Off message. For various reasons (winter lergies, holidays, work, rotten weather etc) I have not been on any walks for a while. Two weeks ago was the first proper local walk, Gill and I, had been on this year – and it was marvellous. Blue skies, sunshi…Read more…
Aythorpe Roding, Woodlard Ash and Hellman’s Cross walk (and the site of the execution of Elizabeth Abbot for witchcraft?)
Gill and I went today for a 5 mile circular walk in North Essex, starting at the ancient church in Aythorpe Roding. There are 8 settlements that take their name from the River Roding, which flows all the way into the Thames and also via Newham.&n…Read more…
Hatfield Heath, Essex Walk
For various reasons I haven’t posted any walks lately. I know some say they enjoy my posts on walking more than the ones on politics or trade unions! To me, my walking or running (very slowly) in the countryside is my “hinterland”. This walk last …Read more…
Howe Street & Great Waltham, Essex Country walk
Gill and I went for this lovely 6.5 mile circular walk on Monday in Essex about 1 hour drive from East London. A fairly easy walk at this time of the year since it was pretty flat, cool, sunny and lush. Essex looking at its best and comparatively…Read more…
Blackmore, Essex – Walk Feb 23
Gill and I went on another Big Essex Skies and Sunshine walk today, starting and finishing in Blackmore. This was a “moderate” 7.41 mile walk only 35 minutes by car from East London (public transport not great but possible). Considerate parking on stre…Read more…
Nazeing Common walk
Off message but on Sunday Gill and I went for a 5 mile circular walk around Nazeing Common in Essex. Only 30 minutes drive from East London (not great for public transport), we have done several versions of this walk but this one was taken from the Ord…Read more…
White Notley and Cressing Walk
It has been a while since I have been for (or posted) a country walk for various reasons. Today Gill and I took advantage of a dry and warmish weather forecast to go for this 7.5 mile circular walk in Essex. A map and description is in this Essex…Read more…
Thaxted Circular Walk (and return to the Church of the “Red Vicar”)
Gill and I returned today to Thaxted in Essex to follow this 6.5 mile circular walk from our old version of the local Pathfinder Guide. We did this walk previously in 2014.
Today was a lovely tramp through largely quiet countryside b…Read more…
Hanningfield Reservoir walk
Off message but recently Gill and I did this short (4 mile) walk starting and finishing at Hanningfield Reservoir in South Essex (near Chelmsford) about 40 minutes drive from Newham (public transport not good). Big Essex Skies.
Check out Essex Pa…Read more…
Greensted Essex Walk – start at “oldest Wooden Church in the World” (& Tolpuddle Martyrs connection)
Today, Gill and I went on a superb autumnal walk, starting off from one of my very favourite locations, Greensted Church near Chipping Ongar, Essex. Which is not only the “oldest Wooden Church in the World” but was also the local church of many of the …Read more…
Newport and Debden Essex “Big Skies” walk
Off message. This is our favourite Essex Pathfinder walk. Only 40 minutes drive from Forest Gate (and accessible by rail). A 6.5 mile circular walk starting from Newport Railway Station. It is quite hilly for Essex and lots of lovely green lanes…Read more…
Benfleet Downs & Hadleigh Marsh Walk
“Off message” but another lovely post lockdown walk with Gill, 53 minutes by car from Forest Gate. This time in Essex, starting off at at the ruined but still very impressive, 13th Century Castle at Hadleigh, which has great views overlooking Ca…Read more…
Happy New Year / Blwyddyn Newydd Dda: Despite Covid, Brexit & Boris – Let’s raise a toast to a better 2021
Photo from the Fyfield village bridge across the River Roding overlooking the 13th Century Mill pond.
Post 2nd Lockdown circular walk around Little Baddow, Essex
Off message and hat tip to “Walking in Essex” by Peter Aylmer but today Gill and I went for a lovely 5 mile walk around Little Baddow, Essex, which is around 45 minutes drive from Forest Gate. The full walk is 10 miles but we split it in two.&nbs…Read more…
Essex Way: Fairstead to Cressing circular walk
Another lovely 8 mile walk along the Essex Way (and back). We started today at Fairstead Church and went to Cressing along this national path then turned back to self guide back to Fairstead along alternative routes.
Fantastic ancient green lanes and b…Read more…
Bowers Marsh Walk & the Battle of Benfleet
Off message but went with Gill on a lovely 5.5 mile walk on Sunday courtesy of the free website EssexWalks.Com.
We started off at the RSPB reserve at Bowers Marsh which has a wonderful sense of “Big Essex Skies” and marsh land solitude despite the dis…Read more…
Essex Way: Epping to Chipping Ongar
Off message. Last year Gill and I finally finished the London Loop walk (which took us 3 years to complete in stages) but on 10 June we started our next long distance walking challenge, the 82 mile (130 km) Essex Way. Which starts in Epping and fi…Read more…
Clavering Walk
Off message, I had my first day on Sunday off from politics and the union for a long time. I downloaded this 8.5 mile circular route from the free website Essexwalks.com and we drove to Clavering near Bishop Stortford in around 45 minutes from Eas…Read more…
While in Dancing Dick’s Lane – White Notley to Witham walk
Definitely off message but today Gill and I went for a linear walk from White Notley station to Witham station (Essex). It was a walk in an old booklet I found on my shelf called “Off the Beaten Track – 20 Rambles in Rural Essex” by Great Eastern Railw…Read more…
Jack Shingfield – Workers Union
Jack Shingfield
Workers Union – Eastern Counties
William John Shingfield (known as Jack) was the son of an agricultural labourer and member of Joseph Arch’s Agricultural labourers union in Suffolk.
Shingfield became a footman, but his skills in or…Read more…