Welcome to Capital Walkers, the friendly London Ramblers group for people aged 40+. We walk every weekend and usually at least once during the week.
Angela K.
The Essex Way promises 95 miles of glorious Essex. Come and journey with me through this often underrated county and discover incredible history including Saxon churches, Roman Roads, a viaduct, witch hunts, world renowned cricket bats and much much more. I can promise amazing scenery and almost certainly a good deal of mud (you have been warned).
Our journey today starts in Epping and ends at Willingale, a village with a unique churchyard containing two churches. Quickly leaving Epping, once home to over 20 inns for travellers seeking protection from Dick Turpin and his peers whilst travelling to and from London, we begin our undulating walk through Essex. After entering Gernon Bushes Nature Reserve we cross the M11 before reaching Toot Hill for a brief stop at The Green Man.
Greensted beckons as we continue and St Andrew's church awaits us. St Andrew's is the oldest wooden church in the world, timber in the nave dates to approximately 850 AD. We will enjoy a short break here to explore this beautiful church - I can highly recommend the chutneys (the Sundried Tomato and Smoked Garlic chutney is delicious) for sale within (cash or contactless payment accepted). Please bring boot covers or plastic bags to cover your footwear and protect the interior of the church. Water is available here for two and four legged Ramblers.
From Greensted it is a relatively short amble to Chipping Ongar which is our lunch stop. Please bring a picnic lunch - although there is a Sainsbury's, numerous pubs and cafes from which to get drinks and use the bathroom facilities. From Chipping Ongar we follow the Roding River along its floodplain towards Fyfield before reaching Willingale, of double-churchyard fame. Here our journey ends until we pick up the trail again...
Whilst this walk will be a moderate pace of 2.5 miles an hour, we do have a bus to get in order to reach Chelmsford and our return train to London. Our pace will influence the length of our breaks to ensure we get to Willingale for the bus. Please ensure that you have sturdy and preferably waterproof footwear, footwear coverings for entering churches and a sense of adventure. Walking poles may assist with navigating muddy paths.
Travel Details:
Take a Central Line Underground train to Epping (Zone 6) to arrive before 10am. We need to begin promptly in order to have time to explore along the way and catch our bus at Willingale.
There is a bus every 2 hours from Willingale to Chelmsford (£3 via contactless payment). We are aiming for the 15.41 bus. From Chelmsford there are regular trains returning to Stratford and London Liverpool Street.
No booking is required.
The finish time is an estimate only and is dependent upon the speed of the group, walking conditions, weather and various other undisclosed factors which may affect our walking speed and finish time.
Dogs are welcome with well behaved owners. There are stages on our walk today which require dogs to be on leads however there are plenty of opportunities for off lead time as well.
Epping Underground Station
Willingale, Essex
