to reach a road.
Cross road with care into a hard standing area opposite.
Go through gate onto a track and straight on, hedge and stream/ditch on right.
After about 300metres (just round a right hand bend in track) turn right over an earth bridge and immediately left on a waymarked path between trees (Beechy Ride).
Continue between trees, stream/ditch on left.
Climb up embankment to road and cross with care to footpath opposite.
Go down embankment and ahead on path between trees, stream/ditch on left.
At the end of the trees, keep right in field (may be overgrown with tall grass), below hedge on right, and continue to corner of wood.
Enter trees and cross footbridge on left.
Turn right and continue with wood on right, bear left with wood.
At corner of wood continue straight ahead on a grassy track between open fields for approximately 1.2K to reach road and houses.
At road, turn right and proceed with great care. Cross to the left side of the road when safe to do so.
When road turns sharp right, bear left on dirt track for about 30 metres, then turn left onto a track going uphill, public footpath signpost on the right.
At top, path bends left then right around field edge to farmhouse.
Turn left on a tarmac farm road.
At left bend in road turn right through concrete bollards into sports field.
Go diagonally across field to far right hand corner and through gap in hedge to road.
Cross road with care to roadside footpath opposite and turn right.
At first road junction on left, turn left into Seven Devils Lane.
Lane becomes a narrow dirt path between bushes with housing estate on right (if path becomes too overgrown move out to right and continue on grass with hedge on left).
Path exits into a grass area, keep ahead, hedge on left.
Bear right with hedge into a narrow enclosed footpath (road at bottom of bank on left).
Ignore small path on left down to road, keep ahead to go through gap into another estate’s grass area.
Continue straight on keeping hedge on left, to an estate road (Rowntree Way).
Turn left to main road (Newport Road).
Turn right along main road on footpath to mini-roundabouts.
At mini-roundabouts cross roads with care and enter footpath to left of post box set in wall (left side of large red brick building).
Follow path, cross an estate road and straight on.
At first footpath on right (just after deep ditch on right) turn right,(careful: easily missed) then up steps and along top of deep ditch, known as the Battle Ditches.
At end cross an estate road, turn left and immediately right into Margaret Way (name at far end of road) to the High street.
Turn left down the High Street, straight on past the traffic lights to the Post Office, Cross Keys Hotel on opposite side of road.
Immediately after the Post Office turn left into Park Lane, signed to Swan Meadow car park.
Continue along Park Lane to car park and end of walk.
We hope you have enjoyed the walk.
The organisers are not liable for accidents, thefts and/or damage to property.
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FOX AND HOUNDS, CLAVERING WALK “Tally Ho”
DISTANCE: 11km
START VENUE: Fox and Hounds PH, Clavering CB11 4QR (Map Explorer 194 GR 475319). (The pub does not open until 15.00 during the week.)
CAR PARKING: By kind permission of landllord. Please leave note on car windscreen
ROUTE DESCRIPTION (Updated February 2017)
From rear of car park, ahead uphill on footpath. After 500 metres, pass a three-way signpost in the middle of the path.At the end of the path, go ahead into a second field. (way marked) . At the far side of this field, go through an opening over a grass bridge and turn left on farm track (Do NOT go under the telegraph wires).(1.03k). In 100m., when track bends L, keep ahead on footpath to road.
Turn R and in 130m at concrete finger post, turn left on footpath (track).
Go ahead across a stile by a gate (waymarked). Pass another gate on the left, and continue to a stile in the corner (may be overgrown) .Cross two more stiles and exit to road between houses. Turn L & in 80m, by t/graph pole, turn R on enclosed footpath. At field, turn 1/2 R across field to L end of board fence and ahead along field-edge path, hedge on R and at next corner turn L. (2.6k)
Ahead along three fields for 1.3km. At the end of 3rd field, go thro’ gap in hedge & turn L (way marked),then through opening in corner of field & turn R. (way marked). Ahead 800m to t/graph pole at top of hill. In a few metres, at way mark, turn L x-field to way mark in hedge. Go down steps & cross stile ahead & follow way marks round L side of lake.
