Hadleigh to Stratford Legacy Walk
The Hadleigh to Stratford (H2S) walk is a 75 mile long distance trail that was created as a legacy to the 2012 London Olympics. The walk connects the mountain biking centre in Hadleigh Country Park to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.
Hadleigh to Stratford Legacy Walk – Introduction from Teresa
Over the next two programmes, I am proposing to lead the Hadleigh to Stratford Legacy Walk. This 75-mile route commemorates the 2012 Olympic Games, connecting these two sites. Familiar paths are incorporated including The Saffron Trail, St Peter’s Way and Essex Way, which many members will have completed in their entirety. I have used public transport. However, Fryerning (Mill Green), which is where those who devised the walk suggest that day three ends and day four begins, does not appear to be on a bus route. Therefore, I am intending to walk on a little further to Blackmore, where a bus can be caught to Chelmsford. On some sections, it is possible for those who wish to do a half day walk to catch a bus back to the city centre.
Section 1 – Saturday, 11 May, Leigh-on-Sea Station to Hockley Woods (9.25 miles)
Catch No 70 bus at 8.09 am from Braintree bus park to Chelmsford bus station. Catch No 3 bus (stand 1) at 9.20 am to Leigh-on-Sea. Anticipated arrival time 10.30 am. Alight near shops and turn right down Belton Way. The walk will commence at 10.45 am at the top of the steps leading from the station. Alternatively, drive to Hockley Woods (free parking on Saturdays) then cross the road to catch No 7 bus at 9.03 am to Southend-on-Sea Travel Centre and transfer to No 26 bus to reach Leigh-on-Sea. The length of journey time on buses Nos 7 and 26 is approximately 49 and 21 minutes respectively. These services operate at 30-minute intervals. After the walk, those who have used public transport from Braintree or Chelmsford will catch a bus to Rayleigh station to connect with No 3 or X30 service to the city.
Section 2 – Saturday, 1 June, Hockley Woods to East Hanningfield (12 miles)
Catch No 70 bus at 8.09 am from Braintree bus park to Chelmsford bus station. Catch No 3 bus (stand 1) at 9.20 am to Rayleigh station. Anticipated arrival time 10.02 am, hopefully, able to connect with 10.05 am No 7 bus to Hockley Woods to enable walk to commence at 10.30 am. However, if we have to wait for the next bus, walk will commence at 11.00 am. Alternatively, drive to East Hanningfield (free car park) then catch No 3 bus at 9.39 am to Rayleigh station. Wait at stop opposite the road to the school. The halfway point of today’s walk is Battlesbridge from where one may catch No 3 bus to the city after completing 5.5 miles. This bus operates every 2 hours. I envisage that we will be able to catch the 4.31 pm from East Hanningfield back to Chelmsford. The last bus is at 6.31 pm.
Section 3 – Saturday, 13 July, East Hanningfield to Blackmore (approx. 14.25 miles)
Catch No 70 bus at 8.09 am from Braintree bus park to Chelmsford bus station. Catch No 3 bus (stand 1) at 9.20 am to East Hanningfield. Anticipated arrival time 9.39 am hence walk will commence at 9.45 am. For shorter walk it is possible to catch No 100 bus from Stock to Chelmsford after approximately 6.25 miles. This bus service is 2-hourly. I envisage that we would catch the 4.12 pm bus at the conclusion of the walk. The last bus from Blackmore is 6.54 pm. Those wishing to park in Blackmore may have to liaise with another driver, as there is no direct bus service to East Hanningfield.
Section 4 – Saturday, 20 July, Blackmore to Chipping Ongar (approx 7.75 miles)
Catch No 70 bus at 8.09 am from Braintree bus park to Chelmsford bus station. Catch No 32 bus at 9.13 am to Blackmore. The walk will commence at 10.15 am to allow those who wish to park in Chipping Ongar to catch No 32 bus at 9.57 am to Blackmore. Wait at the stop on the same side as Budworth Hall. There is a pay and display car park behind the bus stop. Turn right past the latter to access it. The 32 or 46 bus can be caught at the end of the walk to return to Chelmsford.
Section 5 – Saturday, 3 August, Chipping Ongar to Epping (8.5 miles)
Catch No 70 bus at 8.09 am from Braintree bus park to Chelmsford bus station. Catch No 32 bus at 9.13 am to Chipping Ongar. The walk will commence at 10.30 am to allow those who wish to park in Epping to catch the No 420 bus at 9.53 am to Chipping Ongar. This is an hourly service and takes approximately 20 minutes. Wait at stop outside the church in Epping High Street. Recommended car park is at Bakers Lane (CM16 5EG) situated behind the church. The cost on a Saturday appears to be £1.00 from 8.00 am – 6.00 pm but please check when purchasing a ticket. Catch No 420 bus to Chipping Ongar at the conclusion of the walk and then the 32 or 65 bus to Chelmsford.
Section 6 – Saturday, 10 August, Epping to Cheshunt (9.25 miles)
Catch No 70 bus at 7.39 am from Braintree bus park to Chelmsford bus station. Catch No 46 bus, from stand 1, at 8.25 am to Chipping Ongar. Catch No 420 bus at 9.30 am to Epping. The walk will commence at 10.15 am from the bus stop opposite the church. For those who prefer to drive there are two options.
(1) Park at Bakers Lane car park (GR 459022) located behind the church, post code CM16 5EG (cost £1.00 see section 5 for details).
(2) Park at Pindar car park, Windmill Lane, Cheshunt, Herts EN8 9AJ (GR 367024). The cost is £4.10 over 4 hours. The car park is approached over the level crossing at Cheshunt station. It is approximately a 20-minute walk to the town centre to catch No 251 bus at 8.42 am at Old Pond (stop A), outside Tesco, to Waltham Cross bus station (stop C). This will connect with No 13 bus at 9.15 am to Epping, arriving 9.45 am.
At the conclusion of the walk it is hoped to catch the 251 bus at 2.42 pm to Waltham Cross bus station to connect with the No 13 bus at 3.15 pm to Epping. The subsequent one is at 4.45 pm, therefore, I feel it is only courteous to alert those travelling by bus from Braintree that it may be a very long day. For those who would like a shorter walk, it is possible to catch a bus from Upshire to Epping after completing 4 miles.
Section 7 – Saturday, 24 August, Cheshunt to Pudding Mill Lane Station (GR 378835) (13.5 miles)
Catch the 8.00 am train from Braintree to Stratford, arriving at 8.52 am. Catch the Bishop’s Stortford train at 9.13 am and alight at Cheshunt station. An off-peak return ticket from Braintree is £19.00 and a single to Cheshunt is £8.00. However, for groups of 3-9 adults one can save a third on the price quoted. Please contact me if it is proposed to travel by train, in order to obtain this saving. The walk starts from Pindar car park, Windmill Lane and will commence at 9.45 am.
Alternatively, park at Pindar car park (details as under section 6).
It appears that trains to Bishop’s Stortford depart on the hour and half past the hour from Stratford. One may wish to conclude the walk with a meal in Stratford