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Wivenhoe Circular Walk

2 circular walks on either side of the Colne estuary. **check ferry times in advance**

Circular Easy Essex Estuary

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Option Post # Weather
Sat, 16-Jul-22 Wivenhoe Circular Walk - Postponed from 02 July to a non-strike day - a circular walk on both sides of the River Colne, linked by a ferry crossing [hopefully sea breezes] 11 hot sunny
Sat, 14-Aug-21 Wivenhoe Circular - a figure of eight quirky walk, with legs either side of the River Colne, connected by a ferry 25 overcast at first turning to sunny after lunch
Sun, 24-Sep-17 Wivenhoe Circular
Sat, 24-Jun-17 Wivenhoe Circular 7
Sun, 24-Jul-16 1 – Ferry across the River Colne
Sat, 20-Jun-15 Saturday First Walk 9.2 miles with the added Rowhedge Regata
Sun, 17-May-15 Sunday First Walk - Essex riverside and ferry 8
Sun, 27-Jul-14 Wivenhoe Circular Walk 0
Sat, 03-May-14 Wivenhoe Circular Walk 16
Sat, 27-Jul-13 Wivenhoe Circular Walk 12
Sat, 17-Sep-11 Wivenhoe Circular Walk
Sun, 12-Sep-10 Wivenhoe Circular Walk
Sat, 31-Jul-10 Wivenhoe Circular Walk
Sat, 25-Jul-09 Wivenhoe Circular Walk
Sat, 23-Aug-08 Wivenhoe Circular Walk
Sat, 28-Jul-07 Wivenhoe Circular Walk
Sun, 17-Jun-07 Wivenhoe Circular Walk

Saturday 16-Jul-22

Marcus
Book 1 Walk 30 - Wivenhoe Circular Walk

Length: 14.8 km (9.2 mile)
Toughness: 2 out of 10
London Liverpool Street: 09-18 hrs Greater Anglia service to Clacton-on-Sea Stratford 09-25 hrs
Arrive Wivenhoe: 10-23 hrs
Wivenhoe Ferry operating times today: 13-00 hrs until 16-30 hrs
Return
Direct service at 24 mins past the hour
Service changing at Colchester at 32 mins past the hour
Departure times from London have to link in with the Wivenhoe Ferry operating times, in order that both legs of the walk can be walked and lunch taken on one or the other sides of the River. Today, the ferry times suggest a slightly early start from London and early(ish) arrival in Wivenhoe, to allow the Wivenhoe loop of the walk be taken first, with time for lunch in Wivenhoe before taking the ferry across the River Colne to Rowhedge.
The Wivenhoe leg sets out alongside the River on a raised - and exposed - path. It then heads inland and over fields back to Wivenhoe. You should be back in the village circa 12-15 pm. The pub on the riverfront, The Rose & Crown, is OK, but the pub back uphill away from the front in the village (five minutes walk) The Greyhound is better. Other luncheon options are noted in the Walk Directions. Picnickers enjoy their sandwiches on the riverfront, opposite the Rose & Crown pub.
After lunch, you take the small ferry (fee £ 1-50 each way- cash only) over to Rowhedge, to undertake the Rowhedge loop of the walk - and very nice it is, too, a mixture of woods and open countryside, and latterly beside the wide river estuary before you walk through a new housing development on your return to Rowhedge. There are two good pubs in the village for post walk refreshments - but do please allow plenty of time to catch one of the last ferries back to Wivenhoe.
T=1.30
Walk Directions are here: L=1.30
  • Sun, 17-Jul-22

    11 on this walk in hot sunny weather (plus a family of four following the same route independently in slower time). There was just the right amount of shade and breeze off the water to make this an excellent walk for a day when the thermometer crept steadily upwards. I got a bit behind and initially lost the others at lunchtime but after a tour of Wivenhoe, found 4 who had avoided the Rose and Crown after a previous bad experience, and tried the Greyhound where the food seemed very satisfactory and the garden surprisingly quiet for a Saturday. I think 5 lunched at the Black Buoy which also got a thumbs up. We made a staggered restart, spreading out over 3 ferries to Rowhedge. There were lots of people waiting to get back so a few trips were needed to get everyone back to Wivenhoe in time to experience some confusion at the station as there were signs and announcements telling us we needed to change trains at "Colchester North" (apparently the old name for Colchester main stn). Cows on the line. But we weren't significantly held up.

