Saturday Walk - Grassy fields, quiet lanes, a smattering of woods, Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Reserve and the tidal River Crouch: Wickford to Battlesbridge or South Woodham Ferrers

Length: 21.0 km (13.1 mi) [shorter or longer options] 

Ascent/Descent: 205/209m

Net Walking Time: ca. 4 ¾ hours 

Toughness: 3 out of 10

Take the 10.13 Southend Victoria train from Liverpool Street (Stratford 10.20, Shenfield (Crossrail) 10.28), arrives Wickford 10.51. 

Return trains are every 40 minutes, i.e. Battlesbridge 15.58, 16.38, 17.18, 17.58 etc (change at Wickford). SWF: 4 mins earlier (change at Wickford).  

Buy a South Woodham Ferrers return (same price as a Battlesbridge return).

 

This surprisingly diverse and rural walk avoids industrial and suburban features often associated with walking in Essex, but instead leads through plenty of rolling grassy fields, along quiet lanes and through a smattering of woods, before heading through the enchanting – Essex Wildlife Trust run – Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Reserve. After a short stretch along the reservoir itself it then heads for the lunch Café on the Water or The Old Windmill, both in South Hanningfield.

The afternoon route leads through more pastures, valleys and wooded strips, before descending into the Crouch Valley and following the tidal River Crouch for a short stretch into Battlesbridge past its famous Antiques Centre.

 

Walk Options

Bus Line 13 (Chelmsford – Wickford) gets you to or from the lunch options in South Hanningfield: 12.16-->12.27 Wickford to The Old Windmill; 14.39-->14.51 The Old Windmill to Wickford. 

An Alternative Finish in South Woodham Ferrers loops around the town through a fenland nature reserve, some saltmarshes and along the tidal River Crouch with its mudflats, sailing boats and plenty of birdlife. It is especially attractive at low tide. From 20.0 km (12.4 mi) to 29.7 km (18.5 mi).

 

Lunch: Café on the Water at the Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Reserve (8.3 km into the walk, open to 16.00) or The Old Windmill in South Hanningfield (8.8 km into the walk, food all day).

 

Tea

Battlesbridge – There are several cafés and tea rooms in and around the Antiques Centre (for details check the pdf) plus The Barge Inn (a little off route away from the station, food to 17.00) and The Hawk Country Pub & Restaurant (by the station, open all day). 

South Woodham Ferrers – A couple of options are passed on the various shortcuts into town (check the pdf for details) plus The Railway is right by the station (open all day, Wild Thyme Street Food served).

 

For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. t=swc.157