In the farmyard, keep to the right side of all buildings (ignore tarmac track to the left between barns) and exit on dirt track bearing right. (5.1k)
Stay on track as it bears left and goes uphill. At crossing track at top of field, turn L. (Roman road. Can be wet/muddy at any time.) Ahead 1km to road & turn L.(6.9k) In 500m. when road bends R, go ahead into Thurrocks Farm. Ahead thro’ large double doors. (If shut use small door to L) Ahead across lawn, through a tall slatted gate & ahead x-field.. At waymark on L corner go ahead,with ditch on your right, following field-edge path into wood. Follow way marks over two wooden bridges into wood. Ignore all side paths. Go through wood and scrubby trees.
Exit wood and ahead on field-edge path, hedge on L, to cross stile/footbridge in corner. Bear R across paddocks & turn R on road. Ahead towards former mill, now a house, at top of hill on L. (9.0k)
30m past the former mill , turn L on footpath and ahead 1km. At crossing track by a telegraph pole. before the last field, turn R & ahead to road on path between fields. (9.84k) . Turn L to T junction and cross road with care to pub.
The organisers are not liable for accidents, thefts and/or damage to property.
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FOX AND HOUNDS, CLAVERING WALK “A hunting we will go”
DISTANCE: 12km
START VENUE: Fox and Hounds PH, Clavering CB11 4QR (Map Explorer 194 GR 475319). The pub does not open until 15.00 during the week.
CAR PARKING: By kind permission of landllord. Please leave note on car windscreen
ROUTE DESCRIPTION (Updated February 2017)
From back of car park, uphill 250m to thicket & turn L at waymark. Cross footbridge & meadow on indistinct footpath, Through gap behind t/graph pole to way mark in hedge & turn R towards house, hedge on L. At house cross footbridge on left and go down hill on track.
At village green, turn L across grass & with care, cross road. Turn L & in a few metres turn R on enclosed footpath. Turn L in playing field & in corner, go ahead into trees. Go down steps to the L, cross footbridge & bear R up bank. Near the top, bear L to field & footpath. Ahead on footpath between fields to a crossing track & turn R. At road turn L & in 120m, turn R on footpath. Follow L hedge & go through a gate in the fence in far corner. Ahead to an opening in hedge on L & change sides. Ahead in same direction on FP, (later a track then footpath again) for 1.5 km. to road. (3.5 k) Turn left, and almost immediately –
In 500m, just before speed derestriction sign, turn L on footpath, hedge on L. Follow path for approximately 800 metres, and near the top of hill, at way mark, turn R x-field along reinstated path. Go through a gap in the hedge, and bear right ahead on grass footpath & to R of farm buildings. Cross farm drive & turn L on field edge towards line of trees.(way marked) Turn R, trees on R. Ahead at next way mark into a second field, & in the corner of the field, enter trees and ahead to way marker (about 5 metres in). Turn L on enclosed footpath. In 250 m turn L & at end, cross stile into farm garden. Follow way markers to L side of lake.
In the farmyard, after first building on the left (opposite to the plaque) turn left on concrete track.
In 100m, at paddock on R, cross stile & follow direction of finger post, across paddock to style opposite. Cross into a small field and head diagonally left to a way marker. Turn right, uphill, across field on reinstated path to the left end of a wood. Cross footbridge at waymark, ahead x-field on reinstated path to gap L of oak tree. Straight on in next field towards 2 oak tree, along reinstated path with hedge 20 metres over to the left, until converging in the corner. At waymark on L corner, turn L then R, passing 2 oak trees on L on reinstated path. At road, cross with care to reinstated footpath across fields opposite. Bear slightly left towards small bushes in dip, and footbridge. Cross footbridge and go ahead to right side of small cream coloured garage and marker post, at road. (Note: you are aiming for the left end of the white houses ahead.)
Turn L on road & in 400 metres ,opposite a pond, turn right on way marked bridleway, which may be overgrown in places.(Ignore the first footpath sign to the right, after approximately 150 metres) Ahead to road & turn L. In 350m, cross footbridge on R & thro’ grassed-over remains of medieval castle. Enter churchyard and turn L, hedge on L
Leave churchyard by wooden gate and ahead on gravel track.At road, turn L, cross footbridge to R of ford and turn R on road to T junction. With care, cross road to pub.
The organisers are not liable for accidents, thefts and/or damage to property.
