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.
Join us for this 12-mile walk providing a mix of urban and rural sights and the River Colne where we explore deepest Essex after just one hour on the train from central London.
From Colchester – originally known as Camulodunum, the first capital of the Roman province Britannia – we walk to the historic port town of Wivenhoe and finish our walk exploring fields and reedbeds as we gaze out over the mudflats of the River Colne.
Beginning in Colchester we wander through streets and parks passing Colchester Castle and the ruins of St Botolph's Priory along the way. We then join the Wivenhoe Trail leaving the city behind us and follow the meandering path of the River Colne as it heads towards the North Sea.
To help with hydration – also good for sustainability and our bank balance - we can make use of a free water refill point at Colchester train station which is located on platform 2, near the Coffeelink kiosk. There is also a water fountain at the Wivenhoe public toilets in the car park. Bring two or more containers to give you capacity of two litres minimum (or more if you think you will need it) as there will be no opportunity to obtain extra water once the afternoon section of the walk – of 7 miles duration - has begun. Colchester train station and Wivenhoe town will have several options to purchase extra drink and food. Please arrive at the start of the walk already hydrated. There are toilets on the train, at Colchester station on platforms 1, 2, 3 & 4 and Wivenhoe has a number of toilet options including public toilets in the car park.
We will stop for lunch in Wivenhoe after five miles. Please bring a packed lunch as although there are shops, cafes, pubs and public toilets we won’t be able to stop for too long.
After our lunch stop in Wivenhoe – which sits on the banks of the river – our walk becomes a rural one as we rejoin the river footpath which circles back over seven miles towards Wivenhoe where we finish our walk. There will be an opportunity to visit a pub at the end of the walk.
Although the walk is on the flat the paths are frequently uneven or muddy so I advise walking boots with good ankle support (or sturdy walking shoes) and bring your walking poles if you use them.
Drop-out point after five miles at Wivenhoe.
Travel: Take the 09.30 train from London Liverpool Street, arriving Colchester at 10.16.
Please gather outside the south entrance (after platform 4) of Colchester station where we will meet at the Elephant sculpture prior to the start of the walk.
Trains from Wivenhoe back to London Liverpool Street depart at 56 minutes past the hour with a journey time of 1 hour & 10 minutes. Buy a Wivenhoe return ticket.
No booking required.
No dogs allowed due to presence of cattle.
The expected finishing time is an estimate only and will be dependent on a number of factors, such as weather, size of group, the speed at which the group walks and the number of breaks taken.
Colchester Railway Station Please gather outside the south entrance (after platform 4) where we will meet at the Elephant sculpture prior to the start of the walk.
Wivenhoe Railway Station
