Just been in this walk today and I'm afraid it was not good. I missed the comment about the boggy field after heavy rain early in the walk - its more than that; its marshland and pretty impassable, but the alternative route will solve that. But the worst aspect which apprears to have no solution is the traversing of fields from Hunsdon Lodge Farm to Battles Wood and after Gliston Park (initially good) down to Fidler Brook. The farmer is clearly taking the piss - fields plowed and sown with wheat and no regard for the paths (clearly indicated) creating a muddy difficult suface. I suggest, unless the leader knows workarounds, don't do it!

Thanks for your comment.

I definitely intend going and know the field early on that you refer to and may find an alternative route on the day. I assume that the field after Hunston Lodge Farm is recently ploughed and if so then the farmer is not required to make good the path for two weeks. The weather is fair this Saturday plus a late start. Happy with that.

Muddy fields in Essex clay!! What else is new? I intend going and will be wearing my Berghaus Superlight high cuff boots with special soles that allow the mud to drop off. The walk notes are quite clear about the ploughed fields hazard and can be expected in any rural area during the Autumn planting of crops.

Definitely interested in the gourmet pub lunch even if my boots have to be left at the front door !! Looking forward to catching up with DAC.

But thanks for the tip off.

Jayne also coming and hoping the pace will be moderate. Also interested in the gourmet food menu.

5 of us did this walk on November 9 with no problems ref crops mud etc. just the marshland area which is always waterlogged and needs high cuff boots.

We dined at the Fox and Hounds having booked the last table in the bar area which they call the shop. The menu is extremely expensive now with no set lunch options sadly. The restaurant is not available at lunchtimes.

We avoided the Crown having read reports of no food and noisy locals but it looked nice with a garden suitable for summer dining.

There were no problems with this walk and it’s a shame that walkers might have been put off by your comments. All is

quite clear in the instructions.

as per previous comments: 5 misty but dry

Two Saturday walks that are just 8 miles? Surely most of us want a choice of more demanding fare? What about two proper walks and one shorty? Thank you to all schedulers.

How lovely to have a choice of 2 winter-length walks!

Hear hear MG good to have a choice between the shorter walks,and they are nice walks, thanks

Surely, if anyone wants extension, there should not be a problem for this walk and mud free!!

✓

Lovely weather with hazy sunshine for this easy walk with wide open vistas of Essex clay fields and mud free bridleways. Only 3 of us but as the walk author is rarely seen by me these days an opportunity to catch up on SWC gossip and reminisces of Nicholas Alberry was afforded. The high spot was the Fox and Hounds Gastropub In Hunsdon whose Michelin Bib and Hardens menu did not disappoint and we enjoyed an elegant contemporary dining room free from the crowds in the bar area. Later the 360 degree vistas of recently ploughed fields were encircled by single engine light aircraft. Very 1917. Shame that only 3 turned out for this quick and cheap journey 1 stop only from Tottenham Hale in the Stanstead Express Some of us cannot manage long distance walks leaving the Metropolitan walkers and Capital walkers to slog through their 14 miles of mud at this time of year. It’s also nice to get home at a sensible time to enjoy an evening out so we caught a 5pm train having lingered over a long lunch natter and noggin in true old style SWC comfort and conversation. Thank you DAC more shorter walks please. Marion

3

hazy sunshine

Mv'd from New comments.

"Lovely weather with hazy sunshine for this easy walk with wide open vistas of Essex clay fields and mud free bridleways. Only 3 of us but as the walk author is rarely seen by me these days an opportunity to catch up on SWC gossip and reminisces of Nicholas Alberry was afforded. The high spot was the Fox and Hounds Gastropub In Hunsdon whose Michelin Bib and Hardens menu did not disappoint and we enjoyed an elegant contemporary dining room free from the crowds in the bar area. Later the 360 degree vistas of recently ploughed fields were encircled by single engine light aircraft. Very 1917. Shame that only 3 turned out for this quick and cheap journey 1 stop only from Tottenham Hale in the Stanstead Express Some of us cannot manage long distance walks leaving the Metropolitan walkers and Capital walkers to slog through their 14 miles of mud at this time of year. It’s also nice to get home at a sensible time to enjoy an evening out so we caught a 5pm train having lingered over a long lunch natter and noggin in true old style SWC comfort and conversation. Thank you DAC more shorter walks please. Marion"

I had not been pn this walk since 2008 and maybe no more as area is down for new housing development - ref. current issues under web walk notes, including 8,500 new homes in the Gilston area.

10 on this walk of big skies and big flat fields with thankfully clear paths with only a bit of claggy mud. Right at the start there was a slick and sloping narrow path which we all managed to negotiate without any spills albeit in a somewhat ungainly manner. Weather mild ,-cloudy-with-sunny-periods. Blackthorn and cherry blossom out but will it survive the windy weather of the next 24 hours?

Excellent lunch at the Fox and Hounds with friendly and efficient staff and it was good to see family groups enjoying their Sunday meals although the pub was far from full. The Crown a bit further on is an adequate alternative although it helps if you are a Sky Sports fan.

More big fields after lunch and we watched an almost impossibly fragile looking plane take off from a tiny airfield. We got back to Harlow quite early and 3 set off for the town centre for refreshments while the rest of us caught trains home.

This is hardly an aesthetically classic walk but makes a pleasant outing through attractive villages. Worth noting too is that it is stile-free. A good day in the company of some older regulars (or should that be lags (;>) )

Have led this for The Ramblers last winter and can recommend it. Booking advised for the gastropub, and that alone is worth the walk.

Brrrrrrrrrrrr with Autumn sun most of the day on this pleasant Essex walk. 11 set of from Harlow Town Station towards Eastwick and on to Hunsdon for lunch. The Crown was not serving food, so many visited the Fox and Hounds. An expensive gastropub, however the food was excellent with a roaring fire and friendly staff. The starters were well sized too. An interesting afternoon section passing Hunsdon airfield and thev gothic styled Gilston Park House and then finally along the River Stort to return to Harlow. A great day out with one walker mischievously complaining about the low level of road noise and lack of industrial estates. Well it is Essex!

Hertfordshire! Just the start is in Essex...

Errata

Anonymous, thank you for pointing out the County faux pas in my first post. My excuse was spotting pylons and land fill at the beginning of the walk.

In another clanger, Bridie informs me numbers were in fact 14

So it's along to Specsavers toute suite for me!

In Hunsdon a few of us went to the Crown hoping for a quick snack, but their chef hadn't turned up so the Fox & Hounds gained some extra custom. Hopefully this was just a one-off as it's always helpful when a village offers a choice of lunchtime pubs.

The walk has some nice stretches and it's a shame that the footpaths across large farm fields aren't marked out. To avoid wading through lots of heavy sticky mud you have to follow the author's suggested detours around field edges, although yesterday there was no such escape across one huge field of wet crops after the airfield.

The state of the paths was disappointing because we passed several information panels exhorting walkers, cyclists and others to use the rights of way in this area: maybe someone should tell the farmers. The arctic wind had clearly deterred most locals from following this well-meaning advice, but we did stop for a chat with one who gave us a potted history of the striking Gilston Park House, now converted into what sounded like very desirable luxury flats (at least until the planned Harlow North development of 10,000 new homes goes ahead).

The final stretch alongside the River Stort was attractive and if I'd had more time I would have liked to explore the Honeymead Marsh Conservation Area, or even ventured along the river in the opposite direction. Harlow Mill could in fact be an alternative destination, although less convenient if only because fewer trains stop there.