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STRETHALL WW1 ARMISTICE WALK
DISTANCE: 10K
START VENUE: The Elmdon Dial. The post code is CB11 4NH
CAR PARKING: Free at The Elmdon Dial.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: None
TERRAIN: The route is along bridleways, footpaths and lanes. It is a little hilly in places.
REFRESHMENTS: There is no shop or pub in the village
TOILETS: None.
ROUTE DESCRIPTION (Route checked February 2018)
The start is from the car park of The Elmdon Dial. The pub is shut, but there is a car park, and a notice on the pub door approving of people parking there, at their own risk. A fence with a gate has been put across part of the car park, but there is still room to park. (When the route was checked at the end of March, the gate was open and cars were parked on the car park). An alternative parking place is in Bury Lane, which is opposite the pub. A further option is to park in Ickleton Road.
Leave the car park, and turn right, then left, to the left of the war memorial, signposted Ickleton3½, Chesterford 4½ and Cambridge 14. (If you parked in Bury Lane, leave the lane and turn right). (If you parked in Ickleton Road, get the answer to question 1, then continue along Ickleton Road).
Pass the church on the left and continue ahead down Ickleton Road. This becomes School Row, Bury Gardens, The Glebeand Elm Court. Continue for about 800 metres through the village, then, at the edge of the village, turn right along a lane, Hollow Road, which goes uphill.
In about 700 metres, at the top of the hill, as the lane goes to the right, go straight ahead along a grassy track (way marked – Icknield Way), wood on the right.
In about another 700 metres, at cross paths, and a post with many way markers on it on left, turn left, then immediately left again over a planked bridge. Turn right on path along field edge, wood to the right.
[You will return to this intersection at a later stage on the walk].
After about 600 metres, when the wood on the right ends, continue ahead along a grassy track downhill, towards a farm and road. Pass through the farm.
Pass to the side of a gate, and reach the road. Turn right, and follow the road for about 400 metres, to a bridleway on the right. Turn right here, along the bridleway, and follow it for about 700 uphill metres to reach a lane.
[The church is to the right, and the houses you can see in front of you are the village of Strethall. In Medieval Times, the houses were connected to the church. However, when The Plague hit the area, the houses between the church and the houses now visible at the bottom of the hill, were destroyed by fire in an attempt to stop The Plague from spreading].
Turn left, and go down the lane to a junction, where you turn right. Follow the lane for about 600 metres to a second junction.
[As you walk along this section, you can clearly see the church and the gap between it and the houses at the bottom of the hill. This was where the medieval houses were destroyed in an attempt to contain The Plague.]
Turn right along the lane. Ignore footpath signs off to the left and the right.
[These few houses are the village of Strethall. It is reportedly the smallest Parish in The UK, and is a Blessed Village, a village that welcomed back all the soldiers who went to fight in the war. I have failed to find out exactly how many soldiers that was. However, in the 1911 census, there were only 5 men registered, who were eligible to go and fight. When I investigated military records, I found two of these five were in the army, and survived the war. Initially, in the early years of The War, they were given leave in the summer to be able to go back to Strethall and help with the harvest.]
As the lane goes right, by Potash Cottage, go straight ahead along a track. (way marked). In 200 metres, ignore a way marked path to the left. Continue to the next way marker post, on the right , and go left along a windy track for about 450 metres.
At the end of the wooded area, at cross tracks, turn left along a path, wood on the right, field on the left. (way marked).
[This is the intersection that you visited earlier on in the walk].
In the corner of the field go through a gap, and continue ahead, beside the wood. In the corner of the next field, at way marker, turn right. Go through a small wooded area, then along a clear path, wood to the right, field/wire fence on the left.
Continue ahead. Where a track comes in from the left, continue ahead – way marked, to arrive at a farm. Go through the farm, and bear very slightly left along a tarmac lane. Follow the lane for about 700 metres, to a bridleway sign on the right. Turn right here, downhill along a grassy track, field on the right.
In the corner of the field, go through a gap in the hedge, and continue along the path on the field edge. In the corner of the second field, follow path ahead between hedge and fences (way marked) to reach a road. (When the route was checked in February, the way marker post was on the floor).
Turn left, and go through the village, passing the church and war memorial to arrive back at the car park.
Well Done!
