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Hike Essex Group

We are the Hike Essex Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.

Join the Ramblers and enjoy

  • unlimited free access to 50,000 Ramblers group walks
  • a library jam-packed with thousands of tried-and-tested routes
  • a welcome pack teeming with top tips plus our Walk magazine
  • exclusive discounts from our partners
  • knowing your support is opening up more places to walk and helping more people discover the joy of walking
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Overview

Our two year quest to complete the Essex Way continues with this walk from Great Waltham to Willingale.   This is the penultimate stage of the Essex Way.

Please contact the walk leader Jem to book a place on this walk. 

*** IMPORTANT ***

Due to limited public transport from Willingale there are different transport options

1. Arriving by car - Drive to Willingale for 10am

We are doing this as a car shuffle. This means we meet at finish point and take minimum number cars to the start of the walk.  We will then need help at the end to pick up the cars at the start point.

Please contact me in advance if you have a car and would like to help.  The more cars we have the more people we can ferry.

2. Public Transport - Start in Great Waltham at 10.30

There are regular buses to the start in Great Waltham.  We will start from there at 10.30 .  There are buses back from Willingale every 2 hours or we can sort out an onward lift - probably to Chelmsford.  Please contact me if you require this.

Saturday, 29 March 2025
Meeting time:
10:00 am
Start time:
10:00 am
Estimated finish time:
4:00 pm
Difficulty:
Moderate
Distance:
19.2km / 11.9mi
Ascent:
N/A
Type:
linear

This is a lovely walk following the Essex way past pastoral landscape and ancient churches. 

On the way we travel through:

  • Pleshey with one of the finest Norman castle earthworks in England
  • In 1985 the villagers of Good Easter made the world's longest daisy chain. Length 2.12 km apparently (yes kilometres)
  • Willingale is famous for having 2 churches in one churchyard, apparently because 2 rich sisters fell out and couldn't be near each other. 

Please bring a picnic and good footware as it can get muddy.

Features

  • Car sharing available
  • Dog friendly

Meeting point

Grid reference:
TL 59910 07110
Nearest postcode:
CM5 0QD
what3words:
bucket.assist.losses
Meeting time:
10:00 am

This only applies if arriving by car. See notes in walk description. Meet in front of churches at 10am

Starting point

Grid reference:
TL 68570 16077
Nearest postcode:
CM3 1LE
what3words:
melts.tech.channel
Start time:
10:00 am

There are regular buses to Great waltham from Chelmsford. Meet in front of the Beehive pub

Finishing point

Grid reference:
TL 59910 07110
Nearest postcode:
CM5 0QD
what3words:
bucket.assist.losses
Estimated finish time:
4:00 pm

We will be relying on cars to get us back to the start from Willingale. Please contact the walk leader to confirm

Join the Ramblers and enjoy

  • unlimited free access to 50,000 Ramblers group walks
  • a library jam-packed with thousands of tried-and-tested routes
  • a welcome pack teeming with top tips plus our Walk magazine
  • exclusive discounts from our partners
  • knowing your support is opening up more places to walk and helping more people discover the joy of walking