    Many thanks for persevering with posting this walk Marcus, I'd never managed to do it before and found it most enjoyable

Saturday 14-Aug-21

Marcus
Book 1, Walk 30 - Wivenhoe Circular

Length: 14.8 kms (9.2 miles)
Toughness: 2 out of 10
London Liverpool Street: 10-18 hrs Greater Anglia service to Clacton-on-Sea Stratford: 10-25 hrs
Arrive Wivenhoe: 11-23 hrs
Return: 24 mins past the hour direct service - and 32 mins past the hour changing at Colchester
Wivenhoe ferry times today: 14-45 hrs to 18-15 hrs
This walk hasn't had an outing for four years, so perhaps it's time to dust it off and give it a go. Its infrequent posting can be explained by the difficulty in linking ferry and tide times with train times - but today the key elements seem to work - so do come along !
We start today with the Wivenhoe leg of the walk, which starts along the sea wall path before heading inland and over fields before returning to the town, for lunch. The Rose and Crown is your pub option. You now take the Wivenhoe Ferry to the Rowhedge side of the River, for the second leg of the walk, which includes woods, open fields and a section beside the river. You will have plenty of time to fit in this leg and stop for tea in Rowhedge before you take the ferry back to Wivenhoe.
This walk will be new to many of you - so if you fancy something different and a bit quirky - do join me.
T=1.30
Walk Directions are here: L=1.30
  • Anonymous
    Wed, 11-Aug-21

    I and another and possibly another are aiming to do just the morning leg of this walk so cutting it to an easy walk.

    7 k for the morning leg then lunch and then on the ferry for a cup of tea (with dessert?) on the far side and then back on the ferry and back to the station

    If anybody is interested ?

    Bridie

  • Anonymous
    Fri, 13-Aug-21

    I might be interested in the shorter option

    Jane

  • Sat, 14-Aug-21

    Planning to join for the full walk, hope to see some other walkers later.

  • Sun, 15-Aug-21

    A bumper crop of SWC walkers today ! This walk does not usually attract many, but today we mustered at least 25, maybe more, as some early and late starters appeared at various times during the day. As for the weather, it was overcast at first turning to sunny after lunch . The temperature was ideal for this pseudo-seaside quirky walk, enhanced by a breeeze off the river: and lovely skies all day.

    We set off as planned on the Wivenhoe loop, initially along the riverside path before heading inland to return over fields to the town. The water meadows we crossed just before we rejoined the raised riverside path were ablaze with ragwort.

    10 of us planned to take lunch at the Rose & Crown pub in Wivenhoe, but this proved to be both a challenge and a lesson in patience - for the pub and our expectant diners. The pub's chef had walked out, we believe that morning, leaving the management to have a go at cooking. On learning of the likely delay cum wait, 6 decided to stay as they nursed their beers. Some were served within thirty minutes, the last's meal arrived after a two hour wait! As there was plenty of time to relax before the ferry start-up time, the delay did not matter, but well done the walkers for their patience - and to the pub's manager for his amateur effort. But that said, the grub when it arrived looked unappetising and pretty awful - but I guess if you have waited for two hours you are not too picky !

    Picnickers in the meantime enjoyed a drink from the pub and sat outdoors passing the time until the ferry started up. Most of us took the ferry in relays (the ferry's capacity is ten) with a few opting not to cross the river and instead explore the many delights in Wivenhoe before returning home for "an early bath". A couple might have spent time relaxing in Rowhedge (without doing the walk) before taking the ferry back to Wivenhoe. Of my ferry load, all bar me followed the chap in front with a hand-held gizmo, unintentionally doing the walk "backwards" ! Yours truly passed them mid-route - they were all enjoying their walk ! Later ferry loads did the Rowhedge leg "proper way round". In the sunshine this leg was lovely: the historic church in Fingringhoe was open and many of us took a peek inside. The redevelopment of the extensive old warehouse site on the outskirts of Rowhedge into luxury housing has greatly improved the final stretch of this walk before it re-enters the town and back to the ferry. Earlier returnees were in time to catch the 17-24 hrs train, but most of us opted to take the 18-24 hrs train, leaving time for an unhurried drink in the comfy garden of the Greyhound pub (recommended in future for luncheon). Trains home were delayed due to problems with overhead power lines, and we had to change trains at Colchester, but fears of the next train to London being over-crowded were unfounded - we all found seats. Back in London the Pingdemic was being used as an excuse for delays on the underground, but hopefully all eventually got home safely after what turned out to be a long day.