We hope you have enjoyed the walk.
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STEEPLE BUMPSTEAD
DISTANCE: 10k
START VENUE: The Village Hall, Finchingfield Road, Steeple Bumpstead. . Map 154 grid reference TL680409.
CAR PARKING: Free car parking is available behind The Village Hall in Bower Hall Drive, Post code CB9 7EF . (Opposite 31, Bower Hall Drive, Post code CB9 7ED).
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: None.
TERRAIN: The route is along footpaths around the village.
REFRESHMENTS: There is a village shop and a pub.
ROUTE DESCRIPTION checked April 2022
Exit car park by side of Village Hall to main road, and turn right.Pass cemetery on left and at end of last house on left, turn left onto footpath along field edge,hedge on left. (Footpath finger post hidden in bushes on left).
In the corner of the field at a footbridge over ditch, DO NOT CROSS FOOTBRIDGE, but turn right, going uphill, ditch now on left.
At top, follow path round to the left and in about 40 metres, turn right to cross a footbridge in hedge, then immediately turn left over another footbridge.
Continue along field edge footpath, hedge on left. At end of hedge, turn right between bushes to a kissing gate (KG). This is an entrance into Moyn's Park so ensure gates are closed behind you throughout the park.
Go through the gate and take the path to the right. Go through another KG and ahead on path through a small wooded area, then an open area.
Cross a small road and continue ahead on grass path, then through a small wooded area. At edge of wood reach a KG, go through into paddock and turn left keeping close to fence on left. At next KG in fence, go through onto a grass area. Bear right and ahead for 30m to a KG on left, initially behind a large tree stump. Go through this gate into paddock and bear right to far left corner and another KG. Go through this gate, across footbridge and through a KG into another paddock. Aim slightly right to yet another KG and exit paddock onto a path going through trees to Footbridge at field edge.
Cross bridge and bear slightly right across field to another footbridge in hedge opposite. Footbridge is midway between two electricity poles. (Path may not have been re-instated).
Go over footbridge, turn right, then immediately left on grass track between hedges and wire fences to cross another footbridge to road, and turn left.
Continue on road with care for about 1 kilometre to arrive at main entrance into Moyn's Park. There is a white house on the left, and a concrete finger post on the right.
Turn left, and go through small gate to left of main gate into Moyn's Park, and continue ahead on drive. After about 600 metres, pass white house on left. Then, in another 500 metres, at junction where main drive goes left towards a white building, keep straight ahead and reach Moyn's Hall on left.
Continue for about another 100 metres, and as the drive goes left, keep straight ahead on a wide grass strip between young trees, to a kissing gate to the right of wooden field gate.
Go through kissing gate, cross meadow to far left corner to a kissing gate in hedge.(This is the gate you came through earlier).
Go through gate to exit Moyn's Park, then between bushes to a field edge path.
Turn right and follow path with hedge on right, field on left. Ignore path to left between fields.
At the end of hedge on right, keep straight on between fields, ditch on right. The path bears round to the right, going slightly downhill.
In field corner, cross a footbridge and turn left, with hedge on left. Pass a thicket on left. Houses come into view. Cross a footbridge, and continue straight on down to reach road.
At road, turn left and immediately right, to cross a ford/footbridge.
About 50 metres after the ford, turn left onto a footpath into the trees (CAREFUL - not way marked, but easily identifiable).
Pass through a wooded area with wire fencing on left, to enter a field.Keep left along river bank, field on right.
About 60 metres along the river bank, there is a concrete weir). (Broad Green Gauging Station).
Continue with river on left. Cross a footbridge and keep straight ahead, ignoring a footpath to the right.
At the next footbridge on left over river, DO NOT CROSS, but bear right diagonally across field to the end of the houses on left. (Path may not have been re-instated).
Al road, turn left on this narrow road.
Continue on the road into Steeple Bumpstead
At road junction to right, signposted Haverhill, keep straight on using footpath on right.
At next road junction to left, signposted Finchingfield, keep ahead along North Street.
Pass a Jet petrol filling station on the right, and cross road with care to the left hand side footpath.
Continue ahead and turn left to cross Old Ford Bridge into Church Street.
At The Red Lion Public House, turn right into the churchyard. At the church main entrance door on the right, turn left over the grass to gate in iron railings and enter a large playing field.
