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This Week's Walks - Archive

Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.

This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.

Sunday 13 March 2016

Sunday walk 2: North Essex, a historic town and another stately pile.

Great Chesterford to Newport SWC Walk 130
18.75 km 11.7 miles (or 14.25 km 8.9 miles finishing at Audley End)
Difficulty 4/10

A varied walk through the rolling fields of north Essex to historic Saffron Walden. The town has many interesting features - half timbered buildings, an impressive church, the remains of a Norman castle, and an ancient turf labyrinth. The afternoon takes you through the parkland of Audley End then continues along the Harcamlow Way to Newport. 
Trains: 
9:57 Cambridge train from Liverpool Street (Hackney Downs 10:03, Tottenham Hale 10:10), arriving Great Chesterford at 11:05. Get a return to Great Chesterford.
Return from Newport at xx:13
Return from Audley End station at xx:10 and xx:47
Lunch: Plenty of choice in Saffron Walden The 8 Bells 01799 522790 is recommended
Here's a few others:- The Saffron Hotel (01799-522676), The Cross Keys  (01799-522207) and a JD Wetherspoons, The Temeraire (01799-516975)
Tea: You pass the small 17th C White Horse (01799-540002), about ten minutes before Newport station. Alternatively, detour to the much larger Coach and Horses (01799-540292) to the north of the village.
If finishing at Audley End station, you pass the Fighting Cocks (01799-541279) on the way there. You could also continue past the station turn-off to find The Bell (01799-540382), an attractive country pub in the village of Wendens Ambo. Both come recommended.
Audley End The gardens, stables and service wing are open to visit 10-4 (cost £9.90 unless an English Heritage member). The house itself is currently closed.
Walk Directions here 
It is possible to shorten the walk by finishing at Audley End station. The route there involves a bit of road walking.
T=swc.130

1 comment:

PeteB said...

n=7 on this walk including 2 newcomers. Weather w=sunny-and-mild-perfect-walking-weather.

Lovely quiet walk in rolling countryside in glorious weather. Excellent lunch in quaint Saffron Walden where I and a.n.other basked in a warm suntrap in a small garden by the beautiful church which we all later visited. A fine Essex walk in excellent company made for a perfect day out