A varied north Essex walk visiting historic Saffron Walden. That town has many interesting features - half timbered buildings, The Fry Gallery, an impressive church, the remains of a Norman castle, and an ancient turf labyrinth. The afternoon takes you along the Harcamlow Way to Newport.
Trains:
9:23 Cambridge North train from Liverpool Street (Tottenham Hale 9:37), arriving Great Chesterford at 10:30
Return from Newport at xx:42. Get a return to Great Chesterford.
Lunch: Plenty of choice in Saffron Walden. The 8 Bells 01799 522790, adjacent to Bridge End Garden, is recommended but may be pricey. (The gardens themselves would make a nice picnic spot). Also the Cross Keys Hotel (01799-522207) on the High Street, and, on the way out of town, a Wetherspoons, The Temeraire (01799-516975). There are several cafés in and around Market Place. Last time, a few went to the Goat and Grass, 8 Cross Street 01799 521806 (posh caff - does wraps).
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.
Walk Directions here T=swc.130
1 comment:
N=4 out of the traps. If today was a horse race, you wouldn’t have wanted to bet on Slowcoach. Fastcoach took an early lead, Slowcoach trailing behind and the 2 others in the middle. Slowcoach! Slowcoach! Come on Slowcoach! But it was not to be. Slowcoach was last into Saffron Walden. 1 had planned to finish at Audley End after a look round the town, the others were for the long run.
You’ll be wanting to know about the weather w=mostly-sunny-some-cloud-breezy
In Saffron Walden, 1 went for posh stuff in the 8 Bells (not crowded) 1 went for to eat a sandwich. To avoid staring at the posh nosher’s chips, the slowcoach politely left and made a beeline for Wetherspoon's, a declared rendezvous for later. (A dazed bumble of a beeline taking in a few of the sights).
A pint of 7.2% Black Dragon Cider later (nice and only £3.20) there was still no sign of the other 2. ( Maybe he should have helped with the chips, after all). The slowcoach waited. And waited.
But not for ever, there’s only so much 7.2% cider you can drink halfway through a walk. He continued alone, through giant fields, some yellow with rapeseed and, would you believe it - about halfway, he saw the others shoot past while he was having a lost moment, blundering into the wrong corner of a field.
They were never seen again and presumably caught the 15:42.
Slowcoach reached Newport at 15:59 . There was nothing for it but to wait in the stables for the next horse box and drink beer. What a chore “sigh”
Post a Comment