Walk 3744 - printer friendly version

Great Bardfield & Finchingfield Circular Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 4.7 miles / 7.6 km

Ascent - 200 feet / 61 metres

Grade - easy

Start - OS grid reference TL676306
Lat 51.9486450 + Long 0.4372560
Postcode CM7 4ST (approx. location only)

This easy circular Essex walk explores the pleasant countryside between the villages of Great Bardfield and Finchingfield. The route uses field paths and tracks. Although the walk is generally easy to follow, care is needed at a few places to ensure correct route finding. The use of the relevant OS Explorer map is a useful addition to your rucksack.

The start is Vine Street (B1057) in Great Bardfield. On street parking near the Vine pub is usually available (grid ref. TL676306). Facing the Vine, take the signed footpath to the right of the pub. Go through gate and head half left across a field. Continue through a gap in the hedge and bear right down to a footbridge. Cross the bridge and almost immediately turn right into a field. The path briefly shadows a fence on your left before running parallel to the River Pant on your right. You soon reach a footbridge (grid ref. TL671312). Turn right across the bridge and then left to follow the river which is now on your left.

Continue on the path to cross a stile by a weir. Keeping the river to your left continue ahead to the next stile. Just after this stile, turn right by a paddock to reach the third stile under a tree. Turn left along the lane (grid ref. TL669317). At the first junction bear right (signed to Pitney Farm). Continue for 75 metres and take the path/grassy track on the right. Before reaching the end of the field, fork left and continue on the path with hedge on your left. At the next junction follow the arrow to maintain direction across another field with the hedge still on your left. The path reaches an old moat and some trees. The path heads left and then right to a junction. Keep straight ahead and follow the clear track (Winsey Chase) for just under a kilometre towards Finchingfield. You pass some houses as the track becomes a lane to reach the B1057.

Cross the road and turn left. Follow the pavement around to the right and continue along Bridge Street past the row of cottages on your right. Cross the footbridge by the village pond and keep right up the slope. Take the first right, The Pightie, a narrow, walled lane. After 150 metres, turn right between metal barriers to join a footpath. Cross a small footbridge and immediately turn left. The path initially runs between fences but soon continues beside Finchingfield Brook (on your left).

Continue ahead for 1.4 kilometres ignoring footpaths on the right and left. Cross the access track to the Champions (on your left). Follow the onward path around the edge of the field as it bends right. At the end of the field, turn left over a small footbridge. Continue through a gate and over a bridge by the watermill. Just past the garden turn right through a yard onto a grassy track. After 400 metres the path turns left and soon reaches a footbridge. Do not cross but continue ahead. 150 metres beyond the bridge, the path forks where you head left ignoring the enclosed path to the right. Follow the path behind houses to reach a windmill where the path reaches Mill Road. Turn right at T-junction onto Brook Street and continue to the B1057. Turn right and the Vine pub is a short distance along on the left.

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