Now I might do the Walk on Sunday. But I can't Guarantee I will. But what I am a little bit confused with. It says from Ingatestone to Battlesbridge. But it says from you have to change Trains from Wickford to Battlesbridge. But do you mean we take the Train from Ingatestone on the way back?

Hi Marc, long time no see...

Yes, the plan is to walk the route the other way round, if you like. So, start in Battlesbridge and finish in Ingatestone. That way we can visit the windmill which only opens at 2 pm.

3 of the faster type of SWC walkers bumped into each other on the train out, and that was all that was getting off at the other end of the journey in Battlesbridge as well. On we went, with all the early arable fields having already been ploughed after harvest, but with the ultra-dry ground it didn't really matter, obvious path or not. The following feared mega-overgrown section was no more: works were just finishing to rip out the hedges and trees, possibly preparing that field for something to be built on (the landowner seems to be the horse farm next door). We then followed mostly shady tracks or shady woods to The Old Windmill pub in South Hanningfield, where we witnessed a veritable army of vintage Triumph cars departing the car park, quite a sight (and smell).

On through the Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Reserve (a lovely wood with views of the water) and at the far end of that a welcome break for us for some hot drinks and bird watching in their cafe/shop.

On along the reservoir shore, where we saw a couple of birds that we thought looked and sounded like plovers (but little do we know), through and along more shady woods and tracks and along a couple of quiet lanes ogling at some rather massive Essex mansions, we eventually reached The Harvard Inn in Stock at 13.45, where walker 4 was waiting, having taken the bus from Billericay.

The weather had been warm to hot, but surprisingly (to me) it didn't feel anywhere near as hot as yesterday, despite us not getting much of a breeze in this essentially flat-ish land. But now we had a table in the garden, in the shade and with a breeze! Life was good, as were food, drink and company.

We convinced the one reluctant walker to join us on walking back for 5 minutes to the windmill for a visit, and what a good decision that was: we got a very detailed and interesting guided tour up the four floors, with the mechanism explained etc. Well worth the time.

On then for the final 9 km, but for walker 4 it wasn't to be. Knee trouble caused an early abandonment of the rest of the walk and a walk back to the bus stop.

One more interesting wood and then that large cattle farm awaited, basically a whole valley taken over for free-range cattle to roam around at will between fields, with the Wid River providing for water, but with footpaths separated by sturdy metal fencing (kilometres of it). We liked it. We also saw some herons on that stretch and a buzzard.

A heavy breeze came up from nowhere and some rather dark clouds moved in, but rain it didn't. We arrived at Ingatestone station midway between the hourly trains, so the "shall we walk on to the pubs and have a half-rushed pint" question was answered in the negative (after some deliberations, admittedly). 18.05 train

4 sunny and hot then milder and with cloud cover

p.s.: the secateurs were with me but did not get used at all, as apart from 'that' hedge having been razed, the brambles and nettles in other places seemed to have lost their lustre in the hot and dry weeks we've had recently

1 on an earlier train, 6 off the scheduled one, one half an hour behind after some delays on his tube line. 8 in sunny initially then overcast weather (there was even about half an hour worth of spittle, after lunch). Lots of changes in the early part of the walk, as a massive cattle farm has been set up, meaning kilometres of new metal fencing (quite beautiful fencing at that). This also means that the footpath in those areas is not grazed anymore though, cue high grass and plenty of nettles...). The cattle herds though were a sight to behold: the largest I've seen in the South East, and some beautiful animals amongst them, in massive fields (plenty of formerly smaller ones knocked together, now even spanning the Wid River).

1 Wednesday Regular had dropped his handheld Garmin device early in the walk and walked back to try to find it, but failed to reappear, so we (erroneously, as it turns out) assumed he had abandoned the walk. [He mad eit to Strock eventually but we had already moved on, so he took buses back home] So 7 reunited at The Bakers Arms in Stock, lunching outside, while the sun was still out in force.

3 then took the Wickford ending, 4 went on to Battlesbridge, where the notorious arable fields at the end weren't that bad today, mostly with a clear ploughed path actually, some pastures though had energy-sapping high grass (and nettles were out in many places). Earlier we had plenty of buttercups and cow parsley and even still remnants of bluebell carpets in three places, now of the palest of blue though.

Quiet scenic walk that gets rougher towards the end, but - on balance - I think everyone enjoyed it.

The long walkers had grabbed some ice creams at the Visitor Centre of the Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Reserve, and then had time at the end for a drink at The Hawk before the 17.30 train.

I would love to go on this one, anyone else can commit and help with map / directions?

Mike

I wouldn't mind going for this walk either but wont be good with directions...

I guess we can manage with the walk info and map?

regards,

SP

Me too I would like to go on this walk today! Do we have the instructions?

The walk instructions are available on PDF.. I took a print out and loaded a map on my mobile... if you are game, maybe we can take the 10 :15 train and meet up at the footbridge entrance at ingatestone ?

SP

I intend going.

Lovely walk. Just five people on the walk. There did not appear to be any probs with the instructions.

Bakers Arms in Stock had excellent food, beer and service. End point at Wickford mundane with the Swan serving Doom Bar. No tea shops appeared to be open on this Sunday walk at Wickford. Gavin

5 on the walk

n=Six on this walk, two having driven, one of those coming from as far away as Ramsgate. Initial murk and drizzle gave way slowly to hints of sun only to become overcast again in the afternoon .

We didn't bother to book at the pub as the posting described it as being reached fairly early in this walk. That's true of the full route. On the shorter variation specified to allow for winter darkness, the stop is only just short of the half way point. Perhaps a little slowed by the inevitable mud, we arrived at about 1pm, by which time the place was commendably full of locals. The restaurant part was booked solid, but we were made welcome at a table by the bar. Prices were reasonable for good sized portions of food that would be of noticeably above average quality for those that like their food strongly salted.

Tea was taken in a branch of Costa Coffee in Wickford, allowing for a return on the 1710 train.

I don't think any of us would place this walk in our SWC Hall of Fame, but it's a decent and varied route only a short distance out of London.

6