    This walk was new to most SWC walkers today, and I hope they enjoyed this walk with a difference, be it considered quirky or whatever. We will try not to wait another four years before we give it another go.

Sunday 24-Sep-17

Mr M Tiger
Mr M Tiger
Wivenhoe Circular Book 1 walk 30
14.8km (9.2 miles)
Difficulty 2/10

An unusual walk along the mudflats and salt-marshes of the River Colne. The afternoon is good for birds and there is an interesting church at Fingringhoe.
The walk is in two halves connected by a ferry across the Colne and can only be completed when tides make the ferry times favourable. Today is such a day. Callooh Callay!
The ferry starts at 13.30 and stops at 17:00 so here’s the plan. Do the Wivenhoe loop first (takes about two hours) then cross over for the Rowhedge one (also takes two hours).
Trains
09:32 Clacton-on-Sea train from Liverpool Street arriving Wivenhoe at 10:47
Trains return from Wivenhoe at xx:56
The ferry costs £1 each way and is operated by volunteers so be nice to them. When crossing, double-check when the last returns are and plan accordingly. If you do miss the last ferry, you can either get a 66 bus to Colchester Station at approx xx:07 (may come a few minutes early) from Shipyard Corner (near jct of Head St and Chapel St:), or a taxi there. There are 2 trains an hour from Colchester.
Lunch
You could have lunch either side.
Faster walkers with a wait for the first ferry could visit the Rose & Crown before crossing (tel. 01206-826371). This would allow more time on the other side.
However, if you have lunch after the ferry you can pretend you're in France. There should just be time at the suggested stop, the The Anchor (tel. 01206-728382) on Rowhedge High Street (80 metres from the jetty) serving food all afternoon. Allow a minimum 2 hours walking time to catch the last ferry back.
Ye Olde Albion (tel. 01206-728972), a former CAMRA pub of the year, at Rowhedge Quay prides itself on being a proper old fashioned boozer. It does not serve food but welcomes walkers and allows them to eat sandwiches inside or out – but do please buy a drink.
Tea
Several options on the Wivenhoe side.
The Rose & Crown, near the quay,
The Greyhound (tel. 01206-825573) on the High Street, near the start of the walk.
The Black Buoy (tel. 01206-822425) on East Street.
The Station Hotel (tel. 01206-822991) next to Wivenhoe railway station.
Walk directions: l=1.30
T=1.30
  • Fri, 06-Oct-17

    As I recently took the trouble to book check and update the walk directions, getting drenched in a storm in the process, it would be nice if one of you who ventured out on this walk were to post the walk numbers.

    And did the new directions work ?

    What was the weather like ?

    Was the ferry running ?

Saturday 24-Jun-17

PeteG

This walk is made up of two loops, one on the Wivenhoe side of the river Colne and one on the Rowhedge side. However, there is no bridge - you need to take a ferry. This means the full walk is only possible at weekends and on bank holiday Mondays between Easter and the middle of October when the ferry at Wivenhoe is working. To add to the attraction, there is a regatta this weekend.
For today's outing, you are taking the ferry on arrival and doing the Rowhedge leg first, remembering to get the ferry back to do the Wivenhoe section. It is recommended that you use the on-line version of the walk.

Length: 9.2 miles (14.8km) 2 out of 10

Trains: Get the Liverpool Street Station 1018 Clacton train (Stratford 1025), arr Wivenhoe 1123 which should also catch the ferry. Return direct trains are xx23, or changing at xx32.

There is also an earlier indirect train, the 1000 Norwich train arr Colchester 1046, changing for the 1056 Wivenhoe train (platform 5) arriving 1115. The only earlier train for the ferry start is the 0918 arriving 1023.

Ferry: The ferry starts running at 1115 taking 10 minutes to make the crossing. This should mean that you catch a ferry at approx 1135. It takes 10 people on a first come first served basis. The Ferry finishes at 1445, and you should establish what time you need to catch the return trip. Allow 1h40 hours for walking the Rowhedge leg.
T=1.30

Lunch:
On the Wivenhoe side, the suggested lunch place is the Rose & Crown pub (tel. 01206-826371) on The Quay, serving food 10.30 to 9pm.

