Kelvedon Circular via Coggeshall

Walk Notes

An easy walk through Essex farmland and along the Blackwater valley. The route goes past two old mills and medieval abbey buildings to Coggeshall, an attractive little town with many timber-framed houses, some dating back to the 14th century. The way back is across fields via the village of Feering; the Risen Christ altarpiece in its church is a replica of a painting by John Constable.

Map

Explorer 195

Length

13km (8.1 miles)

Toughness

2 out of 10

Transport

There are hourly trains from Liverpool Street to Kelvedon.

Suggested train

Take the train closest to 10:15 from Liverpool Street.

Walk Directions

  1. Exit Kelvedon station through its car park and go down to the road.
  2. Turn left on the road, heading north-west, and go up to the first left-hand bend.
  3. Take the footpath on the right and follow the field edge, with the River Blackwater on your right.
  4. At the end of the first field, turn half-left to head north and follow the path across several more fields to a lane.
  5. Join the lane and head north-west for 750m, passing Coggeshall Hall, to come to a row of poplars.
  6. Aim diagonally left across the next field to come out onto a road.
  7. Turn right and go along the grass verge for 500m to reach Pointwell Lane in Coggeshall Hamlet.
  8. Turn right down Pointwell Lane, heading east, to reach Pointwell Mill.
  9. Follow the footpath arrows around the mill house and over a bridge to go along the right bank of the mill-stream.
  10. Where the stream divides, cross a bridge and follow the right-hand channel to Coggeshall Abbey Mill.
  11. By the abbey buildings, turn left over the mill bridge and go through the farmyard to the Chapel of St Nicholas.
  12. Head west along the driveway, passing another chapel, to reach a road.
  13. Turn right, passing the massive 12th century Grange Barn (NT) on your left, and continue down the road to cross the River Blackwater.
  14. Cross another stream and bear left and then left again along West St for 100m to view Paycocke's (NT), a 16th century wool merchant's house.
  15. Retrace your steps along West St and continue ahead at the junction to come to the White Hart Hotel.
  16. Turn left by the hotel and then immediately right into Church St (opposite the Clock Tower).
  17. Go along Church St for 500m to reach the recommended lunch stop, the Woolpack Inn, just before St Peter's church.
  18. After lunch, continue along Church St; just past the church, turn right on a path past a playground and head south across a playing field to reach East St.
  19. Turn left and walk along the pavement for 750m, continuing ahead on a lane for another 100m where the road bends left to join the A120.
  20. Turn right on a footpath to cross a footbridge and head south along the field edge for 100m.
  21. Turn left through the hedge and head south east past a pole in the middle of the field towards a gap in the hedge on the far side.
  22. Cross a ditch and bear slightly right towards a post on the far side of the next field.
  23. Turn left along the field edge and continue ahead when the hedge on the right ends to reach a lane.
  24. Turn right and follow the lane south and then south-east for 500m to meet a road.
  25. Turn left and follow the road north-east to a T-junction at Skye Green.
  26. Turn right (towards Feering and Kelvedon) and go along the road for 500m to Langley Green.
  27. Just after a road to Marks Tey goes off to the left, turn right onto a footpath, heading south-west with a hedge on your left.
  28. At the end of the field turn left over a footbridge and bear right; continue along the field edge for 120m, with the hedge now on your right.
  29. Turn half-left across the field, aiming for the left-hand end of the hedge on the far side.
  30. Turn right and go along the field edge, with the hedge on your right.
  31. After going through the corner of the next hedge, bear left on a path towards the church in Feering.
  32. At the far corner of the field go through the hedge and continue towards the church with the hedge on your left.
  33. At the next field corner turn left and go along the field edge to reach a road.
  34. Turn right to go past All Saints' Church and then the Bell Inn to reach a T-junction.
  35. Turn right and then immediately left onto a footpath, heading south-west.
  36. In 500m bend left with the path alongside a cricket pitch; follow the path under the railway to reach an alley.
  37. Turn right along the hedged alley and turn right again on reaching a road.
  38. In 500m, where the road crosses the River Blackwater, the pub on the left is a possible tea stop (there may be other places up ahead in Kelvedon's High St).
  39. Turn right at the junction just past the bridge to return to Kelvedon station.

Lunch options in Coggeshall

Woolpack Inn: 91 Church St. Tel: 01376 561235

White Hart Hotel: Market End. Tel: 01376 561654

Tea options in Kelvedon

Railway Tavern: 182 High St. Tel: 01376 570293

May be tea shops further up the High St (not researched)