Bear slightly left across field to the Village Hall, just past a brown wooden shed.
Pass rear of Village Hall, to car park and end of the walk.
Well Done!
We hope you have enjoyed the walk.
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Start: Margaret Street Car Park, Thaxted. CM6 2QN Distance: 10k. Car parking: there is plenty of free parking at the start. Toilets; there are free toilets at the start. Public Transport: nearest train service is Audley End, 10 miles away. There is a limited bus service from Saffron Walden. Terrain: footpaths, tracks, some open fields, but usually well-defined. It is not suitable for push chairs. Refreshments: available at various places in Thaxted. None on route. Route description: checked May 2021 Turn right out of car park and walk up Margaret Street with care – on coming traffic to junction with main road. Follow path around field edge and go through gap in bushes into a large grass area. On exiting the enclosed path keepright along field edge, hedge on right. At yellow topped waymarker post,housebehind hedge on right, turn right intoa footpath between wooden railed fences heading towards house.At end of fence, turn left,passing in front of house,on aconcrete then tarmac drive and exit the property (MillHill Farm). About 30 metres after leaving property,at yellow topped waymarker post in hedge on right, turn right through a large gateway into field,DO NOT continue along gravel access drive.In field, immediately turn left with hedge on left and continue on grass track to barrier and road. About 60 metres after the farm, at footpath finger post in gap on left, turn left and continue with hedge on left to eventually reach a yellow topped waymarker post and footbridge with metal handrail in hedge. At pylon enter a dirt track and turn left on track,pass a white farmhouse on left (Duckett’s Farm). Continue along this long meandering track between hedgerows, ignoring all turn offs, to reach a tarmac lane,there is white sign on left ‘Richmond’s in the Wood’. About 80 metres past the large house on right (The Elms), at footpath finger post on right, turn right and enter an enclosed footpath which exits into a field. Turn left on road with care cross a river bridge– use left-hand grass verge – and ahead for about 200 metres to a footpath finger post on left, just before first house. Turn left into field and immediately right with hedge on right, uphill towards Windmill and Church Spire. Through next small gap in hedge,Windmill on left. Continue on gravel footpath through a kissing gate, cemetery on left, cottages on right.Through another metal kissing gate in wall and continue between cottages into churchyard, church on right, to reach road, The Swan opposite. Bear right on roadside footpath to Church entrance gate and crossroad with care. Well done! We hope you have enjoyed the walk. The organisers are not liable for accidents, thefts and/or damage to property. THAXTED WINDMILL WANDER
OS Landranger Map 167 Grid Reference TL611311
Cross main road with care and turn right. Almost immediately turn left into a close boarded footpath, shelter and black litter bin at entrance to footpath.
Walk down footpath into Watling Lane and turn right. Immediately turn left into a wide opening between houses, footpath finger post on right. Walk downhill on a grass path, following yellow topped way marker posts, hedge on right, then turn left and right to an earth river-bridge. Cross bridge and immediately turn right, river on right.
Bear right around edge of this grass area, cross a hard track and continue on grass track opposite. Path bears rightand continues close to river.When you reach a yellow topped waymarker post and steps going down on the right, turnleft uphill between fields, parallel with pylon wires on left. At top of fields enter an enclosed path.
Turn right downhill on road with care. Pass Waterhall Farm on left.
Cross footbridge and stile to enter a long meadow,keep right, hedge on right. At end of meadow turn right at yellow topped waymarker post over a footbridge with metal handrail and immediately turn left, hedge on left around field edge to pylon on right.
Turn right in lane and follow to road junction, at junction there is a signpost to ‘Richmond’s in the Wood’ pointing back from where you have just come.
Bear left along this minor road with care passing thatched houses on left.
Continue straight on along field edge footpath, hedge on left. At trees keep left and continue with trimmed hedge on left. Pass through a gate to reach a cream coloured mobile home adjacent the footpath on right.
Go through metal hand gate and ahead on a gravel track for about 30 metres then keep left up bank into an enclosed footpath to main road.
At large gap keep straight ahead, hedge still on right.
Turn right and just before the India Villa restaurant turn left into Bell Lane.
Walk up lane with care – on coming traffic and at end turn right back to the car park.
