Ingatestone to Battlesbridge Walk

24.8 km (15.4 mi), with 180/228m ascent/descent. For a shorter walk see below Walk Options.

This rewarding Essex walk avoids major roads and all remnants of industry and suburbia to initially traverse through fields in the Wid Valley and follow the Wid itself for a while, while passing through the Fristling Hall estate, one of the largest – but quite scenic – cattle farms in the country (with sturdy black metal fences separating humans from beasts), before proceeding through a delightful wood to lunch in Stock.
From there, several tree-lined tracks are walked along and some charming woods (some of them good bluebell woods) and the Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Discovery Centre with its Nature Reserve are passed through, before a late lunch/early tea stop in South Hanningfield is reached.
From there the route descends through some fields-with-views and more woods into the Crouch Valley to the finish in Battlesbridge, on a good day with fine far vistas beyond the Thames Valley to the North Downs.

Notes: In high summer, the fenced paths through the Fristling Hall Estate and some others towards the end of the walk can be encroached by nettles and brambles. After rain, the 1.2 kilometres of arable field crossings near the end (along clear paths) will be challenging.

Morning Shortcut (cuts 3.5 km): avoids the fenced paths along the Wid River and the tracks through the Fristling Hall estate to ascend along a choice of two routes into Stock (one using tracks and lanes, the other field boundaries and a field crossing).
Bus Shortcuts:
- Bus Line 300 (Chelmsford – Basildon) goes from the early lunch location Stock to Billericay Station (every 20 mins Mon-Sat, every 30 mins Sun);
- Bus Lines 13/13A from the late lunch/early tea pub in South Hanningfield go to Wickford Station (about every two hours Mon-Sat).
Alternative Ending : From Crowsheath Community Woodland, you can finish in Wickford, reversing the start of SWC Walk 157 Wickford to Battlesbridge: 18.8 km (11.7 mi) with 116m ascent (2/10).

Ingatestone Station, map reference TQ 649991, is 9 km south west of Chelmsford and 55m above sea level. Battlesbridge Station, map reference TQ 776948, is 13 km south east of Ingatestone and 8m above sea level. Wickford Station, map reference TQ 744936, is 11 km south east of Ingatestone and 13m above sea level. All three are in Essex. Ingatestone is on the Great Eastern Main Line from Liverpool Street to Norwich (half-hourly service, hourly on Sundays), with a journey time of 27 or 28 minutes. Battlesbridge is on the single-track Crouch Valley branch line from Wickford to Southminster, which has at least one train an hour Monday to Friday, one every 40 minutes Saturday, and hourly trains on Sunday (journey time from 47 to 58 minutes).

Saturday Walkers’ Club: Take the train closest to 10.15 hours if intending to eat in Stock, 1/3 into the full walk; or the train closest to 9.15 hours if intending to eat in South Hanningfield 2/3 into the full walk.

The Bakers Arms Common Road, Stock, Essex, CM4 9NF (01277 840 423). The Bakers Arms is located 8.9 km (5.5 mi) into the walk.
The Hoop High Street, Stock, Essex CM4 9BD (01277 841 137). The Hoop is located 9.0 km (5.5 mi) into the walk.
Dandelion & Burdock Kitchen & Lounge 16 The Square, Stock, Essex CM4 9LH (01277 829 100). D & B is located 9.2 km (5.7 mi) into the walk.
The Bear Inn 16 The Square, Stock, Essex CM4 9LH (01277 829 100). The Bear is located 9.2 km (5.7 mi) into the walk.
The Harvard Inn High Street, Stock, Essex CM4 9BJ (01277 840 008). The Harvard is located 9.2 km (5.7 mi) into the walk.
The Old Windmill South Hanningfield Road, South Hanningfield, Essex, CM3 8HT (01268 712 280). Located 17.6 km (10.9 mi) into the walk.

Several options on both the Battlesbridge and Wickford Endings. For details see the pdf.

After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks!

You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Aug-23 Thomas G