Essex Man Does Walking

I had an unexpected day off today, so with the weather being ideal I decided it was time for a last walk before the North Downs Way. Originally I had thought about just doing one of my normal walks. However, on reflection I decided to go somewhere new. In the end that was a great choice as the walk was wonderful and probably quite close to what the first few days of the North Downs Way would be like.

The Walk itself started just a few hundred yards from Rochford Station, but I had to get there first. 2.5 miles along the brook to Prittlewell Station was a far better choice than pavement walking to Rochford.

Just a short walk from Rochford Station brings you to the start of a public footpath that runs alongside the rail track. There are some beautiful fields next to you though and wonderful scenery as you walk towards the spire of St Mary’s Church in Hawkswell.

Walking past the garden of a house with lots of bird boxes you turn right and then have to cross over the road. Walking past St Mary’s Church you continue down a bridleway past plenty of horses. Coming to a small row of houses you turn right at the end and then left across another lovely field. The trail eventually comes out at the north end of Hawkwell.

A bit of pavement walking for a while towards the main road through Hawkwell to Hockley. You pass over this next to the White Hart pub (a bit early in the day to be open unfortunately) and then head towards Hockley Woods.

Hockley Woods is a quite dense bit of woodland with plenty of trails you can head down. As I enter the woods I am greeted by my old favourites, The Roach Valley Way and the Saffron Trail signs. I am however going the long way anti-clockwise around the woods. There are not many people out and it is wonderfully quiet. I find a bench later and realise that I really don’t spend enough time on my walks enjoying the scenery. I am always to focused on getting from A to B. This time however I make my self sit down and take it all in.

The trail leads out of the woods and over the fields towards Gusted Hall. (When I am home I learn they might be building 350 homes here. This is not progress.). Then it is through The Scrubs and over the fields to Edwards Hall. I have a longer sit down here as I thought I might meet my wife in KFC when she finishes work. I try phoning but no answer. I head towards the road she will be driving down in order to wave her down. After 10 minutes I give up and go to KFC on my own. Five minutes later her car goes past the junction! From here I should go through Belfairs Woods but all the waiting has made me a bit late so I take a more direct walk home stopping off to get some cans of cider. Lovely.

Total planned walk – 9.6 miles (+2.5 miles to the station!)