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Start: Margaret Street Car Park, Thaxted. CM6 2QN Distance: 10k. Car Parking: there is free parking at the start. Toilets: there are free toilets at the start, in the car park. Public Transport: nearest train service is to Audley End, 10 miles away. There is a limited bus service from Saffron Walden. Terrain: footpaths, tracks, roads. It is not suitable for push chairs. Refreshments: available at various places in Thaxted. None on route. Route description: checked May 2021. Turn right out of car park and walk up Margaret Street with care – on coming traffic to junction with main road. Walk down footpath into Watling Lane and turn right, pass a yellow grit bin on right. Continue along lane to its end. Cross a concrete bridge, pass under pylon wires and continue ahead on a double stripped concrete track. When this stripped track bears right, into a private property, keep straight ahead for about 30 metres to a yellow topped waymarker post in hedge at field corner. Turn left uphill, hedge on right. Ignore first yellow topped waymarker post on right and at second yellow topped waymarker post on right, approximately halfway up field, turn right and continue up grass path with hedge on right. Continue along lane, later to pass Higham’s Farm on left. Keep ahead in lane to reach a yellow topped way marker post on left and dirt cross track. At this point turn right uphill on field edge path, hedge on left towards pylons (there is also a way marker post in hedge on left as you turn). At next yellow topped way marker post, bushes on right, turn very sharp left (first left) across field towards another yellow topped way marker post in left side of a large gap, (path may not have been reinstated). About 100 metres along this road, at footpath finger post on left, before pylon on right, turn left to go round a metal barrier into bushes/trees. In 20 metres, before entering field, turn left over a waymarked footbridge. Pass through gap into next field. Cross this field very slightly to left to a yellow topped way marker post at top end of hedge coming up from the right (paths may not have been reinstated). When this track bends left over a concrete bridge DO NOT follow but keep straight ahead with river on left. At end of field bear left and cross left hand footbridge into an open area. Well done! We hope you have enjoyed the walk. The organisers are not liable for accidents, thefts and/or damage to property. THAXTED GUILDHALL GALLOP
OS Landranger Map 167 Grid Reference TL611311 ROUTE DESCRIPTION
Cross main road with care and turn right. Almost immediately turn left into a close boarded footpath, shelter and black litter bin at entrance to footpath.
In bottom corner of field turn right and almost immediately turn left over footbridge. Continue uphill, hedge on left, around field edge, under pylon wires, to emerge on a tarmac lane.
Turn right in lane, pass Yardley Farm on left and keep ahead in lane to reach main road. Cross main road with care and take lane opposite, footpath finger post in hedge on left.
In field corner cross a footbridge on left and follow path going left through a wooded area. Exit into a field and continue with hedge on left. In about 40 metres turn left through a large gap immediately turn left again through hedge and then right onto field edge footpath (way marked), hedge on right. In field corner, cross a waymarked footbridge and ahead to next corner of field. Turn right through hedge onto a wide grass track, and turn left yellow topped way marker post on right. Go through gap but DO NOT continue straight ahead on wide grass track. Turn half right to walk diagonally across field aiming slightly to right of distant Church Spire (path may not have been reinstated).
At opposite side of field cross a footbridge in hedge and continue straight ahead, open field on left.
Cross a tarmac track and ahead on dirt track, bridleway finger post and hedge on left. After about 50 metres leave track, go right along field edge path, hedge on left open field on right. In field corner bear left into an enclosed path and follow to a gravel lane.
Continue along lane, passing houses, to reach main road. Turn right on road with care
Follow path around field edge with hedge and ditch on right.
At bottom corner of field go through hedge, cross a footbridge onto a track.
Cross this track and go straight across small field a to yellow topped way marker post at gap in hedge.
At hedge bear right downhill, hedge on left. In bottom corner of field, at cross tracks, turn right in an enclosed track.
Bear right with hedge and trees on right. At metal seat turn left and exit field through a five-bar gate into a tarmac lane.
Turn right and follow lane round to the left to reach the main road, Thaxted Pharmacy opposite.
Turn right along the main road. Pass the Guildhall on left and immediately after the India Villa restaurant turn right into Bell Lane.
Walk up lane with care – on coming traffic and at end turn right back to the car park.