21.6 km 13.4 miles Difficulty 4/10
Surprisingly diverse rural walk through rolling grassy fields, quiet lanes, woods, and an Essex Wildlife Trust reserve to lunch. The afternoon goes through more fields, valleys and wooded strips, finally following the river Crouch into Battlesbridge.
It is possible to reduce the length to 12.7 miles 20.5 km by following alternative directions to South Woodham Ferrers.
There are also longer routes to SWF that incorporate sections of the coast. Real hardnuts, and by that I mean brazils with their shells still on, will be excited by the 18.8 mile option.
Trains Get the 10:14 Southend train from Liverpool St (Stratford 10:21) arriving Wickford at 11:03.
Return from Battlesbridge at xx:30 changing at Wickford for London. You have 3 mins to get the xx:40 on Plat 3 so don’t hang about (your next connection in half an hour).
Trains return from South Woodham Ferrers at xx:26, also changing at Wickford.
A return to Battlesbridge will do you. A return to South Woodham Ferrers (one stop more) costs the same and covers both endings.
Lunch
Café On The Water Hanningfield Reservoir, (01268 712182, serves a selection of main meals, sandwiches, salads and desserts, along with alcoholic and soft drinks, and has a large decking area overlooking the reservoir.
The Old Windmill, South Hanningfield (01268 712280, has been serving food and ale to locals since at least 1799. Hopefully not the same food!
Tea places in Battlesbridge:
The Hawk Hawk Hill, (01268 7672).
The Barge Inn, Hawk Hill, E (01268 732 622).
Haybarn Tea Rooms Hawk Hill, J (01268 763 500). Open 10.30-16.00
Tea places in South Woodham Ferrers:
Macawbers Café Tropical Wings Zoo, Wickford Road (01245 425394), Open 09.00-17.30 summer, (note the pun).
Shaw Farm Old Wickford Road, (01245 320916), used to be a farm and dates back to the 17th Century. Huge back garden with a sizeable lake.
The Whalebone Inn/Scrimshaw’s Restaurant Old Wickford Road, (01245 320231).
The Railway 50 Hullbridge Road,(01245 320262).
Vicky’s Kitchen Marsh Farm Rd, (01245 321552), Open 11.00-17.00 Weekends.
No comments:
Post a Comment