Our group offers walks which are accessible by public transport and take place throughout the South East of England plus a summer holiday and a New Year break
Thomas G.
A moderate to brisk paced and easy 21km/13.1mile linear walk to Battlebridge Station - about 5 hours net walking - led by Thomas G joint with Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Group. Drop-out possible (after 8.8km/5.5m) for short-cut back to Wickford - bus from lunch pub at 14.29.
Grassy fields, quiet lanes, a smattering of woods, Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Reserve, the tidal River Crouch and Battlesbridge Antiques Centre..
Route: residential roads and pastures to Downham Hall, tracks past De Beauvoir House and up into Downham, through Crowsheath Community Woodland to the Hanningfield Reservoir, through the Visitor Centre and the Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Reserve to lunch stop in South Hanningfield (Cafe on the Water or The Old Windmill), through pastures and along woods to East Hanningfield, then tracks, pastures, wooded strips and hillocks with views to Rettendon, via Marks' Farm and the Saffron Trail to the River Crouch and along it into Battlesbridge with its Antiques Centre (open to 17.00) and a couple of cafés (and a pub by the station).
Map: E175, L167/168/178
Check trains the day before. Buy off-peak day return to Battlebridge.
Wickford Station (train from Liverpool Street at 10:13, calling at Stratford at 10:20 and Shenfield at 10:39 and arriving at Wickford at 10:51)
Battlebridge Station (Return trains (changing at Wickford) 16:38/17:28/18:19 - about 50 minutes to Liverpool Street)