On the Rowhedge side' the suggested lunch place is The Anchor pub (tel. 01206-728382 on the High Street (80 metres from the ferry’s jetty), serving food from midday to 9.30pm.

Ye Olde Albion pub (tel. 01206-728972) at Rowhedge Quay does not serve food but welcomes walkers and allows them to eat sandwiches inside or outside – but do please buy a drink. This Free House is a watering hole for lovers of real ale.


  • Mon, 26-Jun-17

    In my opinion the Wivenhoe loop is just the better of the two loops which make up the highly recommended Wivenhoe Circular. The Rowhedge loop has an historically interesting church and it's also very pretty down by the Roman River. However, the spectacular view walking down the River Colne brings pleasure to the soul. 7 on this walk. Lastly, it was a real pleasure to be able to eat our sandwiches openly in a pub garden. The publican proudly announced to us, as we entered his pub, that this is an old fashioned drinking pub and consequently there was no food served here.

Sunday 24-Jul-16

Sean
Book 1 Walk 30 – Wivenhoe Circular
Length: 14.8 km (9.2 miles). Toughness: 2/10

10:32 Clacton-on-Sea train from Liverpool Street (Stratford 10:39), arriving Wivenhoe at 11:46.

Return trains are hourly at 56 minutes past.

This interesting and unusual Essex walk gets fewer club outings than most because there aren't too many summer weekends when the ferry runs at a convenient time. This Sunday it operates between 2pm & 5.30pm, which is ideal for doing the walk as written: the Wivenhoe side first, then crossing the river in the afternoon for the Rowhedge side. Each leg should take less than two hours.

You should have time for lunch in Wivenhoe before catching the ferry, but there are pubs on both sides of the river so if you're running late you can cross over first. The helpful volunteers who run the ferry are aware of these club walks and will doubtless remind you of the need to get back for the return crossing before it stops at 5.30pm. The pubs in Wivenhoe look to be the best option for some post-walk refreshment, unless you can find some hitherto undiscovered tea rooms.

You'll need to bring Book 1 or print the directions from the Walk 30 page. There's been some housing development in Wivenhoe so the route out of the town may be slightly different from that described, but this is not a difficult walk to follow. T=1.30
  • Sat, 23-Jul-16

    If you go on the Ferry. I Think it was a £1 there. And a £1 back if I remember rightly.

Saturday 20-Jun-15

Bridie

Book 1 Walk 30 : Wivenhoe Circular
with Rowhedge Regata http://www.rowhedge-regatta.co.uk/ floated as a little extra
14.8km (9.2 miles)
2 out of 10
Explorer 184 or Landranger 168
https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_30/map.shtml

Take the 10.18 out of Liverpool St arriving Wivenhoe at 11.23
Trains back at XX.23 direct or XX.32 with a change
The ferry starts at 13.30 and finishes at 17.00 but you best check this on the day as with the Regata on it may have changed and there was a recent error in the printing of the timetable http://www.rowhoeferry.co.uk/p/fares.html

I post this walk at the suggestion of one of the walk posters as it is Rowhedge Regatta http://www.rowhedge-regatta.co.uk/ on this Saturday (Wivenhoe's was last Saturday apparently) so you may wish to skip one of the loops in the walk to watch the boats and presumably the stalls and general village fete atmosphere or you may choose to do both halves of the walks but also enjoy the eye candy of the boats on the water.

You will be able to do the Wivenhoe leg of the walk first before catching the ferry.
The fare per passenger is £1.50 per trip which is less than the ferry’s upkeep cost and the ferry relies on donations to keep it going.

Allow at least two hours for the Rowhedge leg and leave plenty of time to get back to the ferry
before the last crossing back to Wivenhoe. If you miss the ferry back, you could catch a bus or a
taxi into Colchester.


This walk is made up of two loops, one on the Wivenhoe side of the river Colne and one on the
Rowhedge side. However, there is no bridge - you need to take a ferry. This means the full walk is
only possible at weekends and on bank holiday Mondays between Easter and the middle of October
when the ferry at Wivenhoe is working (although you might be lucky enough to thumb a lift across
from a boat at other times). It is well worth making the extra effort to fit in this unusual walk.

Each part of the walk is round figures 7km, so allow 2 hours for each.

Wivenhoe, perhaps because of its proximity to the University of Essex, is a remarkable village
bursting with community spirit, with volunteers out there constantly manning the ferry, re-roofing
the boat house or washing down the slipways. There are always half a dozen dinghies being made
by amateurs in the riverside’s Nottage Maritime Institute. From the church and town, the morning’s
walk is along the mudflats of the River Colne past zones of former dereliction (now in the course of
regeneration through new housing), past a £14.5 million flood surge barrier, and past sand-
extraction works and lakes created in old extraction craters. Returning to Wivenhoe, catch the ferry
over to the village of Rowhedge.

Rowhedge must be the only village in the UK where swans frequently block the main high street.
But having circumvented this fearsome obstacle, you go via the church into a wood controlled by
the Ministry of Defence and used on occasions as a firing range. The last part of the return journey
is the highlight of the day: passing the lovely Norman Church of St Andrew in Fingringhoe, with its
chequerboard design of banded flint, to the former Fingringhoe Mill and on along the John
Brunning Walk – mudflats and saltmarshes beside Roman River and a haven for heron, redshank,
lapwing, shelduck, kestrels and barn owls.

Lunch
On the Wivenhoe side
You should arrive at the suggested lunch which is the Rose & Crown pub (tel. 01206-826371) on
The Quay at about 13.10 It serves food from midday to 7 pm
The ferry should start at 13.30
The ferry should finish at 17.00
Best to check when you go over

Tea
You have several options for tea back on the Wivenhoe side of the river:
The Rose & Crown pub.
The Tudor Tea Rooms on the High Street (closed on Sundays).
The Greyhound pub (tel. 01206-825573) on the High Street, near the start of the walk, now open on
Sundays, and serves “Black Sheep” beer.
The Black Buoy pub (tel. 01206-822425) on East Street.
The Station pub (tel. 01206-822991) next to Wivenhoe railway station.
The Nottage Maritime Institute sometimes serves tea and cakes in the afternoon, up to 5 pm.

If you have time for tea on the Rowhedge side, your options are The Anchor pub or Ye Olde Albion
pub.

More info here
https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_30/index.shtml
  • KathyH
    Mon, 22-Jun-15

    only 3 walkers, weather gloomy and rather oppressive all day with a sudden sharp shower after lunch. We all stayed on the Wivenhoe side as the ferry seemed extremely busy with long queues. Regatta was quite fun to watch and Rose and Crown was fine for lunch.

Sunday 17-May-15

Chris L
Book 1 Walk 30 – Wivenhoe Circular
Length: 14.8km (9.2 miles) Toughness: 2/10

09:32 Clacton-on-Sea train from Liverpool Street (Stratford 09:39) arriving at Wivenhoe at 10:53.

Return trains from Wivenhoe are at xx.57 (journey time 1 hour 17 mins).

This walk is made up of two loops – one on the Wivenhoe side of the tidal River Colne, and one on the Rowhedge side, linked by a ferry that operates only during the period around high tide. Today high tide is at 12:22 and the ferry will run from 10:15 to 14:45. This means that you’ll need to head straight for the ferry on arrival at Wivenhoe and do the Rowhedge side first before crossing back for the Wivenhoe loop.

If you complete the Rowhedge loop in a couple of hours, you’ll have time for lunch at The Anchor pub (01206 728382) in Rowhedge, just yards from the ferry’s jetty. But make sure you don’t miss the last ferry! On the Wivenhoe side the recommended lunch pub is the Rose & Crown (01206 826371) on The Quay.

The afternoon walk is along the mudflats of the River Colne, and there are several options for tea in Wivenhoe. These, together with the walk directions, can be found here.
  • Fri, 22-May-15

    8 The little Wivenhoe ferry boat holds 10 passengers so we were all able to cross the river together. But it was disconcerting to discover that the ferry would cease to operate an hour earlier than advertised, owing to a misprint in the timetable. That put paid to plans for a pub lunch on the Rowhedge side, and resulted for some in an hour's wait for food at the busy Rose & Crown on Wivenhoe quayside. And 45 minutes after first ordering, the pub announced that roast dinners had run out so one walker had to re-order. After a pleasant afternoon section along the river, which one walker opted out of, most took tea in the Tudor Tea Rooms while one enjoyed an excellent, and cheaper, tea in the local church.